Description Will Books are a good source in the search for Slaves only if the owner named the slave(s).
A full-name index adds to the value of this work..
The Slaves who were emancipated, freed or manumitted are listed in the index under Emancipated.
Surnames of the owner\'s children are indexed only if noted in the document.
The new owner is listed if known.
Each entry gives the name of the slave owner, page number, date, and type of document followed by a list of slaves.
The documents include Administrator\'s Estate, Executor, and Guardian Accounts, Wills, and Inventory and Appraisals.
Each chapter in this work contains information gleaned from one Will Book.
For example: "I Will and bequeath to my (wife, son, daughter, etc.) all my estate both real and personal of every sort;" or, "...the property I have already given to my (wife, son, daughter, etc.)..." The documents often do not include the slave\'s name, sometimes only girl, runaway, boy, etc.
Many times a Will lists property without specifying if it includes slaves.
Description Will Books are a good source in the search for Slaves only if the owner named the slave(s)
