Slavery
Muhlenberg County, KY, December 28, 1849
12 Enslaved African Americans Divided Amongst Daughters, Important Document
MDS

[SLAVERY.] Charles Morehead, Charles F. Robertson, and J. W. I. Godman, Manuscript Document Signed, Commissioners? Report for Division of Slaves in the Personal Estate of Charles A. Wickliffe, December 28, 1849, Muhlenberg County, Kentucky. 2 pp., 7.5" x 11.75". Expected folds; cellophane tape repairs to separations at folds and along bottom edge; very good.

This 1849 report by commissioners to the Muhlenberg County Court in Kentucky details the division of the enslaved African Americans owned by Charles A. Wickliffe at the time of his death in 1834. His widow, after remarrying, died in 1841. The commissioners divided the slaves into two shares according to value and then assigned them to Wickliffe?s daughters, Margaret Elizabeth Wickliffe Moorman (1831-1886) and Sarah ?Sally? Ann Wickliffe (1833-1902). Margaret had married James H. L. Moorman (1825-1895) in November 1849. Sally married Michael Gilbert (1828-1915) in July 1851.

Muhlenberg County, formed in western Kentucky in 1798, was bordered on the northeast by the Green River and Ohio County. Slavery was an institution in Muhlenberg County from its earliest days. In 1800, there were 1,313 white inhabitants, 5 free African Americans, and 125 slaves in Muhlenberg County. By 1850, the white population of the county was 8,250, and there were 37 free blacks and 1,522 slaves.

Complete Transcript
To an order of the Muhlenberg County Court at there November Term 1849 to us directed to divide the personal estate and slaves between the heirs of Charles A Wick[l]iffe deceased &c your commissioners being first sworn, proceded to divide and allot the slaves as follows to wit
To Margaret E. Moorman formaly [formerly] M. E. Wickliffe
Elizabeth a slave aged 26 years value $500.00
Hannah ? ? aged 9 years ? 350.00
Ellen ? ? aged 6 years ? 300.00
Rachel Jr ? ? aged 2 years ? 250.00
Rachel sen ? ? aged 18 years ? 550.00
Ennis ? ? aged 3 years ? 300.00
$2250.00

to Sally Ann Wickliffe

Mary a slave aged about 21 years value $550.00
Issabel sen ? ? aged ? 45 years ? 300.00
Issabel Jr ? ? aged 1 year ? 200.00
Martha ? ? aged 7 years ? 300.00
Joshua ? ? aged 22 years ? 700.00
Eliza Ann ? ? aged 3 years ? 250.00
$2400.00
all of which is respectfully submited to the honorable court December the 28th 1849
Charles Morehead
Chas F. Robertson
J W I Godman

[Endorsement on verso:]
Muhlenberg County Sct
February County Court 1850
The foregoing Report of the Commissioners appointed to divide the personal estate of Charles A. Wickliffe deceased among his Heirs, was exhibited in to Court and being examined & approved of is ordered to be Recorded
Att Ch F Wing clk

Historical Background
The division of enslaved persons at the death of a slaveowner often led to the division of families and at the very least broke up slave communities, where individuals had lived and worked together, often for their entire lives. Such divisions often led to sales when the new owner could not profitably employ the enslaved persons they had inherited. These sales further broke family and community ties.

Charles A. Wickliffe (1799-1834) was born in Virginia and married Cordelia Ann Nicholls (1811-1841) in Muhlenberg County, Kentucky, in 1830. Before his marriage, he owned two slaves. Wickliffe and his wife had two daughters before his death in 1834.

Charles Morehead (1798-1863/1864) was born in Kentucky and married Mary Reno (1808-1855) in 1821. In 1850, he owned 8 enslaved persons. In 1860, he owned 14 enslaved persons. In his June 1863 will, he divided 8 of his enslaved persons by name among his various heirs.

Charles F. Roberston (1815-1874) was born in Kentucky and married Arrimenta Jane Nicholls (1814-1874), the younger sister of Cordelia Ann Nicholls, in 1840. He was a farmer, and in 1850, he owned 11 enslaved persons. Ten years later, he owned 17.

John Wickliffe Israel Godman (1798-1852) was born in Virginia and after his parents' death when he was an infant, he was brought to Muhlenberg County, Kentucky by his maternal grandparents. He studied both law and medicine and practiced among his neighbors. After marrying Elizabeth Nicholls (1801-1891), he settled in the northeastern part of Muhlenberg County and became a farmer and merchant. In 1850, he owned 11 enslaved persons. He was a justice of the peace and was elected as county judge in 1851, serving in that position until he died the following year.

Charles Fox Wing (1780-1861) was born in New Bedford, Massachusetts, the son of a shipbuilder. He moved to Kentucky with his family around 1790. Wing became the Muhlenberg County Clerk in 1799 and clerk of the circuit court when it was established in 1803. He married Anna Steel ?Nancy? Campbell (1788-1863), a daughter of Colonel William Campbell (1759-1800), in 1806, and they had eight children. Wing continued to serve as clerk of both courts until 1850, when the offices were divided and became elective. He was elected circuit clerk, and his son was elected county clerk.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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7.5" x 11.75"