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Will of Abraham Magowan
Recorded
at Page 427 of Will Book L of the records of Fleming County, KY
Will of Abraham (Abram) Magowan (Magowen) dated Sept. 17, 1858:
John Mitchell (Abraham's brother-in-law) of Mason County was to be
Executor of the estate. In an effort to keep his slaves from being
mistreated by a future master, Abraham left his "old servants", Pat,
Jesse, Bill and David, to John Mitchell and willed that the rest of
his slaves shall be transported to Liberia upon his death.
He left $1000 to Fleming Hesler, son of Kitty Hesler, supposed to be
in Missouri.
He left $1000 to Fielding Jones, son of the first wife of Abraham
Gooding.
All his real estate in Flemingsburg was to be sold at public sale
and the proceeds used to build or aid in building a church in
Flemingsburg to be conveyed to the Trustees of the Methodist
Episcopal Church South.
He left his walking cane to M. P. Marshall of Mason County, "my old
friend, as a memory of my affection for him of many years duration".
Witnesses:
M. L. Harbeson
Alfred Jacobs
The following two codicils were produced in Court September 28,
1863:
1st Codicil dated March 16, 1863:
Abraham revoked his bequeath to the Church as he had advanced as
much to them as he thought necessary.
He revoked his bequeath to Fleming Hesler and Fielding Jones, as he
had paid each of them $1000.
Witnesses:
George S. Fleming
M. P. Marshall
2nd Codicil dated March 16, 1863:
"My slaves alluded to in the body of my will may be utterly opposed
to migrating to Liberia. If so, being anxious for their happiness, I
authorize my executor to remove them...into the state of Ohio at
least 100 miles from the Ohio River and provide for the head of each
family a small piece of land not to exceed ___acres, and where the
adult may have no family, the provision made for the family shall
also be made for him or her. And Negro slave, Maria, decd., left 2
children, John and Sarah, who each shall have the same as the head
of a family or as an adult slave above recited, and, moreover, if
Pat, Jesse, Bill and David, Negro slaves, devised in the body of
this will to John Mitchell...wish to migrate to the state of Ohio,
my executor is directed to pay them $300 each and let them go. And
said executor shall not exceed in price $300 for the homestead or
small piece of land he may provide for the head of a family or for
an adult slave, or for John or Sarah, the children of Maria, above
cited."
Witnesses:
George S. Fleming
J. H. DeBell
ATTY
FOR SLAVES OF ABRAHAM MAGOWAN (MAGOWEN)
Recorded at page 631 of Court Order Book K of the records of Fleming
County, KY
November Special Term 1863 - Nov. 11, 1863
It is ordered that W. H. Cord be allowed the sum of $10.00 for
services rendered as attorney for the slaves of Abram Magowan, decd.
It is further ordered that John Mitchell, the Executor of said A.
Magowan, pay him that sum.
EMANCIPATION OF SLAVES OF
ABRAHAM MAGOWAN (MAGOWEN)
Recorded at Page 627 and 628 of Court Order Book K of
the records of Fleming County, KY
November Special Term 1863 - Nov. 10, 1863
This day David Shanklin, Wm. Dixon, James M. Fox, Wm. Brandy, Taylor
Dixon, Wesley Dixon, Chas. Toliver, George Brandy, Alex Fields,
Scott Dixon, Jesse Orrett and Henry Henderson, who are the reputed
slaves of Abram Magowan, decd., appeared in open Court, and it was
proven by the oath of George S. Fleming to the satisfaction of the
Court that they are the identical slaves named in the last will and
testament of Abram Magowan, decd., which will was heretofore on the
28th day of September, 1863, proven in court and admitted to record.
And said slaves accepted their freedom on the conditions of said
will and the Constitution and laws of Kentucky. Being interrogated
in open Court and the infants being represented by Wm. H. Cord,
their attorney, appointed by the court to represent them, he being
present and accepting said appointment, and the Executor, John
Mitchell, being present and consenting and concurring therein.
Said slaves are of the following description:
Jesse Orrett is about 67 years of age, 5 feet, 5 inches high,
mulatto color, a scar on his right leg which is caused from
rheumatism.
David Shanklin, aged 63 years, 5 feet 5 1/2 inches high, dark color,
a scar on his right leg.
Wm. Dixon, aged 55 years, 5 feet 6 1/2 inches high, dark color with
an enlargement on inner side of the right eye.
Scott Dixon, aged 37 years, 5 feet 3 1/2 inches high, copper color,
a scar on the left side of the chin.
James Munroe Fox, aged 42 years, dark copper color, 5 feet 5 1/2
inches high with a scar above the left eye.
Charles Toliver, age 34 years, about 5 feet 4 inches high, who has a
wife and 4 children, a mulatto, has a scar below the left eye.
Wesley Dixon, aged 42 years, dark color, 5 feet 4 inches high, the
first joint of the little finger on the right hand stiff.
Henry Henderson, aged about 23 years, about 5 feet 1 1/2 inches
high, a light mulatto, gray eyes, no scars perceived.
Alexander Fields, aged 23 years, about 5 feet 8 1/4 inches high,
copper color, has a scar above the right eye.
William Brandy, aged about 19 years, about 5 feet 4 1/2 inches high,
copper color.
George Brandy, aged about 19 years, about 5 feet high, large scar in
his chin, light copper or mulatto.
Taylor Dixon, aged 16 years, about 5 feet 1/2 inch high, dark color,
a scar on his right hand.
EMANCIPATION OF SLAVES OF
ABRAHAM MAGOWAN (MAGOWEN)
Recorded at Page 629 and 630 of Court Order Book K of
the records of Fleming County, KY
November Special Term 1863 - Nov. 11, 1863
This day Patsy White, Evaline Lewis, Manerva Toliver, Harriet Dixon,
Amelia Thompson, Sarah Warder, Montgomery Dixon, Robert Lewis,
Edward Lewis, Anna Lewis, Susan Thompson, Elizabeth Dixon, Frank
Dixon, James Toliver, Jesse Toliver, Margaret Toliver, Nelly Toliver,
Nancy Henderson, and Charles Lewis, who are the reputed slaves of
Abram Magowan, decd., appeared in open Court, and it was proven by
the oath of George S. Fleming to the satisfaction of the Court that
they are the identical slaves named in the last will and testament
of Abram Magowan, decd., which will was heretofore on the 28th day
of September, 1863, proven in court and admitted to record. And said
slaves accepted their freedom on the conditions of said will and the
Constitution and laws of Kentucky. Being interrogated in open Court
and the infants being represented by Wm. H. Cord, their attorney,
appointed by the court to represent them, he being present and
accepting said appointment, and the Executor, John Mitchell, being
present and consenting and concurring therein.
Said slaves are of the following description:
Patsy White, aged 77 years, dark copper color, 5 feet 1 inch high.
Evaline Lewis, 37 years of age, dark copper color, 5 feet 2 inches
high.
Manerva Toliver, 26 years of age, dark color, 5 feet 4 inches high.
Harriet Dixon, 23 years of age, dark color, 4 feet 11 inches high,
large eyes.
Amelia Thompson, 20 years of age, copper color, 5 feet 4 inches
high, a scar on the right cheek.
Sarah Warder, 22 years of age, copper color, 5 feet 1 inch high,
heavy set, crippled in the right arm.
Montgomery Dixon (child of Sarah Warder), aged 10 months, bright
mulatto.
Robert Lewis (child of Evaline), 10 years of age.
Edward Lewis (child of Evaline), 8 years of age.
Anna Lewis (child of Evaline), aged 3 years.
Susan Thompson, aged 16 years, 5 feet high, dark color, subject to
fits.
Elizabeth Dixon (child of William Dixon), age 13 years, dark copper
color.
Frank Dixon (child of Harriet), aged 2 years, copper color.
James Toliver (child of Manerva), aged 10 years, dark mulatto.
Jesse Toliver (child of Manerva), aged 6 years, copper color.
Margaret Toliver (child of Manerva), aged 8 years, mulatto color.
Nelly Toliver (child of Manerva), aged 3 years, mulatto color.
Nancy Henderson, aged 21 years, 4 feet 11 1/2 inches high, light
mulatto, gray eyes.
Charles Lewis, aged 39 years, 5 feet 7 inches high, erect form.
This day came Hannah Orrett, aged 64 years, wife of Jesse Orrett
emancipated by A. Magowan, and elected to go to Ohio upon conditions
of the Constitution and laws of Kentucky, and proof having been made
in open court by the oaths of James Nash and Luther Strode that she
had been free for many years under the will of Nancy Strode, which
is ordered to be certified.
INVENTORY OF THE ESTATE
OF ABRAHAM MAGOWAN (MAGOWEN)
Recorded at Page 480 of Will Book L of the records of
Fleming County, KY
November 23, 1863
Appraisement and Inventory of the Estate of A. Magowan
List of Slaves:
(NOTE: Notice the difference in ages of these people compared to
their emancipation documents of just two weeks prior. Sometimes
there is as much as 5 to 8 years difference! We obviously cannot
depend on the age of a slave given in court documents as being an
exact age! Also there are a few differences in names compared to the
emancipation documents.)
Men:
Jesse, age 67
Dave, age 63
Bill, age 58
Abe, age 50
James??, age 42
Scott, age 36
Wesley, age 40
Charley, age 35
Alex, age 24
Henry, age 22
John, age 22
Boys:
Tobias, age 18
George, age 15
Taylor, age 15
Jim, age 11
Bob, age 10
Edward, age 8
Jesse, age 7
Frank, age 1 1/2
Montgomery, age 6 months
Women:
Patsy, age 76
Evaline, age 39
Manerva, age 34
Harriet, age 21
Nancy?, age 21
Girls:
Sarah, age 17
Amelia, age 16
Susan, age 15
Elizabeth, age 14
Margaret, age 10
Anna, age 7
Nelly, age 7
EMANCIPATION OF
ABRAM TURNER
Court Order Book, Volume 9, Fleming County, KY
Fleming County Circuit Court - June Term, 1864
June 27, 1864
Abram Turner, the reported slave of A. Magowen, decd., appeared in
open Court and it was proved to the satisfaction of Court that he is
the identical slave manumitted by the last will and testament of A.
Magowen, decd., which will was proved 28th September 1863 and
admitted to record. Said Abram accepted his freedom according to the
conditions of said will and the Constitution and laws of Kentucky.
Said Abram described as being about 55 years of age, gray hair...
about 5 ft. 6 inches high, being of dark complexion.
EMANCIPATION OF
JOHN YOUNG
Recorded at Page 640 of Court Order Book K of the
records of Fleming County, KY
November Special Term 1863 - Nov. 25, 1863
John Young, who is the reputed slave of Abram Magowan, decd., this
day appeared in open Court, and it was proven to the satisfaction of
the Court by the oath of George S. Fleming that he is the identical
slave manumitted and set free by the last will and testament of said
A. Magowan, decd., which will was heretofore on the 28th day of
Sept. 1863, produced in court and admitted to record. And said slave
accepted his freedom upon the conditions of said will and the
Constitution and laws of Kentucky. He being interrogated in Court,
said slave is described as follows: said John Young is 22 years of
age, about 5 feet 7 inches high, a very bright mulatto color, gray
eyes and sandy hair.
L. B. Cox, Judge
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