Slavery
Muhlenberg County, KY, May 16, 1825
Division of Slaves, Heirs Agree
MDS

[SLAVERY.] R. L. Smith et al., Manuscript Document Signed, Agreement for Division of Slaves in the Estate of Perrin Smith, May 16, 1825, Muhlenberg County, Kentucky. 2 pp., 7.5" x 12.5". Expected folds; cellophane tape repairs to separations at folds and along edges; general toning; some smudges.

This 1825 agreement divided the enslaved persons owned by Perrin Smith among his heirs. In October 1818, Benjamin J. Smith, an orphaned son of Perrin Smith, chose Richard L. Smith, possibly an older brother, as his guardian. In 1820, William Solomon (c. 1798-1874) married Frances A. Smith (1804-1853), the daughter of Perrin and Susanna Smith. In 1823, Joel Hale married Susanna Smith. Daniel S. Willis (1782-1858) married Elizabeth ?Betsy? Smith (ca. 1792-1850) in Sumner County, Tennessee, in 1809.

This agreement was likely signed by Perrin Smith?s five sons (or their representatives), his three sons-in-law, and his widow.

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
We the Heirs of Perin Smith Decd Have agreed that the Negro Estate Shall be Divided as Follows & it is herby Divided that Richard L. Smith Who is the owner of William L. Smith?s part of said Estate Receive & he has hereby recd Silter & her child Winston & Daniel Willis has received Negro girl Clary & that Joel Hale has Recd Negro girl Emeline & that George F. Smith has Recd Negro Gril Sulky & that William Soloman has Recd from the Heirs of said Estate Two Hundred and fifteen Dollars seventy five cents in cash for his part of said Negro Estate & that Hezekiah W. Smith has Recd Mary and a Negro Boy & that R. L. Smith has Recd for his own part Negro boy Simon & that James Weir agent for B. J. Smith has Recd Two Hundred and fifteen Dollars & seventy five cents in money for said Smith?s part of said Negro Estate Susana Smith has Recd Negro girl Dolly for her part of said Estate Witness our hands and seals this 16th Day of May 1825
R. L. Smith on a/c of William L. Smith {LS}
George F. Smith {Seal}
H. W. Smith {seal}
R. L. Smith {seal}
James Weir atty for Benjn Smith {seal}
Wm Solomon {seal}
Joel Hail {seal}
D. S. Willis {seal}
Susana her X mark Smith

[Endorsement on verso:]
Muhlenberg County Sct
Clerks Office May 17 1825
The within Agreement was acknowledged by the parties therein named to be their act and Deed for the purposes therein contained which is thereupon admitted to and truly 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.

Perrin Smith (ca. 1780-1818) married Susanna. In 1799, he received a land grant of 200 acres in Muhlenberg County, Kentucky. In 1810, he owned three slaves. In 1820, Susanna Smith lived in Greenville as the head of a household, and she owned five slaves.

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 12.5"