Slaves of John Gregory

John Gregory's Will	Died 1832	Betsy; Edwin; Ephraim; Hannah; Kitty; Linda?; Lucreasy?; Lucy; Mary; Matt; Moriah; Munford; Richard; Spencer; Yelb___; others not named, see inventory
Inventory - WB 11:232	Gregory, John 1832, rec 1837	Adam 600; Armistead 300; Celia 400; Fanny 100; Fanny 100; Grace 50; Henderson 300; Jane 250; Peter 600; Phillis 200; Rachel considered worth no money 00; Ritter & 2 children Frances & Peter 600

Adam - was a member of old Meherrin Baptist Church 1771-1844, Lunenburg Co., VA; went with John Gregory's son Jackson Gregory to North Carolina, then Cobb Co., GA. His "Mother" is mentioned in family letters and believed to be Old Aunt Fanny who lived to a great age, died during Civil War at the old John Gregory homeplace, then in the hands of son Josephus Gregory. Adam was wanted by other sons of John Gregory, but is known by letters to have remained with Jackson.
Excerpts from letters written by Jackson Gregory from Georgia to his brother Josephus Gregory living at the old Gregory homeplace in Lunenburg Co., VA:

  Aug 1837 from Decatur, GA: "N.B. Adam sends howdy to his mother and says he is well pleased. I wish you to get a letter from the Church for him & send it on by the next letter if possible as he is anxious to join society. Be sure and send one as soon as possible. Bring Betsy [wife of Josephus] with you when you come. Be sure and bring Aunt Fanny [slave thought to be Adam's mother] with you if she wishes to come". By this time the Gregorys had removed from the Old Meherrin Church and were members of Mt. Zion Baptist Church built on the land of John Gregory.
  Sep 1844 from Cobb Co., GA: "Adam wishes to be remembered to his mother if alive."
  Jul 1846 from Marietta, GA: "N.B. Adam is well and looks as young as when you last saw him."
  May 1850 "At home" postmarked Atlanta, GA: "Adam wishes to be kindly remembered to his mother."
   Feb 1852 "At home" postmarked Atlanta, GA: ""Adam is quite well."

No further letters from Jackson survived in the the collection until 1879 when he responded to notification of the death of his brother Josephus Gregory by E. J. Gregory. Jackson wrote of his loss of fortune during the Civil War and his move to Floyd Co., GA. He wrote of one of his slaves:

  Sep 1879 Cave Spring Floyd Co., GA: " I also sold a negro man who wished to remain near his wife for one thousand." I don't know if Adam was still living in 1860's (Civil War period), but I am sure Jackson would have made any arrangements necessary for him to remain with his wife. Like so if Adam was deceased and one of his family was still in the household. If the slave sold was "Adam" I am not sure that Jackson would have mentioned his name to E. J. Gregoroy as E. J. was not born when Jackson moved from Virginia, and would not have known Adam.

Old Aunt Fanny - beloved slave mentioned in many family letters, believed to have been the mother of Adam with Jackson Gregory in North Carolina and Cobb Co., GA. In 1837 from Decatur, GA Jackson Gregory wrote to his bro. Josephus at the homeplace in Lunenburg, inviting them to come visit. At the end of the letter Jackson wrote: "Be sure and bring Aunt Fanny with you if she wishes to come."

Celia, Grace & Peter - John Gregory's son Roderick in Union, MO wrote to brother Josephus: "if you conclude that my part will purchase Celia and Peter you will please do so for me. If Old Grace is as well and hearty as she was when we left Virginia buy her for Sintha [wife], if Brother Thomas will bring them out. . ." It was not determined if this occurred. Brother David S. Gregory in TN also wanted Peter.

Jane

Lucy, Moriah - with John Gregory's daughter Mary A. "Lucilia" Robertson, widow of Peter Robertson, in Williamson Co., TN. Lucilia added to her letter to Lunenburg 1839: "Tell Aunt Fanny and Uncle Claborn howdy for us all. Tell Jack Mariah says his is the likeliest Negro in Tennessee. Lucy sends howdy to Aunt Fanny." Uncle Claborn may have been the Claiborn purchased by Joseph Gregory (father of John Gregory) from the estate sale of Peter Robertson deceased. A low value indicated Claiborn was not young. In March 1841 or 1842, Lucilia again wrote her brother Josephus in Lunenburg: "Brother we have lost Lucy. She was taken the first of October with a cough, very much like her daddy had. The Dr. said it was cold settled on her lungs. She was hardy (sic) untill she died which was the 8 of January." In the same letter: "Moriah has so many children that I did not know what better to do than to try to make something for them to eat. Moriah has had two children since she left you."

Rachel - Rachel's "00" value suggests she was quite old and leads me to think she was the Rachel over 16 on the Personal Property Taxes of John Gregory's father, Joseph Gregory Senr, in Mecklenburg County at least 1795 through 1801.