American Historical Ephemera & Photography

Approx. 7 3/4 x 13 in. manuscript inventory (creased at folds, wear to edges, some staining and soiling throughout); framed to 12 1/4 x 17 1/4 in. (not examined out of frame). [Gadsden, FL], 1 January 1835. Undersigned by Executors B. Meacham and W.D. Harrison. 

"An Inventory and Sale of the negroes belonging to the Estate of Owen Fillyaw dec'd. Sold by the Executors at public sale on thursday the first day of January 1835. The purchasers names & prices in figures being opposite to each negro's name. (Viz?) / Caesar to William Brocket...$349.00 / Julia Ann, Elizabeth, Allen to Jill Gilchrist...715.00 / Alex...John Smith...701.00 / Mary Ann...Elijah S. Shepard...599.75 / George...Bird B. Wright...452.00 / Minerva...John C. Love...97.50." Listed total is $2914.25.

Approx. 7 13/16 x 9 5/8 in. manuscript ledger (creased at folds, toned to edges); framed to 12 1/8 x 14 1/8 in. (not examined out of frame). [Gadsden, FL], 18 September 1833. Undersigned by Executor B. Meacham. 

"A list of property sold and Negroes hired, belonging to the Estate of Owen Fillyaw dec'd, on Monday the 16th day of September A.D. 1833." Names of enslaved individuals hired out include Caesar, Alex, Harry, Rose, Mary-Ann, Betty, Hannah, George, and Emanuel. Items listed include a steel trap, 2 augers, an old saw, a field of cotton, and more. Listed total is $396.92. Note to bottom of ledger reads, "Negro Julia-Ann with her three young children, receiving no bid; were offered to the lowest bidder, when Wm. Brocket was hired to keep them for eight dollars..."

An Ancestry search returned an Owen Fillyaw (1783-1833), being born in New Hanover, NC and dying in Gadsden, FL. The family moved sometime between the 1820 and 1830 censuses, as the 1820 census records Fillyaw as living in Wilmington, NC and enslaving 18 individuals; while the 1830 census records Fillyaw as living in Gadsden, FL and enslaving 5 individuals.