Most of this information came from chancery court case files, docket number 118 and 968. The files are part of the Chancery Court Loose Papers at Metro Nashville Archives. Some of the information is repeated with slight differences. The names of the heirs of Thomas Martin are given as well as the names of slave belonging to the Thomas Martin estate.
Thomas Martin died in 1835, without a will, in Davidson
County, Tennessee. He was survived by his widow, Martha Philips Martin and
children, Jane wife of John McIver, Mary wife of Russell Dance, Eliza Martin,
William Martin, Thomas Martin, Susan Martin and Sarah Martin. William D. Philips was given letters of
administration by the court. Ages, family relationships and other identifying information is given regarding the slaves. Genealogical research for persons of African descent can be especially difficult in the period of slavery. It is hoped this information will aid someone tracing their family heritage.
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Chancery Court #968
Filed Sept. 11, 1838 – Martha Martin & others vs.
Russell Dance & others.
Thomas Martin died in 1835, a citizen of Davidson County,
Tennessee, leaving a widow Martha and the following children. Jane Martin now
married to John McIver; William; Thomas; Susan and Sarah his distributees and
except Martha his heirs at law. His
daughter Mary , wife of Russell Dance was living at the time Thomas Martin died
but is now deceased.
Thomas had at death the following slaves, Ephraim, Rhoda,
Emeline, George, Margaret, Matilda, Nell, Lotty, Ephraim [young], Ara,
Charlotte, Anna, Jinney, Frank, Lotty [young], Tempe, Sam, Rachael, Minerva,
Nancy, Rhoda [young], Fanny, Albert, Polly, Ben, Sally, Fanny [young], Gustus,
John, Primus, Simon and child Thomas and possibly others born since the filing
of this bill. Thirty two slaves valued at a total of $14, 400.
Thomas advanced in his lifetime to Jane and John McIver,
$5000; to Mary and Russell Dance Harriett 30 years old, and her children, Mary
8 years old, and Eliza 3 years old.
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Lots of slaves as they were valued
Lot # 1 – Ephraim $600
Rhody his wife $350
Margaret $300
Matilda $250
George $500
Polly
$100
$1000
Lot # 2 – Ned $600
Sally $500
Ephraim Jr. $400
Ara $200
Charlotte &
Thomas $300
$2050
Lot #3 – Amy, Rachel & Sam
Her two
children $850
Augustus $650
Frank $600
$2050
Lot #4 – Ben $1000 Lot
# 4 was drawn by Mrs. Martin in 1838
Rhoda & children $500
Sallay $500
$2000
Lot #5 – Simon $600 Lot # 5
was drawn by Eliza Martin in 1838
Emeline $650
Lotty Jun. & Minerva $760
$2000
Nancy –
Lot #6 – Temple $850
John $700
Jane $600
$2150
The other slaves were not distributed but held in common for
the remaining [minor] heirs.
Mrs. Martha Martin – Ben [valued at $1,000], Rhoda and her
two children Albert and Fanny [valued at $500], and Sally [valued at $500], A
total of $2,000
Eliza Martin – Simon [valued at $600], Emiline [valued at
$650], Lotty Jr. and Minerva [valued at $750], and Nancy [at no value]. A total of $2,000
The other lots were not drawn, the remaining children being
young, asking court if it would be better to permit those slaves to remain in
common to said children. The Negro woman
mentioned in the bill as Anny is named Amy and remains in common to the younger
children.
At his death Thomas Martin was in possession of the
following slaves -
Ephraim 45 years old [William Martin],
Rhoda 48,
Emeline 18, [Eliza Martin],
George 14,
Margaret 10,
Matilda 7,
Ned 43,
Lotty 34,
Ephraim 9 [William Martin],
Ara 7, [Sarah Martin],
Charlotte 4,
Amy 35,
Jinney 17, poss. Jane to
[Thomas Martin],
Frank 15, [Sarah Martin],
Lotty 11, [Eliza Martin],
Minerva 9, [Eliza
Martin],
Sam 7, [Sarah Martin],
Rachel 5,
Nancy 74, [Eliza Martin],
Rhoda 25, [Martha Martin],
Fanny 6, [Martha Martin],
Albert 3, [Martha Martin],
Polly 55 [Thomas Martin],
Ben 22, [Martha Martin],
Sally 17, [Martha Martin],
Fanny 35,
Temple 22 [ThomasMartin],
Gustus 24 [Susan Martin],
John 22,
Primus 30,
Simon 25 [Eliza
Martin],
all of which with
a Negro child named Thomas [Susan Martin],
born since Martin's death and in the hands of the
administrator.
William Martin has come of age and Susan Martin has
intermarried with J. T. Flint
In 1845 the Court ordered division of remaining slaves,
except Rhoda and her children.
To Susan Martin Flint – Gustus 30, Charlotte Jr. 11. Tom 9,
and Mary 7.
To William Martin, Ephraim Sr. 52, Ephraim Jr. 15, Charlotte
Sr. 36, and Andrew 3 yrs.
To Thomas Martin – Temple 30, Polly 60 to 70, Jane 21 and
Eliza 2 yrs old and Ben two months old.
To Sarah Martin – Frank 19, Ara 13 and Sam 11 years old.
Davidson County Deed Book 16 -183
Davidson County Deed Book 15 – 74
Davidson County Deed Book 10 587
Davidson County Deed Book
8 597
Land in Madison County ordered to be sold.
Land on Long Creek of Sycamore in Davidson County to be
sold.
1840 court ordered sale of land called the home tract, the
land on which Thomas Martin last lived, including all the tracts adjoining. To
be divided among Eliza Martin, William, Thomas, Susan and Sarah Martin
including the remainder of the widows dower
Estate dist. of slaves
Mrs. Martha Martin – Ben [valued at $1,000], Rhoda and her
two children Albert and Fanny [valued at $500], and Sally [valued at $500], A
total of $2,000
Eliza Martin – Simon [valued at $600], Emiline [valued at
$650], Lotty Jr. and Minerva [valued at $750], and Nancy [at no value]. A total of $2,000
The other lots were not drawn, the remaining children being
young, asking court if it would be better to permit those slaves to remain in
common to said children. The Negro woman
mentioned in the bill as Anny is named Amy and remains in common to the younger
children.
Minors – Robert McCullogh appt guardian
Susan Martin
Sarah Martin
William Martin
Thomas Martin
1845
William Martin has come of age and Susan Martin has
intermarried with J. T. Flint
Court ordered division of remaining slaves, except Rhoda and
her children.
To Susan Martin Flint – Gustus 30, Charlotte Jr. 11. Tom 9,
and Mary 7.
To William Martin, Ephraim Sr. 52, Ephraim Jr. 15, Charlotte
Sr. 36, and Andrew 3 yrs.
To Thomas Martin – Temple 30, Polly 60 to 70, Jane 21 and
Eliza 2 yrs old and Ben two months old.
To Sarah Martin – Frank 19, Ara 13 and Sam 11 years old.
Original complaint – Martha Martin & Eliza Martin a
minor under the age of 21 years against Russell Dance of Davidson Co., TN,
William Martin, Thomas Martin, Susan Martin, Sarah Martin all minors under the
age of 21 and John McIver and his wife Jane McIver of Rutherford Co., TN
Thomas Martin died without a will in 1835 in Davidson Co.
leaving surviving him, widow Martha and Eliza, Jane, William, Thomas, Susan,
Sarah, & Mary Dance [then living but since deceased] the wife of Russell
Dance, his sole heirs at law.
At his death Thomas Martin was in possession of the
following slaves -
Ephraim 45 years old, Rhoda 48, Emeline 18, George 14, Margaret
10, Matilda 7, Ned 43, Lotty 34, Ephraim 9, Ara 7, Charlotte 4, Amy 35, Jinney
17, Frank 15, Lotty 11, Minerva 9, Sam 7,
Rachel 5, Nancy 74, Rhoda 25, Fanny 6, Albert 3, Polly 55, Ben 22, Sally 17,
Fanny 35,
Temple 22, Gustus 24, John 22, Primus 30, Simon 25 all of
which with a Negro child named Thomas born since Martin's death and in the
hands of the administrator.
At his death Thomas Martin was in possession of land –
Land on which he lived previous to his death containing
about 392 acres comprised of four tracts as follows - A tract containing 107 ¾
acres purchased Dec 1815 from Joseph Philips D L p. __,
Another containing 102 ½ acres purchased of Elam & Pryor
DB L p. 25, another containing 150 acres [described as 125 ¼ ] purchased of
Robert Bates Dec. 1831 DB V, 339, the fourth containing about 38 acres
purchased of John Boyd DB U p 48 & 49.
Davidson County Deed Book L-185 registered May 11 1816
Joseph Philips to Thomas Martin 101 acres part of Carvins preemption, beginning
at William Williams southwest corner[John Evans preemption].
On Long Creek of Sycamore 391 acres
Four other tracts on Long Creek of Sycamore, 2 containing 50
acres and 2 containing 100 acres each.
Other land in Davidson County and Madison Co., Tn
Notes with lots of slaves as they were valued
Lot # 1 – Ephraim
$600
Rhody his wife $350
Margaret $300
Matilda $250
George $500
Polly $100
$1000
Lot # 2 – Ned $600
Sally $500
Ephraim Jr. $400
Ara $200
Charlotte &
Thomas $300
$2050
Lot #3 – Amy, Rachel & Sam
Her two
children $850
Augustus $650
Frank $600
$2050
Lot #4 – Ben $1000
Rhoda & children
$500
Sallay
$500
$2000
Lot #5 – Simon $600
Emeline $650
Lotty Jun. & Minerva $760
$2000
Nancy –
Lot #6 – Temple $850
John $700
Jane $600
$2150
Davidson County Chancery Docket # 118
Thomas Martin
Survived by his widow Martha Martin and the following
children & heirs at law, Jane McIver then intermarried with John McIver,
Mary P. Dance wife of Russell Dance and both of whom the said Russell & his
wife Mary afterwards departed this life without child or children. Eliza Martin since intermarried with John
Sype, William P. Martin, Thomas Martin, Susan Martin since intermarried with
James L. Flint and Sarah Martin.
The Jackson tract was bound by Gallatin Road on the west –
Eastland on the south – Chapel on the east - and Cahal on the north.
Susan was resident of Alexandria Louisiana in 1845
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