PRIMARY DOCUMENT

List of People Enslaved by Descendants of John Pleasants III and his son, Jonathan Pleasants (August 19, 1799)

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CONTEXT

This is a list of enslaved people and their enslavers, who inherited them from John and Jonathan Pleasants. Specifically, it lists those who were enslaved by the following: Samuel Pleasants, Isaac W. Pleasants, Robert Cary Pleasants, Mary and Charles Logan, Margaret and Thomas Pleasants, Elizabeth and Robert Pleasants, Jr., and Margaret and Daniel Teasdale. The more than 400 enslaved people listed here were the subject of Pleasants v. Pleasants.

FULL TEXT

LIST of NEGROES in the possession of Samuel Pleasants, held under the wills of John & Jonathan Pleasants; whose ages were ascertained by Thomas Pleasants, James Pleasants. William Moseley and Frederick Woodson, on the 19th day of August, 1799.

Persons above the age of 45 years.

David, Saunders, Ceasar, York, London, Nanny, Charlotte, Sall, Arthur, Will, Maria, Judy, Phillis Powder.—In all 13.

Persons between 30 & 45 years old.

Sterling 1, Frederick 2, Joe 3, Phil 4, Tom 5, Harry 6, Jacob Powder 7, George 8, Jacob 9, Doll 10, Ben 11, Pender 12, John Powder 13, Silvia 14, Frank Cozens 15, Chloe Cozens 16, Peter 17, Aggy 18, Bob 19, Fanny 20, Nelly 21, Betty 22, James 23, Patty 24, Lucy Gloster 25, Cuffy 26, Sukey 27, Sukey 28, Amy 29.

Persons born of mothers after they were 30 years old.

Jack 1, George 2, Pender 3, York 4, Amy 5, Eve 6, Joe 7, Nelly 8. David 9, Molly 10, Rose 11, Kate 12, Jacob 13, Phebe 14, Lucy 15, Delphia 16, Lilly 17, Mourning 18, Tabb 19, Caesar 20, Sally 21, Mourning 22, Hampton 23, Jerry 24, Aggy 25, Mary Ann 26, Alice 27, Amy 28, Rachel 29.

Persons judged to be infirm and unable to earn a support, entitled to freedom when 30 years old.

Nancy, 25 years old; Isabel, born February 1782; John, born July 1783.—In all 3.

— page 9 —

Persons born of mothers under 30 years old, and entitled to fredom at that age.

Names.When born.When to be discharged. Solomon, May 1772 May 1802 Dorcass, February 1782 February 1812 Hannah, October 1784 October 1814 Lucy, April 1787 April 1817 Sterling, April 6th, 1789 April 1819 Peter, January 1792 January 1822 Joe, September 1794 September 1824 Charlotte, April 1784 April 1814 Biddy, April 17th, 1786 April 17th, 1816 Mourning, Decem. 25, 1787 Decem. 25, 1817 Winter, October 1789 October 1819 Gabriel, March 1792 March 1822 Lewis, May 1794 May 1824 Rainey, September 1796 September 1826 Ben, February 1799 February 1829 Frank, May 1777 May 1807 Hannah, May 1779 May 1809 Thornton, July 1781 July 1811 Henry, December 1786 December 1816 Milly, February 1789 February 1819 Ridley, September 1791 September 1821 Frederick, October 1793 October 1823 Frank, April 1795 April 1825 Ben, May 15th, 1782 May 15th, 1812 Luke, July 1784 July 1814 Nat, March 1789 March 1819 Isaac, March 1788 March 1818 Alace, April 1790 April 1820 Betty, August 1775 August 1805 Beck, June 1795 June 1825 Phil, May 1797 May 1827 Ned Abrey, August 9th, 1799 August 9th, 1829 Critty, March 1777 March 1807 Sall, October 1778 October 1808 Janey, February 1784 April 1814 Hester, November 1786 November 1816 Patience, March 1783 March 1813 Milton, April 1785 April 1815 Anderson, May 1787 May 1817 Clarissa, June 1789 June 1819 Caroline, July 1792 July 1822

— page 10 —

Names.When born.When to be discharged. Reubin, August 1793 August 1823 Arthur, August 1795 August 1825 Mary, Decem. 23, 1775 Decem. 23, 1805 Fanny, January 1792 January 1822 Bob, May 28th, 1795 May 28, 1825 Celia, May 28th, 1798 May 28, 1828 Toney, May 1776 May 1806 Janey, December 1775 December 1805 Phebe, January 15, 1797 January 15, 1827 Judy, January 31, 1799 January 31, 1829 Doll, November 1774 November 1804 Ursula, May 1789 May 1819 Peyton, August 1791 August 1821 Julia, August 1793 August 1823 Grace, October 1795 October 1825 Jim, January 1798 January 1828 Charles, August 1774 August 1804 Will, December 1776 December 1806 Bridget, November 1783 November 1813 Watt, August 1770 August 1800 Rachel, May 1778 May 1808 Maria, August 1795 August 1825 Aggy, March 1798 March 1828 Lydia, September 1780 September 1810 Moses, March 1797 March 1827 Charles, Novemb. 3, 1798 Novemb. 3, 1828 James, October 5, 1788 October 5, 1818 Anthony, April 23, 1791 April 23, 1821 Myrtilla, Novem. 29, 1792 Novem. 29, 1822 Lucy, August 28, 1794 August 28, 1824 Isaac, Novem. 18, 1796 Novem. 18, 1826 Judy, Novemb. 5, 1798 Novem. 5, 1828 Judith, August 1793 August 1803 Duncan, August 1793 August 1823 Hall, March 1780 March 1810 Caesar, August 1788 August 1818 Gloster, August 1798 August 1823 Nancy, August 1790 August 1820 Caesar, May 1774 May 1804 Aggy, August 1777 August 1807 Celia, August 1795 August 1825 Milly, August 1790 August 1800 Stephen, November 1777 November 1807 Phillis, August 1772 August 1802

— page 11 —

Names. When born. When to be discharged. Jacob, September 1790 September 1820 Abby, February 1782 February 1812 Mingo, October 1797 October 1827 Jim, December 1777 December 1807 Eve, June 1779 June 1809 Phillis, December 1781 December 1811 Lavinia, June 1783 June 1813 Gloster, December 1784 December 1814 Tom, June 1786 June 1816 Frank, December 1787 December 1817 Lucy, December 1789 December 1819 Mike, June 1791 June 1821 Abraham, June 1793 June 1823 Jessee, December 1778 December 1808 Tabb, December 1780 December 1810 Cuffy, December 1782 December 1812 London, December 1786 December 1816 Biddy, December 1788 December 1818 Nelly, December 1785 December 1815 Sall, September 1787 September 1817 Nanny, May 1791 May 1821 Poll, May 1795 May 1825 Judy, January 1781 January 1811 Adeline May 1799 May 1829 Amy, August 1773 August 1803 Joe, June 1781 June 1811 Corey, December 1782 December 1812 Moses, December 1784 December 1814 Molly, May 1786 May 1816 Patty, October 1789 October 1819

In all 115.

List of Negroes in the possession of Isaac W. Pleasants, held under the Wills of John & Jonathan Pleasants; whose ages were ascertained by Thomas Pleasants, James Pleasants, William Mosely and Frederick Woodson, on the 19th day of Aug. 1799.

Persons above the age of 45 years…. …. …. …. ….

Persons between 30 and 45 years old.

Janey 1, Phillis 2, Hannah 3, invalids, Peter 4.

— page 12 —

Persons born of mothers under 30 years old and entitled to freedom at that age.

Names.When born.When to be discharged. Billy, November 1778 November 1808 John, January 1781 January 1811 Sall, June 1782 June 1812 Gaby, December 1783 December 1813 Charles, December 1784 December 1814 Sall, June 1773 June 1803

The above lists was taken agreeable to a decree of the High Court of Chancery. Given under our hands the day and year above written.

William Moseley, Frederick Woodson, James Pleasants, Thomas Pleasants.

List of Negroes in possession of Robert Cary Pleasants, and formerly in possession of Charles & Mary Logan, held under the wills of John & Jonathan Pleasants, whose ages were ascertained by William Moseley, William Bentley & Frederick Woodson, commissioners appointed by the High Court of Chancery for that purpose, August 23rd, 1799.

Persons above  45  years old.

Tom 1, Pompey 2, Will 3, Cato 4, Ned 5, Doll 6, Rachel 7, Amy 8, Jocob 9, Ned Gwin 10, Billy 11, Sarah 12, Richard Sharp 13, Nat 14.

Persons between  30  and  45  years old.

Nelly 1, Fanny 2, John Grey 3, Rachel Grey 4, David 5, Jessee 6, Mirtilla 7, Easter 8, Grace 9, Bob (son of Judy) 10, Sam Binns 11, Mirtilla 12, Mary 13, Mourning 14, Caesar 15.

Persons born after their mothers were  30  years old.

Anthony 1, Arthur 2, Louisa 3, Emmily 4, Ned 5, Daniel 6, Bob Grey 7, Paul Grey 8, Tarlton 9, Bartlet 10, Critty 11, Sukey (a cripple) 12, Charlotte 13, Milly 14, Billy 15, Sally 16, Jack 17, Tom 18, Ursula 19, Moses 20, Jack 21, Mirtilla 22, Jessee 23, Kesiah 24, Frederick 25, Tom 26, Doctor 27, John 28, Rachel 29, Sally 30, Gaby 31, Winny 32, Diey 33, Elijah 34, Caesar 35, Mourning Woodson 36, Fanny Woodson 37, Sam Woodson 38, Joseph Woodson 39, Lewis Moseley 40, Letty Moseley 41, Sterling 42, Peter 43, Frank 44.

— page 13 —

Persons born of Mothers under  30  years old, and entitled to freedom at that age.

Names.When born.When to be discharged. Hampton. December 1782 December 1812 Mourning, August 1789 August 1819 Polly Copland, March 1783 March 1813 Fanny Copland, December 1785 December 1815 Dick Copland, August 1787 August 1817 John Copland, August 1789 August 1819 Sam Randolph, August 1770 August 1800 Edith, March 1779 March 1809 Lucy, August 1770 August 1800 Lydia, March 1780 March 1810 Tabitha, August 1778 August 1808 Effee, February 1793 February 1823 Isham, February 1791 February 1821 Lavinia, February 1795 February 1825 Polly, December 1797 December 1827 Charles, March 1798 March 1828 Henrietta, August 1794 August 1824 Phillis, August 1781 August 1811 Molly, March 1783 March 1813 Stephen, August 1784 August 1814 Ben, March 1786 March 1816 Nancy (a cripple) August 1787 August 1817 Sam Binns, jun. August 1789 August 1819 Dick Baugh, March 1798 March 1828 Beck, May 1771 May 1801 Kate, November 1772 November 1802 Jacob, May 1774 May 1804 Ned, May 1777 May 1807 Judy, August 1784 August 1814 David, November 1778 November 1808 Nancy, March 1795 March 1825 Shasteen, August 1796 August 1826 Betty Ampy, August 1773 August 1803 James, April 1790 April 1820 Thruston, August 1795 August 1825 Bentley, April 1794 April 1824 Addison, May 1799 May 1829 Frank, February 1794 February 1824 Haskins, May 1795 May 1825 Henry, August 1796 August 1826 Peyton, July 1798 July 1828 Lewis, August 1776 August 1806

— page 14 —

Names.When born.When to be discharged. George, August 1787 August 1817 Harrison, September 1791 September 1821 Peter, August 1780 August 1810 Biddy, March 1782 March 1812 Kitty, August 1790 August 1820 Abraham, January 1780 January 1810 Fleming, August 1781 August 1811 Saunders, March 1782 March 1812 Little Billy, August 1785 August 1815

Twins,

Judy, August 1787 August 1817 James, August 1787 August 1817 Emanuel, August 1795 August 1825 Janey, August 1797 August 1827 Lucy, August 1772 August 1802 Sam, August 1775 August 1805 Lewis, April 1777 April 1807 Ned, August 1779 August 1809 Sarah, August 1781 August 1811 Aby April 1783 April 1813 Reubin, December 1784 December 1814 Hannah, March 1792 March 1822 Peggy, March 1794 March 1824 William, August 1796 August 1826 Johnson, July 1798 July 1828 Matilda, January 1796 January 1826 Sukey, November 1797 November 1827 Joe, August 1775 August 1805 Milly, March 1777 March 1807 July, August 1779 August 1809 Aaron, March 1781 March 1811 Davy, August 1783 August 1813 Sukey, August 1785 August 1815 Billy, April 1783 April 1813 Phillis, April 1778 April 1808 Simeon, August 1779 August 1809 John, April 1781 April 1811 Sylvia, August 1782 August 1812 Watt, April 1784 April 1814 Mourning, March 1798 March 1828 Robin Cuffy, March 1777 March 1807 Alexander, August 1778 August 1808 Pero, April 1786 April 1816 Billy Woodson, August 1782 August 1812 Davy Woodson, April 1781 April 1811 Joseph Moseley, August 1779 August 1809

87 Total.

— page 15 —

The foregoing lists were made in pursuance of a decree of the High Court of Chancery. Given under hands the day and year above written.

Wm Mosely,

W. Bentley,

Frederick Woodson,

List of Negroes, formerly the estate of John Pleasants, deceased, and by his Will given to his grand daughter Margaret, wife of Thomas Pleasants, jun. under certain conditions, and now held as part of the estate of the said Thomas Pleasants.

all free.

No. 1 Pender, born in 1742, 57 years of age, 2 Tom. her son, 1759, 40 do. 3 Biddy, of do. 1761, 38 do. 4 Olisf, of do. 1765, 34 do. 5 Obra, of do. 1762, 31 do. 6 Lewis, of do. 1774, 25 do. born after his mother was 30 years of age.

List of Negroes, held under the wills of John & Jonathan Pleasants, as part of the estate of Charles & Mary Logan, dec. in Henrico county.

7 Lucy, born in 1746, 53 years of age. 8 Sylvia Gray, her daughter, 1769, 30 do. 9 Charles Gray, son of do. June 1791, to be free in 1821 10 Peter Gray, of do. June 1793, do. 1823 11 Patty Gray, of do. Sept. 1798, do. 1828 12 Sylvia, daughter of Phillis, 1755, do. 44 years old. 13 Billy, son of do. Jan. 1787, born free. 14 Tom, son of do. Oct. 1788, do.

their mother being 30 years old at their birth.

15 Mary London, born in 1753, 46 year old. 16 Beck, daughter of Sucky, Sep. 1775, to be free in 1805 17 David, son of do. March 1797, do. 1827 18 Annna, of do. May 1799, do. 1829 19 Sally, daughter of Sukey, Sep. 1784, born after her mother was 30 years of age. born free.

Henrico county, September 21st, 1799.

Pursuant to a commission to us directed, from the High Court of Chancery, We have examined into the ages and sexes of several Negroes in a decree of the said court mentioned, and agreeable to the above statement, which we hereby certify to be just, to the best of our knowlege and belief.

Benjamin Goode.

Geo. Williamson.

Abel Janney.

— page 16 —

BETWEEN Robert Pleasants, son and heir of John Pleasants, Plaintiff, and Cary Pleasants and Mary Pleasants his wife, late Mary Logan, administratrix of Charles Logan, and devisee of John Pleasants & Jonathan Pleasants, deceased, Elizabeth Pleasants, administratrix of Joseph Pleasants, deceased, Isaac Pleasants and Jane his wife, Samuel Pleasants, junior, Thomas Pleasants, junior, and Margaret his wife. Robert Langley and Elizabeth his wife, Daniel Teasdale and Margaret his wife, late Margaret Langley, Elizabeth Langley the younger, and Anne May, Defendants.

And between Ned, a pauper, Plaintiff, and Elizabeth Pleasants, Defendant.

THE Court, this twenty-fourth day of September, in the year of our lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety nine, taking into consideration the report of William Moseley. William Bentley and Frederick Woodson; and also the report of Benjamin Goode, George Williamson and Abel Janny, persuant to the decretal order made in this cause on the fifth day of June last, to which reports were no exceptions, doth approve and confirm the same: in consequence whereof the slaves in the said reports mentioned to be above thirty and under the age of forty five years, are immediately entitled to certifites attesting their freedom, in the form prescribed by the said decretal order.

A LIST of NEGROES found in the possession of Daniel Teasdale and others, which appear to be derived from the wills of John Pleasants and Jonathan his son.

In the possession of Daniel Teasdale the following Negroes, the issue of Suky, now dead, who was devised by the said Jonathan Pleasants to Margaret the wife of the said Teasdale.

Suky dec’d at the time of her last child’s birth, was aged 41 years.

1. Isabel, her daughter, aged 21, free in 9 years. 2. Hampton, her son 20, do. 10. 3. Molly, 14, do. 16. 4. Frank, 13, do. 17. 5. 6. 7. Jack, 11 years; Suky, 8 years, and Peter, 4 years; all born free, as their mother was then 30 years of age. 8. Numa, aged 21, son of Fanny, free in 9 years.

— page 17 —

In the possession of the estate of the late John May. Sally, now 42 years of age.

9. Charles, her son, born in December, 1783, now 16. 10. Chloe, October, 1785, now 14. 11. Tom, September, 1787, now 12. 12. Jack, April, 1789, now 10.

Of course Charles it free in 14 years, Chloe in 16 years, and Tom and Jack born free, their mother then 30 years.

13. Jenny, aged 35, in the possession of Robert Pleasants, jun. 14. Cis, her daughter, born Sept. 1783, 16 years, free in 14. 15. Betty, aged 14, 16. 16. Sally, 12, 18. 17. Jenny, 11, 19. 18. Sharper, her son, 7, 23.

Born free, their mother then 30 years.

19. Fanny, April, 1794, 5, 20. Charles, Decemb. 1796, 3, 21. Jack, March, 1799, 6 Mo.

In the possesion of Robert Langley’s estate.

22. Will, aged 56 years 23. Cesar, 61, 24. Benjamin, 76, 25. Lucy, his wife, 61, 26. Sharper, 38, of Hannah, now free.

In consequence of a commission to us directed, from the High Court of Chancery, we have examined into the ages and sexes of several Negroes which appears to us to be comprised in a decree of the said court ordering the said commission, and having placed the same against the name of each Negro, according to the list upon the first page of this paper, and also the list upon page the third, continued to page the fourth, and do hereby certify the same, to the best of our knowledge, in Dinwiddie county, this eighteenth day of September, one thousand seven hundred and ninety-nine.

Abel Janney.

John Ponsonby.

A List of Negroes that are part of those, or the descendants of those Negroes, appraised as the estate of John Pleasants, of Curles (deceased) in the month of August, 1773, said to have been sold to him the said Pleasants, by Robert Langley, now deceased, and which appears to have been made previously liable by an instrument of writing now on record in the county of Dinwiddie, for the payment of £ 300 currency, due Roger Atkinson, now dec’d, dated October the 21, 1765, and which are now in the possession of the different persons placed opposite to their names, or at the head of each list

— page 18 —

In the possession of Daniel Teasdale, held in right of his wife Margaret, daughter of Robert Langley.

1. Amy, a Negro woman, 49 years old.   2. Sampson, man, 33 do. of Hannah. 3. Chloe, woman, 30 do. of do. 4. Jacob, son of Amy, 20 do.   5. Dick, of Pendar, 28 do.   6. Letty, of do. 26 do.   7. Ned, of do. 24 do.   8. Billy, of Chloe, 12 do.   9 King, of do. 7 do.   10. Patty, of do. 5 do.   11. Eve, of do. 4 do.   12. Chloe, of do. 2 do.   13. Joe, of Letty, 4 do.   14. Pendar, of do. 2 do.  

In the possession of Thos. Lewis, in right of his wife Ann, daughter of Robert Langley.

15. Jack, of Hannah, aged 35. 16. Hannah, of Amy 16. 17. Fanny, of do. 14. 18. Lucy, of do. 12. 19. Hannah, of do. 12. 20. Davy, of do. 29.

In the possession of Robt. Pleasants, jun. in right of his wife Elizabeth, daughter of Robt. Langley

21. Pendar,   aged 46 years. 22. Peter,   42. 23. Israel, of Amy, 10. 24. Betty, of Pendar, 18. 25. Jack, of do. 17. 26. Beck, of do. 14.

VIRGINIA. In the High Court of Chancery, March the 19th, 1800.

The Court, this nineteenth day of March, in the eighteen hundredth year of the Christian area, taking into consideration the report of Abel Janney, and John Ponsonby, bearing date the eighteenth day of September in the last year, to which report was no exception, doth approve and confirm so much thereof as relates to the descendants of the Negro slave Suky, said to have been devised by Jonathan Pleasants to Margaret, the wife of Daniel Teasdale; in consequence whereof such of the descedants of the said Suky, mentioned in the said report to be above thirty and under the age of forty five years, are immediately intitled to certificates attesting their freedom in the form prescribed by the decretal order made in this cause on the fifth day of June last.

The foregoing Orders, Decrees and Reports, are true copies from the originals, in the suits of Pleasants &c. v. Logan, et al, and Ned, a pauper, v. Pleasants.

Teste,

CITE THIS ENTRY
APA Citation:
Family, Members of the Pleasants. List of People Enslaved by Descendants of John Pleasants III and his son, Jonathan Pleasants (August 19, 1799). (2023, February 14). In Encyclopedia Virginia. https://encyclopediavirginia.org/entries/list-of-people-enslaved-by-descendants-of-john-pleasants-iii-and-his-son-jonathan-pleasants-august-19-1799.
MLA Citation:
Family, Members of the Pleasants. "List of People Enslaved by Descendants of John Pleasants III and his son, Jonathan Pleasants (August 19, 1799)" Encyclopedia Virginia. Virginia Humanities, (14 Feb. 2023). Web. 04 Oct. 2023
Last updated: 2023, February 14
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