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Subject:
Re: Language in 1808 Va Will
From:
Craig Kilby <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
Discussion of research and writing about Virginia history <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Tue, 17 Feb 2015 21:28:00 -0500
Content-Type:
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I agree with Michael. Two slaves of the same name needed to told apart by some description, and Selma is right about some of the descriptors being “black” and “yellow.” Sort of like Old Tom and Young Tom, and sometimes you get lucky the descriptor is a slave’s surname (in some cases occupational).

Craig Kilby
Kilby Research Services
www.craigkilby.com







> On Feb 17, 2015, at 5:39 PM, Michael Nicholls <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> 
> I would guess that is simply a physical description to distinguish between the two lads both of whom are named Henry--Mick Nicholls
> 
> Michael L. Nicholls
> Professor of History, Emeritus
> Dept. of History
> Utah State University
> Logan, UT 84322-0710
> 
> [log in to unmask]
> 
> 
> On Feb 17, 2015, at 9:24 AM, Douglas Burnett wrote:
> 
>> I am catching up on transcribing some wills and have run across this
>> language for the first time:
>> 
>> "3rdly I give to my son *Thomas *one negro boy by the name of
>> 
>> *Henry* (a black boy) to him and his heirs or assigns forever
>> 
>> 4thly I give to my son *Charles Washington *one negro boy by the
>> 
>> name of *Henry * (a yellow boy) to him and his heirs or assigns
>> 
>> forever"
>> 
>> Does anyone understand the differentiation between the "black boy" and the
>> "yellow boy"?
>> 
>> Am I trying to read to much into this and it is in fact just a physical
>> description of the coloring?
>> 
>> 
>> -- 
>> Douglas Burnett
>> Satellite Beach
>> FL
>> As a member of the Association of Professional Genealogists (APG), the
>> National Genealogical Society (NGS), the Florida State Genealogical
>> Society(FSGS) and the Virginia Genealogical  Society(VGS), I support and
>> adhere to the APG's Code of Ethics.
>> 
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