Beschreibung:

Lot of 4: 1 p. document listing 47 slaves, 7 x 9.25 in., that lists slaves' skills, family relationships, and physical condition; a 1 p. ALS from Mary Wilcox to the Donnan brothers requesting the sale of twelve year-old slave girl, Minerva, for no less than $1500, dated July 8, 1863; a bill of sale for the same Minerva purchased for $1915 on July 8th 1863 to Mr. T. L. Johnson; a 1 p. ALS from Mary Wilcox to the Donnan brothers requesting the brothers charge $1500 dollars to her account after the sale of Minerva dated July 23, 1863 . Document one reads: Hubbard (X) – Work hard & reliable & trusty out of doors. Reuben – An excellent ploughman. George – An excellent & well-disciplined workman. Henry (X) – A trusty dinning-room servant. Mike – A gardener – sore leg. Daniel Tabb(?) – A first rate ploughman. Eliza / Daniel’s wife -- A good & industrious servant. Good milkmaid. Out hand. Mary Anne (X) – Chambermaid, seamstress & launderer. Not robust. Lizzie (X) – Chambermaid & launderess. Generally healthy. Suckey (X) – A good cook. Allan (her son) –Out hand. Lost the sight of one eye. Sally – Plain cook / milkmaid & Spin. Very healthy. Colin (her son) – Work hard & attend to horses. Louis (her son) – Healthy Wm (her son) -- Healthy Buck (her son) (X) – Healthy Fanny (her daughter) – Healthy John Henry (her son) – Healthy Hannah – Spinner – plain seamstress & would I think make a good nurse because smart & healthy. Edy – Jennie – Marshall & Ann (her children) Julia (X) – Out hand. Generally healthy but complaining this summer. Been taught housework & knitting. David – Charity & Moses (her children) (X) – All Healthy Dolly – A milkmaid, washer & spinner. Joe & Elsy (her children) – All Healthy Napoleon – Orphan. Wait in dinning room & drive horses. Emanuel – A good boy – Can wait in dinning room / attend to horses & cattle. Keziah – A plain seamstress & spinner (not strong). Polly (her child) – Can attend in a chamber & nurse. Phoebe (her child) – Brought-up in the house. Minerva – Orphan. Brought-up in house. Attend in chamber & knit. Martha – Orphan. Occasionally in house but chiefly out of door hand. Katy – Orphan. A good nurse / well-disposed & brought up in the house. Elizabeth – Orphan. Brought-up in house. Can sew & knit. Taylor – Out of door hand / can drive & attend horses. Phil – Out of door hand / same occupation. Fremont – Out of door hand & same occupation. Washington – Orphan. James – Orphan. Matilda – Orphan. Clay – Orphan. Peter – Orphan. THE FLOWERDEW HUNDRED PLANTATION, located on the south side of the James River, is one of the earliest of the famous Virginia plantations. In 1618, Flowerdew Hundred was patented and named by Governor and Captain-General Sir George Yeardley. After passing through the ownership of several Virginia families, the plantation was sold in 1725 to Joshua Poythress. In 1804, John Vaughn Wilcox married the last Poythress heiress and bought-up surrounding lands that were part of the original land grant. In 1804, John and his wife, Susanna Peachy Poythress built a new house on the high ridge overlooking the fertile bottom lands along the James, but maintained their primary residence in nearby Petersburg. They farmed a thriving tobacco plantation that conducted business in Petersburg. John Vaughan Wilcox owned more than 4,000 acres of land and 65 slaves in the 1830s. His plantation gave Petersburg artisans a significant amount of business. John Vaughn Wilcox was a large holder of Confederate Bonds. In June 1864, the Wilcox plantation was selected by the US Corps of Engineers as the location for a pontoon bridge, built to carry the Army of the Potomac across the James River. Union troops encamped on the grounds for three days before proceeding to the Battle of Petersburg. Over the years, the Flowerdew Hundred Plantation has become a source for intensive investigation into Virginia History & Archeology. Historical collections from this important plantation include: diaries, archeological artifacts