Andrew Johnston's Enslaved People

 Inventory

Wills, estate settlements, and inventories are at times arduous for me. I've been on a mission to find them because they are so crucial to tracing my ancestors through slavery. Not only do I want to find them, but I also get truly excited when I do find them! They are parts of an ancestor's puzzle, lost pieces that I'm unearthing. But man the picture that emerges is... abysmal.

Judge Edward Johnston of Botetourt Couty, Virginia died in 1853. First of all, thank God he died before slavery ended! In terms of wills, that's always my wish. Secondly, he died without a will, so what the hell judge! How do you not know to leave a will?  Anyway, Edward Johnston owned Susan Fisher, William Girty, and their children. I believe he also owned Susan's mother, Catherine... if Catherine was her name. He owned a man named Issac, who was listed with 5 other siblings and his mother, Mary. Edward also owned a woman named Martha Fisher, who was listed with 7 children. Susan had at least one brother named Issac, and a sister named Martha. So if I'm correct that these people are all part of the same family, how did Edward come to own them? Is Catherine the same woman as Mary? Are there any bills of sale I can find?

Andrew Johnston is the father of Edward Johnston. Andrew and his family were all slave owners. His will, and the inventory of his property, was completed by the end of 1811. Although Susan, William, Issac, and Martha wouldn't have been born yet, Catherine/Mary had been. Unfortunately, there are about 42 years I can't account for.

Andrew Johnston Inventory page 1:Sorce Ancestry

Andrew Johnston had 40 slaves by the time his estate was inventoried.

• Ben a negro man: $300
• Harry a negro man: $500
• Jim a negro man: $500
• Roger a negro man: $400. Lydia his wife $300
• Lucretea $150 Grace $100 Jenny $75 Sam $60 Suckey $40 children of Roger & Lydia
• Cyrus $450
• Abraham $400 Judy $300
• Nelly $250 Anthony $250 children of Abraham & Judy
• Bistor $250 
• Doctor $500
• Frank $450
• Tom $370
• Fanny & child Jane $372
• old Jenny $34
• Eve $300 Davy $250 Jack $200 Mat $150
• Bridget $300 Sally $130 Abraham $110
• Peg $100 Polly $250 John $250 Diley $150
• old Scylla $20 Maria $150
• Sam & Polly not valued from their age
• Bob $400
• Scylla $400
• Amy $350

"The three last willed to Mrs. Johnston"

We think of our babies and our children as precious. Our elders are respected for longevity and wisdom. Even though I understand they were property, it still hurts me to see the value assigned to them. It was someone's job to assess these enslaved people. My people. Old Jenny was valued at $34, old Scylla at $20, and neither Sam nor Polly had value? I know that amount of money is worth more now, but still.

I don't see a Mary or Catherine in this inventory. But Polly is a nickname for Mary, and Maria is a variation. I'm really not sure which of his slaves went to Edward. But I do share DNA with some of Andrew's descendants. Which lets me know my family is on this list. Andrew and one or more of his slaves are related to me.

Andrew Johnston Settlement: Source Ancestry

28 enslaved people were sold during the settlement of Andrew Johnston's will.

• C Haynes "1 negro man"
• A. Shndn? "1 negro man"
• L W Venable "1 negro man"
• W Jones "3 negroes"
• David Bell "1 negro girl"
• John Carmady "1 negro woman and child"
• S Smith "1 negro girl"
• P D "4 negroes"
• R Bocker "1 negro"
• Wm Miller "13 negroes"

This tells me that there were 12 slaves left after the settlement of Andrew Johnston's estate. Bob, Scylla, and Amy were willed to his wife Ann. Nine enslaved people were left, and I don't know who they were, or where they went. I will never understand why people were listed this way. As much as I "know" why, I still don't understand. But I will keep looking for pieces of the puzzle.