Alabama Guardian Hires Out Seventeen Slaves from an Estate in 1860

Guardian John F. Pate made this report to Probate Judge Zoroaster S. Cook in Wilcox County, Alabama, on his arrangements for hiring out the seventeen slaves from the estate of Alexander Philen for a total of $1,200 for the year 1860. He also reported the death of the slave Charlotte "sometime in the summer of 1859."

[SLAVERY.] John F. Pate, Autograph Document Signed, Report of Slave Hires, January 10, 1860, Wilcox County, Alabama. 1 p., 8" x 11.5". Expected folds; minor edge chipping; very good.

Complete Transcript
To the Hon Zo S Cook Judge of the Court of Probate
    The subscriber begs leave respectfully to report that he has hired out the negroes belonging to Alexander Philen & Nancy Curtis formerly Nancy Philen now the wife of B. R. Curtis for the year 1860 for the several amounts & to the respective persons following to wit
Alfred Jenny & 3 children     to     Wm Vaughan        225
Ned & Mary                         to     J. J. Heath for       $225
Mose                                  "      Allen Tucker             140
George                                "      Jas Southall           160
Henry                                 "        "     "                   160
Martha & 4 children                      "      "                     50
Charles                                     Robt Doak              170
Liz                                                                              70
That I have taken the notes of the different hirers payable 1st Jany 1861.
    I further beg leave to report that Charlotte who was hired to J. Oscar Hicks, died sometime in the summer of 1859.
    All which is respectfully submitted
                                                                    J F Pate / Gardien

John F. Pate (1811-1897) was born in Tennessee. In 1838, he married Harriet J. Culpepper (b. 1825), and they had at least five children. From at least 1850 to 1870, he was a farmer in Wilcox County, Alabama. In the 1870s, he moved to McLennan County, Texas, and he died in Snyder, Texas.

Alexander Philen married Nancy Ann (1843-1933). After his death sometime in the 1850s, she married Benjamin Rush Curtis (1828-1914) in 1859.

Zoroaster S. Cook (1827-1893) was born in Marengo County, Alabama. He married Delitha A. Threadgill (1833-1915). He served as probate judge in Wilcox County, Alabama, at least until 1865, when together with a local coffin maker, he buried the records of the county to preserve them from federal raiders.

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