Interesting case. I do NOT think you can infer from it that Esther is dead.
It says Joel purchased Ally and her children from Polly Carlton. It doesn't
say he purchased Esther, so Polly probably kept her. You might try the
probate records of all the counties mentioned to see if there are other
documents relating to Polly Carlton's estate, which might mention Esther as
part of her estate inventory. You might also, if you haven't already, try
the death records for "Setha" - by 1870 and later, they were pretty good,
even for ex-slaves. Likewise, death records for Allie's children may name
their father, if you don't already know who he is.

Another thing to try is the estate inventory and any estate distribution
records for Polly's father Christopher Carlton in K&Q co in 1824 or a bit
later - often, when the slaves were inventoried, especially the ones who
were named in the will, their ages were recorded. That would give you
Esther's age at that time. The 65-yr-old in 1870 is about what I would
expect - usually fathers left young women to their daughters, and "Setha"
would've been about 19 in 1824.

Good luck & please let us know what you find,
Holly Cochran

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   Holly Cochran     email: [log in to unmask]
   Hollyhock Press (publisher of Bath co VA area books)
   http://www.hollyhockpress.com/

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