Commisioners Division of Slaves

Oral tradition and written records testify to the presence of many slaves on Clay Hill Farm. Edwin White, a direct descendant of Harry and Carrie Ann Sanders White, tells us that there were 19 slave cabins aligned parallel to the highway. On this site in 1999, National Park Service Archaeologists used ground penetrating radar to find evidence of these cabins. They found what they believed to be foundation stones from two adjacent cabins at this site.

Written evidence comes from Probate records on the death of James Sanders this is transcribed in part below.

"We the undersigned Comissioners of Taylor Circuit Court Appointed to lay off and assign dower to Mary A. Sanders in land and slaves mentioned in petition did on Thursday the 23rd day of July 1863 at the House of said Mary A. Sanders then and there valued and divided the slaves belonging to the Estate of Jas. Sanders Deceased giving the value to Mary of one third part of said slaves as follows to wit:

Simon $0.01, Peggy $0.01, Tom $350.00, Billy $700.00, Sissy $450.00, Jane $275.00, Hudson $250.00, Jenny $550.00, Lucinda $250.00, Patsy $550.00, John $400.00, Martha $400, Harison $450.

Slaves dispersed to other siblings were: Ed $350.00, Joana and child $600.00, Charles $300.00, Nora $300.00, Milton $800.00, Isabel $500.00, Minta $250.00, Joe Logan $700.00, Milly $550.00, Lucy $300.00, Chatman $800.00, Mary $500.00, Malissa $250.00, Jeff $500.00, Rose and Child $600.00, Harriett $400, Frank $500.00, Violet $300.00, Therisa $550.00, Harry $200.00 ..............

In the division of the slaves it will be seen that equal values could not be asigned to each child nor in the case of the subdivides in the Marshal children but as nearly as possible has been observed. Also we would state that fifteen of the negros were hired out....the family said they could not be got together from our knowledge and the best information of said parties their respective values have been asigned.

We also met Aug 12th and surveyed the lands named in the petition and gave to Mary A Sanders 282 acres ....286 poles encircling the mansion (see plat marked No 1). Out of all of the lands named in the petition for the different survey is marked No 1-2-3???see plats and field notes filed here and made a part of this report. .....
all of which we respectfully subnmit to the Honorable Taylor Circuit Court.

R. M. Buckman, W. ? Cowherd, ? M. Chandler

 Published 30 May 2014 ;  last modified 27 March 2018          © Clay Hill Memorial Forest 2014