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Elizabeth Kambourian shared the following with us:
CHAIN OF TITLE TO LOT 15, BLOCK S, IN THE PLAN OF BROOKDALE,
AND BY INFERENCE, BELLEVUE)
This traces the land which encompasses Laburnum, Hermitage, Brook, and Westbrook. In 1800, the year of the Gabriel Conspiracy, it was owned by Jacob Smith's widow. I have italicized and done in bold the names of the slaves involved in the conspiracy. At the end of the title search, I have put documents proving the slave George Smith was the first conspirator, and that he was owned by Ann Smith, widow of Jacob Smith of Henrico County. [You may already know that this neighborhood was part of Henrico until well into the 20th century.]
Later in title search, the focus is Brookdale, which is bounded by MacArthur Ave. on the west. However, you will see the original property was several hundred acres. In 1800, at the time of the Gabriel Rebellion, it was 100 acres. This is the complete listing of links in the search, from me back to 1692. It would always include Brookdale, but drops the area west of MacArthur and north of Bellevue in 1902. That doesn't affect the time period which gives the historical importance, however.
Note: The title search begins with the will of Obadiah Smith in 1746. I have included my research on the land, and how Obadiah got it. The title search picks up at his death. 1
1692, June 3: Charles City County Court at Westover appointed Obadiah Smith and his sister Mary as joint executors for the estate of their father, John Smith of Turkey Island estate. [Chas. City Co. Order Bk. 1687-95, pg. 126, 130]
1705: Obadiah Smith of Charles City County owned 200 acres in Henrico County.
1716: Thomas Pleasants sold Obadiah Smith 300 acres in Henrico County on the south side of the Chickahominy Swamp, bounded by the Cattail Swamp and the meadows. John Pleasants sold Obadiah Smith 600 acres in Henrico County, the original Patent of John Woodson, Sr. dated Oct. 23, 1690.
EK note: This tract included the present land from the State Fairgrounds north to the Hanover County Line - tracts known as Pickanocky and Half Sink.
TITLE SEARCH
LINK I:
1746: June. Henrico County Court. Will of Obadiah Smith.
TITLE SEARCH: "Among other devises he gave to his son, Jacb Smith, 300 acres of land, more or less, bounded by Brook Road, Col. Byrd's land, John Branch's, [sic], and lands of John Price, Thomas Williamson and Mr. Richardson's, of which, land in caption is a portion."
ORIGINAL WILL: ". . . Son Jacob: 300 acres, the remainder of above tract above the Brook road, lying and bending as follows: Beginning on John Cannon's line on Brook Road, down the said line to Col. Byrd's line, up the same to John's Branch, down the branch to John Price's line, thence, to John Williamson's line, and along the same to Mr. Richardson's line to the road and down the road to the beginning."
EK Note: Richardson's land is part of Brook Hill.
Col. Byrd's land was bounded on the north near Confederate Avenue. John Branch's should read (as in original document) John's Branch, meaning the creek in 1999 Bryan Park. This was an error on the part of the person doing the title search in 1918.]
John Price, in Lakeside, west of Hermitage Rd.John Williamson: Brook Hill.
LINK 2:
Title Search - 1791: Jacob Smith "Devises to his son, Obadiah Smith, 400 acres absolutely, and also land on which he lived, consisting of about 200 acres, subject to life estate of his wife, Ann Smith.
ORIGINAL WILL OF JACOB SMITH: 1791
". . . Item: to my son Obadiah, . . . After the death or widowhood of my wife the land where I now live and also the land I bought of Drury Wood adjoining Barret Price, the whole containing more or less 200 acres; also my blacksmith's tools to him and his heirs forever; also one copper still.
Item: to my wife Ann Smith, use of land where I live during her life and negroes: Harry, Will, Jack, Ursula, GEORGE, Lydia, Rachel, CHARLES, Hannah, Sandy, Agnes and her increase, and all of the rest of my Estate not before devised, my will is that she would ...and after her death or marriage to go to whom they are given. If she
remarry her share to be divided equally among her and 4 children: Jesse, Jacob, Mary A. Henley, Susanna Ellis.
LINK 3:
1796: "Obadiah Smith, son of Jacob Smith, died intestate; leaving as his only heirs-at-law,his widow, Elizabeth and following children Jacob, Mary (wife of John Ryall), Elizabeth (wife of Lydall Bowles), Lucy (wife of John T. Hawkins) and Martin and Nancy Smith."
EK Note: His mother Ann Smith was still alive and living on the Quincy tract. She also still had possession of her late husband's slaves, including Ursula and her children, George and Charles. Ann Smith died about 1802. Then the land was distributed to the children of her son, who had predeceased her, Obadiah Smith (Jr.)in 1796.
LINKS 4 - 7:
In several separate instruments, the children of Obadiah (Jr) Smith turn over their interest in the land to their brothers Jacob Smith and Martin Smith. However, there is a legal problem in the instrument that Lucy Smith Hawkins signed giving the property to her brothers.
LINK 8
The heirs of Lucy Hawkins sue for their deceased mother's share of Obadiah (Jr.) Smiths land. The suit drags on until 1832. The heirs had all moved to Kentucky and Tennessee. In 1815 the courts ordered 44 acres be partitioned off of the tract for the heirs of Lucy Hawkins. The 44 acres consisted of a narrow strip of land running parallel and south of the 1999 Laburnum Avenue. From west to east the 44 acres began at Hermitage Rd. and ended at Brook Rd. The final partition and conveyance of the 44 acres was accomplished in 1821.
Sept. 10, 1832 the heirs of Lucy Hawkins convey the land back to Jacob Smith and Martin Smith.
LINK 9
MARTIN SMITH'S WILL: Probated Nov. 1818. Conveyed to his brother Jacob Smith. Land description: . . . land where he lives to all that part round from a corner pine on Robert Gordon's line *, along a line of marked trees to a corner poplar on a line to millpond branch, thence from the poplar to William Young's line so as to include the meadow. . . . sister Nancy Smith have use of plantation whereon they now live, and is owned by myself and brother Jacob Smith . . .
Note: Nancy Smith later married a man named Taylor. Civil War maps show the land near Pope Avenue as being Taylor property. Millpond Branch is same as John's Branch (Princeton Creek). William Young was the owner of Westbrook, hence "Young's Pond" in Bryan Park.
LINK 10
In July 1822 Jacob Smith sold the land to John Goddin. Recorded May 1, 1824. TITLE SEARCH: "Conveyed 50 acres fronting 36 poles and 22 links (203) yards on west line of Brook Road and running back along land allotted to Lucy Hawkins' children, 220 poles on south line and 214 1/2 poles on north line to a road (now Hermitage Road). "This embraced part of land in caption."
EK note: Plat of Quincy made during the Smith v Hawkins Lawsuit. This is the "Quincy" part of the plat that is patched onto two separate plats of Westbrook. This is the one that is posted on the Bellevue site.
THE ORIGINAL DEED: Jacob Smith to John Goddin
May 1, 1824:
Beginning at a stake on Brook Tnpk Rd. on the line of Martin Smith's land possessed of John Hawkins and Lucy Smith, his wife, and running thence along the said land leaving the road south 89 3/4 degrees west 220 poles to Jacob Smith's line, thence with his line north 42 degrees west, 2 poles, thence along a new chopt tree, due
north 35 poles and 22 links or 197 1/2 yards to a stake and pointer, thence with another new line north, 86 3/4 degrees east 214 1/2 poles to a corner White Oak on the aforesaid road, thence along the said road south 9 degrees east 36 poles and 22 links or (203 yards) to the start.
LINK 11
May 20, 1833: HAWKINS TO GODDIN: The heirs of Lucy Hawkins deed over the 44 acres to John Goddin.
TITLE SEARCH: "The grantors by their attorney, in fact, Parry B. Hawkins conveyed the 44 acres of land above described and which came to them through suit above referred to. . . . This vested all of the land in caption in John Goddin.
Original Document: DATED 29 May 1833. "This Indenture made 20th May 1833 between Martin J. Hawkins; Elizabeth Hawkins. J. Hawkins, Rowland Hawkins of the state of Kentucky, James O. Hawkins, Parry B. Hawkins and Scott Hawkins of the State of Tennessee, of the first part and John Goddin of the City of Richmond of the second part.
Witnesseth that the said Martin Hawkins et. al. for $880 from John Goddin...a certain parcel ofland lying and being in the County of Henrico consisting inpart of the land belonging to the estate of John Hawkins deceased, in sight of his wife Lucy Hawkins nee Smith, containing 44 acres, and lying as follows: ____Brook Turnpike____
Martin Smith, deceased and a tract of land sold by him to Charles Copland, the said 44 acres nearby represented in said plat by yellow lines and laid down by Benjamin Sheppard and Wm. Young commissioners of the Court of Chancery.
LINK 12
JOHN GODDIN'S WILL: Probated March 7, 1864, Henrico County Court
"Devised all of his land in four equal parts, to Adolph [sic] Goddin, Wellington Goddin, Clark R. Worsham and Laura Crafton, with particular directions to take care of his wife. "Adolph [sic] Goddin, Wellington Goddin and Clarke Worsham named as executors.
JOHN GODDIN'S WILL: March 1864 "...The farm in Henrico on the Brook Turnpike in which the testator recently resided about 95 acres, . . .
Note: Daughters of John Goddin: Clarke Worsham, Bennet Crafton. Sons: Wellington Goddin, Adolphus Goddin. He assigns each of his slaves to certain children:
SLAVES:
Martha Burton, 60, infirm: $200 to Clarke Worsham
Joe, 43, $4000: Clark Worsham
Isaiah, 37 $4500: Wellington Goddin
Jesse, 40: $4000 to Wellington Goddin
Nancy, 35 $2000 to Adolphus Goddin
Allice, 17 $4000 to Bennet Crafton
Isaiah, Jr. 14 $1500 to Bennet Crafton
Rachael, 12 $1500
Cornelius, 10 $1500 to Clark Worsham
Joe, Jr., 8 to Adolphus Goddin
Jesse Jr., 6 $1000 to Adolphus Goddin
Winston, 2 $500 to Adolphus Goddin
Jackson, 1 month $300 to Adolphus Goddin
Wm Brown, 40 $3000 to Wellington Goddin
Victoria, 23; William, 2; & Male infant, 1 month; to Wellington Goddin
Georgianne, 18 $4000 to Clark Worsham.
In order to provide for the temporal welfare of the widow
Roxanna Goddin and to...we the undersigned (her children and
son-in-law) to occupy the small house on Brook Ave. formerly occupied
by her, free..etc.
LINK 13
DEED: Roxanna Goddin, Adolphus Goddin, & Ann Eliza, his wife, Clarke R. Worsham, Bennett Crafton & Laura, his wife, & Wellington Goddin & Eliza P., his wife, to Mosby Woodson. DATED: March 7, 1864, Recorded Henrico County Court, April 1, 1864.
"In order to effect division of estate of John Goddin, all of his property, including farm of about 95 acres on Brook Road, was conveyed to Grantee in trust to sell, pay debts and divide balance according to will."
DEED: GODDINS, ET. AL TO MOSBY WOODSON, TRUSTEE, DATED: March 17, 1864 Description of property found in deed:". . . all that land lying and being in the County of Henrico about 2 miles north of the City of Richmond adjacent to the lands of Martin T. Taylor and John O. Taylor's estate, being a part of the farm whereon the said John Goddin recently resided containing 45 acres according to a plat and survey drawn by Thomas. M. Ladd, City Surveyor . . ."
LINK 14:
DEED: Mosby Woodson, Trustee, to James A. Harwood. DATED: March 17, 1864, and recorded in Henrico County Court, Nov. 13, 1866. "Conveyed 50 acres of above tract of land being lots 1 & 2 on plat annexed. Lot #2 fronted 8.53 c on west side Brook Turnpike and ran back between parallel lines 28 chains along North line of Taylor's Lane (new Laburnum Ave.) to 30 foot road. While Lot #1 fronted 9.36 chains on Brook Turnpike and ran back between parallel lines 28 chains. Two burial grounds were reserved in said tracts.
EK Note: This is how I got started on this whole project in 1987! I wanted to find out where the two graveyards were!!!
LINK 15:
Oct. 29, 1866. James A. Harwood and Georgella B., his wife, deeded land to the son of John Goddin, Wellington Goddin. Deed recorded Nov. 13, 1866.
Link 16:
Oct. 31, 1868. Wellington Goddin sold farm called Quincy to L. H. Jeter:
DESCRIPTION OF QUINCY: (from original deed) ". . . all that certain tract of land with buildinGs and improvements thereon called "Quincey" lying and being in the county of Henrico on the west side of the Brooke Tnpk, about 2 miles north of the city of Richmond containing 50 acres according to a plat and survey . . . annexed. . ."
DEED: L.H. JETER TO JAMES L. APPERSON - DEED DATED: Oct. 21, 1868
This Deed made the 21st day of october in the year 1868 between
L.H. Jeter of Henrico County and James l. Apperson of Richmond: Wit:
that the said L.H. Jeter does grant unto the said L. Apperson the
following property to wit:
All that certain tract and parcel of land...and improvements thereon called "Quincey" lying and being in the County of Henrico on the Brook Turnpike, about 2 miles north of Richmond. . ."
LINK 17:
DEED: L.H. Jeter to Leroy E. Brown DATED: April 22, 1889. This deed made 22 April 1889 between L.H. Jeter and Mattie D., his wife of the County of Henrico of the first part and Leroy E. Brown of the 2nd part: Witnesseth: That in consideration of $15,000
paid the said party of the first part does grant unto the said LeRoy
E. Brown with general warranty . . . "all that certin tract or parcel of land with buildings and improvements therein, called "Quincy". . ."
LINK 18:
GINTER ET AL TO COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA - April 15, 1892
Whereas it is desired of opening a road or boulevard 100 ft. in
width which would be an extension of Laburnum Ave. better known as
Jeter's Lane now running only from Brook Rd. to the Hermitage Rd. in
an easterly and westerly direction extending eastwardly across the
properties of Lewis Ginter, Suther Wright, Dr. Hunter mcGuire, L.E.
Brown, Mrs. A.P. Taylor and Isaac Davenport, the C&O Railroad and
westwardly throught the properties of Lewis Ginter to the RF&P Railroad, to be used as a public road or highway.
Therefore this deed made this twentieth day of november 1890
between Lewis Ginter Suther Wright and ...his wife, Dr. Hunter
McGuire and Mary S. his wife, L.E. Brown and minta A., his wife and
Isaac Davenport-parties of the first part and the Commonwealth of Virginia, party of the second part . . . for one dollar . . . grant unto the party of the second part . . . Warranty so much of their land as will be necessary . . . to extend the said Boulevard through the same at a uniform width of 100 ft.
Plat
For better and fuller discription of the land hereby conveyed to
be used for sd. road or boulevard special reference is hereby made
to the plat of the same hereby attached and to be recorded as a part
of this deed: That each party to this deed will at once remove all
fences which are now up and across the proposed extension of the road
to the proper line and throw open the same for public use.
Witness the following signatures and Seals: Isaac Davenport Jr.
signs this deed on condition that the present fence on his land is to
be the southern boundary line of the within Boulevard.
L. Wright; Susan W. Wright; Hunter McGuire; M.S. mcGuire; leroy
E. Brown; Minta A. Brown; I. Davenport, Jr., Lewis Ginter
To Wit: I, J. Thompson Brown, a Notary Public for the City
aforesaid in the Satae of Va. do certify that ...whose names are
signed to the within writings bearing date 20 Nove. 1890 and
acknowledge same before me in the City aforesaid.
|| ||
|| J.T. Brown ||
R Hermitage Rd: > || _______________||
|| L.H. | || Lewis
F || Blair | || Ginter
& Lewis Ginter || |LeRoy Brown ||
P || | ||
=====================||=================================
R Lewis || Laburnum Ave. || Lewis
R Ginter || || Ginter
|| Jos. Bryan ||
LINK 19:
DEED of March 17, 1898 - LeRoy E. Brown & Minta A., his wife, to Robert Sprague Hall Recorded Henrico County, VA, April 4, 1898
Conveyed eastern 30 acres of above land, fronting 1159 feet on
West side of Brook Turnpike and running bak in a westerly direction
between parallel lines, one of which in North line of Laburnum Ave.
1198.7 feet on south line, and 1068.4 feet on North line. Plat
annexed.
LINK 20:
DEED of March 30, 1898; Robert Sprague Hall (single) to John H. Storer
Recorded, Henrico Co. April 4, 1898 - same land as next above described.
Link 21:
DEED OF TRUST: of March 30, 1898
Robt. Sprague Hall (single)to Jas. W. Anderson & Real Estate Securtiy Co., Trustees. , April 4, 1898
Conveyed same tract of land in trust to secure LeRoy E. Brown
payment of $11500.00 being $10000.00 principal, . . .with power to sell in event of default. . .
LINK 22:
TRUSTEE: of March 30, 1898
John H. Storer and Edith his wife with Arthur Lyman and Susan C. (his
wife and Robert T. Paine, Jr. Recorded April 25, 1898
By this writing John H. Storer declared that he held said land
for benefit of all the parties, or survivors of them with full power
to sell etc., and purchaser not to see to application of purchase
money.
LINK 23:
TRUST DEED of June 25, 1898 John H. Storer, Trustee, John H. Storer & Edith P., his wife; Arthur Lyman & Susan C., his wife; Robert T. Paine, Jr., single, to Robert Sprague Hall. Recorded July 1, 1898
Reconveyed same land subject to trust deed above.
LINK 24:
TRUST DEED of June 25, 1898
Robert Sprague Hall, single, to Robert T. Paine, Jr., single,
Recorded July 1, 1898 Reconveyed same land subject to trust deed above.
LINK 25:
DEED (LAWSUIT) of Oct. 17, 1902 - Jas. W. Anderson & Real Estate Securtiy Company, Trustes, TO: J. Thompson Brown & LeRoy E. Brown.
In pursuance of decree of Circuit Ct. of Henrico County in cause
of J. Thompson Brown & Co. vs. John E. Storer et als; entered may 29,
1902 and Oct. 10, 1902, being a suit for enforcement of lien of above
trust deed, sale was made in compliance with terms of said trust deed
. . .
LINK 26:
DEED: of May 21, 1907 J. Thompson Brown & Bettie H. his wife, and LeRoy E. Brown & Minta A., his wife, to Brookdale Corporation, a Va. Corporation, etc
Conveyed tract of land including above with exception of all of said lots above designated, except No. 69 which was owned by Brown, fronting 2337' 6" on West line of Brook Turnpike, and running back between line nearly parallel between Laburnum Ave. and Bellevue Ave., being 1933'10" on Laburnum Ave. See plat Book 9 page 1 for plot.
LINK 27:
DEED: of April 24, 1913 Brookdale Corporation to F. H. Nott
Conveyed real estate described in the Caption.
Subject to the following conditions and restrictions for the space of
twenty-one years:
1). The property is not to be sold, rented or otherwise disposed of
to any negro or person of African descent.
2) That no liquor or ardent spirits are to be sold upon the
property.
3) That the layout of the lots as shown on the Plan of Brookdale
shall be adhered to ,and no scheme of facing lots in any other
direction shall be permitted.
4) That no use shall be made of the property hereby conveyed or any
part thereof, that will constitute a nuisance or injure the value of
any neighboring lots.
5) That the Brookdale Corporation reserves to itself the fee in
all the streets of said property to use the same for railroad, gas,
water, and sewer pipes, electric light, telephone and telegraph poles
and wires and for such other reasonable uses as the said corporation
may see fit.
6) that no house shall be built on Laburnum Avenue, Bellevue
Avenue, Brook Turnpike or Fairfax Avenue to cost less than $2000.00
nor on any other street or avenue to cost less than $1500.00.
NOTE: (1) Deed reciteds that Brookdale Corporation executes deed
by L. O. Miller, President, and maurice A. Powers, Secretary, "by due
authority of said corporation."
(2) Certificate of Beverly Randolph, Notary Public for the
City of Richmond, Sate of Virginia, as to Brookdale Corporation does
not state date of expiration of his commission as notary Public.
This, however, does not affect the validity of the deed.
(3) Real estate Securtiy Company, Trustee under deed of
trust from Brookdale Corporation dated may 21, 1907 and recorded in
Hen. Co. Ct. in Deed Book 180-B page 83, unites in this deed for
purpose of releasing the lien of said deed of trust as to caption
property.
(4) This deed, is dated April 24, 1913 and in certificated
of both of the Notaries Public it is referred to as bearing date "the
24th day of April 1913" while in the closing or testimony clause of
said deed it is recited, "Cone this the 25th day of April, 1913,"
This however, in our opinion, is immaterial.
LINK 28: Note: This is the starting page of my title search. It was done for Tobias Albert Foster when he bought the lot my house is on in 1918. I put it here as I have added to it. Whenever "land in caption' is mentioned in any of the links, it is referring to this lot, which is now 1216 W. Laburnum Ave., aka my house.]
ABSTRACT OF TITLE OF F.H. NOTT TO Tobias Albert Foster - 1918
"Lot number 15, in Block "S" in the Plan of Brookdale as platted
by T. Crawford Redd & Brother,Surveyors, and of record in the Clerk's
Office of Henrico County,Virginia, in Plat Book 9, page 4, and
further described as follows:
"Beginning at the northeast corner of Laburnum Avenue and Lafayette
Street, and running north about one hundred and thirty-two (132') feet to an alley, thence east along said alley about fifty (50') feet, hence south about one hundred and thirty-two (132') feet to Laburnum Avenue, thence west along said street about fifty feeet to place of beginning.(Description from DB. 200-B, page 422, Henrico County Court.)
Respectfully submitted,
Garret and Ammons, Attorneys at Law.
made for E. F. Schmidt & Co., Inc. Agt., Purchaser, Mr. T.A Foster
Purchae Price, $1000.00
LINK 29:
1968: Foster to Samples
LINK 30:
1971: Samples to Heenan
LINK 31:
1973: Heenan to Kambourian
*******************************************************
DOCUMENTATION ON THE SLAVE, GEORGE SMITH,
PROPERTY OF JACOB SMITH ESTATE, 1800.
SLAVE, GEORGE SMITH:
See will of Jacob Smith, 1791 to see George, and his brother Charles as slaves of this farm. Their mother was Ursula, and the father, I believe, was named Ned. (Jacob Smith's Will on page 2 of this document)
Sept. 17, 1800: Confession of one of the chief conspirators in the Gabriel Slave Plot, Ben Woolfolk: "The first time I ever heard of this conspiracy was from Mrs. Ann Smith's George, the second person that gave me information was Samuel alias Samuel Bird the property of Mrs. Jane Clarke."[COMMUNICATIONS OF BEN ALIAS BEN WOODFORK]
SEPT. 19, 1800: Trial of George Smith:
At a Court of Oyer and Terminer: held for the County of Henrico at the Courhouse on Friday the nineteenth day of September 1800 for the trial of George a negro man slave the property of Jacob Smith's Estate now in the possession of Anne Smith of said County. Charged with Conspiracy in insurrection.
Present: Daniel L. Hylton, Bowler Cocke, Hezekiah Henley, Pleasant Younghusband, George Williamson Gent Justices.
The prisoner was set to the bar in Custody, and being arraigned of the premises pleaded not guilty. Whereupon sundry witnesses were Charged, sworn, and examened and the prisoner fully heard in his defence by James Rind Gent. Counsel assigned him by the Court; On consideration whereof It is the opinion of the Court that the said negro man slave George is guilty of the charge aforesaid and for the same that he be hanged by the neck until he be dead. And that execution of this sentence be done and performed on him the said George on this day fortnight being the thrid day of October next at Watson's Tavern, the property of Thomas H. Prosser in this County. The Court valued the said slave George to one hundred pounds. The minutes of the aforegoing Trial and proceedings were signed. Dan'l L. Hylton Bowler Cocke Hez. Henley
P. Younghusband Geo. Williamson A Copy Teste Adam Craig C.H.C.
[Comments on back of trial transcript: Commonwealth vs. George: Trial and proceedings. Sept. 19th 1800. Also, a note added later: 3rd Oct. and another: "executed"].
ORIGINAL TRANSCRIPT OF GEORGE SMITH'S TRIAL:
[NOTE on reverse side of paper: No. 10 Trial of George. On the trial of George belonging to the Estate of Jacob Smith deceased.]
Ben Woolfolk the property of Paul Graham Deposed- That the first time he ever heard anything of a conspiracy and insurrection among the Blacks, was from the prisoner, that he came to his house at dusk or dark where he was cutting Wood and asked him if he would join a free-mason Society. This deponent replied, No, because all free-masons would go to Hell.
Upon this the prisoner said it was not a free-Mason Society he wished him to join but a Society to fight the white people for their freedom, who replied, he would consider of it.
About a week or 10 days after, the prisoner and one Sam Byrd came to his house (at Mr. Young's, where he was hired, with Jack Bowler, that the prisoner, Sam Byrd, and this deponent conversed until late at Night upon the intended War and insurrection. The said George told them he was one of the party.
Some short time after this the prisoner informed this deponent that he had enlisted about thirty seven men at Hungary Meeting House and fifty in Manchester.
On Sunday evening about a week after the meeting of the prisoner, and Sam Byrd at his house, there was a meeting at Prossers Spring. The prisoner, Gabriel, this deponent and many others were there, they appointed the prisoner to carry the money which was made, by subscription, to this deponent on the night he was to go to Caroline to buy Liquor to treat the men to get them to enlist. Up there George the prisoner was a Colonel.
The prisoner told this deponent that he intended to hire his time of his Mistress and go down as far as the pipeing tree, to enlist men, particularly the Outlandish people, because they were supposed to deal with Witches, and Wizards, and of course useful in Armies to tell when any calamity was about to befall them.
The testimony of Price's Jno. on the prisoner. The last time he saw George the prisoner was at Mr. Young's at a funeral; after it was over Gabriel proposed to the prisoner and many others that they should go to the spring and drink grog. After they got to the Spring, the deponent heard Gabriel ask the prisoner if he would join him to fight the white people for their freedom. George the prisoner replied he would and gave him his hand.
Condemned.
George Smith: EXECUTION CERTIFIED: "I do hereby certify that the slave within mentioned was executed on the 10th Inst. the executive having suspended his execution until that day. Signed Samuel Mosby, 20 Oct. 1800.
OCTOBER 23, 1800:
I do Hereby Certify I examined George some few days before his execution on the subject of Mr. Elisha Price's man James having enlisted with him in the Conspiracy, who positively denied he ever mentioned the subject to him, that he was afraid to let him know the secret, nor did believe it was ever mentioned to him.
Given under my hand
Jesse Smith * 23rd Oct. 1800
Teste--- James Price Frederick ArgyleBack to the Top
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