Bridgett and Amey

 

FamilySearch. Deed Book K, 1782-1785.

The image above shows an indenture from William Heslop (my 6th-great-grandfather) to his daughter Ann Graham Heslop (my 5th-great-grandmother) on 9 January 1784. The record appears in Will Book K, 1782-1785, Spotsylvania County, Virginia. When one flips to the next page, it shows this was a gift sale of a girl named Bridgett to Ann, for 5 shillings. I cannot tell for certain, but likely this is the same Bridgett who was conveyed from John Carter's estate to the Heslops in the same month.

This is the painful reality in the history of the family that much of the wealth of the Carters, Heslops and Ballard families was built on the backs of slaves. Ann Graham Heslop's son, Rice Carter Ballard, was one of the most notorious slave traders in the country.

Another slave transaction verifies Ann Graham Heslop as the wife of Benjamin Ballard as of 7 February 1792. On 4 October 1791, Ann purchased a woman named Amey for 42 pounds from Edward Herndon. The deed was entered into the Spotsylvania County records in February of the next year.

Deed Book N, 1791.

This is also an example to look up the original documents. If you only saw this entry on the transcription titled Virginia, Spotsylvania County Records, 1721-1800 for Deed Book N, you might think this was a short, simple record. The transcription says "no witnesses". However, as one can see above, when the deed of sale was recorded in 1792, it was actually executed by Benjamin Ballard, husband of Ann. This is so far the earliest document I have seen showing their relationship. The original also includes the name of the slave woman involved in the sale, Amey.

Transcription of Deed Book N via Ancestry.

The entry was also referenced in the Minute Book for Spotsylvania County, 1792-1795:

Minute Book, Image 6.

So many questions. Did Benjamin and Ann marry between October 1791 and February 1792? I have not yet found a marriage record for them. 

Is it a coincidence that Amey was the name of the woman in the 1784 division of property from John Carter's estate to Ann's parents? In that record, Amey was assigned a value of 50 pounds, and Bridgett 10 shillings. Was Bridgett the daughter of Amey? Was Ann's purchase of Amey in 1791 a way to reunite these two? I don't have enough information at this stage to know more.