Probate Documents "Writ of Hire" of Frances A. and William A. Valentia and Albert S. Killingsworth Wards. Signed by Albert N. Ford clerk A.J. Scott A.W. Sutpin and Thomas S. Osteen appraisers J.M. Ellis Judge
1858714Jefferson County State of Mississippi 1858. 4to. 315 x 200mm. 12 ½ x 8 inches. 2 pp. Docket on verso. Blue legal paper; folds edges browned and slightly frayed; top page cut 2 inches shorter no loss. The first page dated July 27 1858 shows the value of two slaves Juda and Emma owned by the named wards to be valued at $40 together. The three appraisers of the above slave property signed their names on the first page. The second page is an application of Mary Shaw dated April 9 guardian of the four Killingsworth wards to appoint the appraisers for the slaves. It is signed by Albert N. Ford clerk. There is an interesting story behind these records. William Anderson Killingsworth owner of about thirty slaves was born 1821 in Tennessee. He married Nancy Ann Shaw who was born 1820 in Mississippi and died 23 June 1853 in Jefferson County MS. Their children were Francis Horace Valencia William and Albert. On July 19 1854 William Killingsworth was murdered by two of his slaves named Jesse and Albert. Two more slaves Bill and Charles were accused of torching the house. Unnamed slaves retrieved William's body and his three children from the burning house. The slaves' trial was in the fall of 1854. Jesse and Albert were hung November 21 1854. Jesse confessed that he alone committed the murder. This information is recorded in a diary written by Susan Sillers Darden which began in January 1854.  Darden was thirty-eight years old when she wrote the diary. The diary reads in part; "July 20 1854: There was an awful murder committed at Killingsworth's last night. He was murdered by his negroes and the house burned down; he had four children but the house was discovered and taken out." "November 21 1854: Our negroes went to Fayette to see Jesse and Albert hung for murdering their master W. Killingsworth. Jesse confessed that he had done it all that no one helped to do it; exhorted his fellow servants to be faithful and do their duty." Since both parents were deceased the Killingsworth children were the wards of their grandmother Mary Shaw and Uncle William Shaw. Frances Chalmers Killingsworth 1842-1910 was the oldest child.  See The Diary of Susan Sillers Darden on-line at the Mississippi Department of Archives and History Jackson Mississippi. . unknown books
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