In the Greensville County Will Book #6, beginning on page 122, the 60 “slaves to wit” of the deceased Thomas Parham are noted.
The names, ages, and “prices” of the sixty souls:
Jesse 55 $300
Ned 58 $300
Primus 50 $300
Adam 40 $400
David 35 $500
Phil 38 $500
Ben—-diseased 32 $300
Wilkins 30 $550
Taswell 22 $600
George 21 $600
Green 21 $600
Nicholas 20 $525
Fed 18 $600
Hartwell 16 $500
Joshua 18 $500
Henry 18 $600
Aaron 10 $325
Charlotte 40 $250
Cherry 45 $250
Jenny 45 $250
Nanny 55 $50
Manerva 30 $200
Jim 8 $300
Judy 6 $150
Ellen- diseased 27 $100
Isaac 10 $300
Mary 6 $175
Rody 19 $450
Lewis 2 $150
Oscar—Infant $100
Almira 14 $450
Polly 14 $450
Winny 30 $350
Billy 12 $400
Vandant 10 $375
Berry 8 $300
Ada 6 $200
Abberta 4 $175
Charles 2 $150
Fanny 27 $400
Joan 10 $200
John 8 $200
Jacob 6 $150
Rainy 4 $140
Tom 3 $120
Jinny—-Infant $100
Hannah 28 $250
Clairy 7 $200
Rhody 5 $150
Malinda— Infant $100
Bob 19 $600
Eliza 16 $450
Giles—Infant $100
Louisa 14 $450
Harriet 12 $350
Collier 8 $300
Nathan 6 $250
Ella 4 $200
Adaline 10 $275
Surry 12 $375
Total amount 21752.54
438 acres Land c/$4— 1752.00
——— —- — – — – – — — – ———-
$23504.54
We know that there is no price that you can morally place on a human life, and yet-in 1841 these cruel calculations were part and parcel of the day. These enslaved lives created a tangible wealth that was literally passed down through the generations.
In today’s (2021) U.S. dollars, the Parham purse from holding the enslaved alone was “worth” more than half a million dollars.
According to the Westegg Inflation Calculator:
What cost $21752.54 in 1841 would cost $591703.30 in 2021.
What cost $1752.00 in 1841 would cost $47657.16 in 2021.
What cost $23504.54 in 1841 would cost $639360.45 in 2021.
We the undersigned having been duly sworn have Appraised all the Personal + Real Estate of Thomas Parham deceased to us produced + Shown and made the foregoing report, which believe to be correct, Given from under hands this 7th day of Feb 1842
James Brown
Mordecai Jones
Mark M Harwell
}
At a Court held for the County of Greensville on Monday the 7th of Feb 1842, This appraisement + Inventory of the Estate of Thomas Parham dec’d was entered + ordered to be recorded.
Teste. Jos. Turner C.C.
Arguably to a decree issued from the County Court of Greensville on Monday the 4th of December 1841— We the undersigned Commissioners have allotted to Rebecca Parham the widow of Thomas Parham deceased the following Slaves to wit, Hannah & 3 children Clary, Rhoda + Malinda in fee simple and Primus, David, Taswell, Wilkins, Fed, Louisa, Jim, Charlotte, Minerva + Child Judy, Joan, Ella, Fanny + child Jim, Collins, John, Jacob + Jinny, being her full thirds of said decedents slaves, Except eleven dollars + sixty six cents due by Benjamin M. Parham and after taking a negroe girl
Adaline left by the said decedent to Martha 3 Lewis and negro boy named Surry to Benjamin M Parham, the balance of said slaves we have divided after John L. Parham accounted for Seventeen hundred + fifty Dollars and William E Tomlinson accounted for Fifteen hundred Dollars in the following manner. To John R Parham during his natural life + directed by said decedent the following Slaves Bob, Eliza + child Giles, and to reserve of Benjamin M Parham Eighty four Dollars + sixty six cents —-To William E Tomlinson in right of his wife Mary I. the following Slaves in fee simple, Nathan, Winny, Billy, Green, Cherry after paying James M Lewis in right of his wife Martha E the following—slaves in fee simple, Adam, Isaac, Ada, Hartwell, Rainy, Tom, Henry, Polly & Nanny and to receive of Benjamin M Parham Fifty nine Dollars + Thirty two cents—To Emily C Parham the following slaves in fee simple Ned, Betty, Mary, Phil, Aaron, Charles, Nicholas, Rhoda + child Oscar+ Lewis + to receive from Benjamin M Parham nine dollars sixty six cents—-
All of which is Respectfully Submitted——-
James Brown
Mordecai Jones
Mark M Harwell
Lewis and Tomlinson are related surnames that Greensville County researchers should keep in mind as they search the paper trail for evidence of their ancestors being enslaved by Thomas Parham (1781-1841).
We have a situation. We need to find our people.
The Genealogy Situation Room
The Genealogy Situation Room 