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“Genealogy of Thos Moseley’s Family” Lists Births of Fourteen Enslaved People in Virginia and Kentucky |
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Recording births of Judge Thomas Smith Moseley, his wife, and their children, from 1759 to 1806, followed by “Servants,” giving the names, enslaved father or mother’s names (but not both), and birthdates between 1789 and 1802, of fourteen enslaved people: 5 children of Harry, 8 of Betty (including twins), and one of Daphney.
[SLAVERY].
Thomas Moseley, Jr. Autograph Document Signed, October 12, 1835, copying his father’s records from 1759-1806. 2 pp. + half page with docketing, 7¾ x 9¾ in.
Inventory #27074
Price: $1,250
Excerpt
… Continued for Servants
Sam Son of Harry born 2nd Feby 1790; Charlott daughter of Harry born 30th July 1792; Liras Son of Harry born 3rd Feby 1795; [prior were in Virginia, following in Kentucky]; Fanny daughter of Harry born 9th Aprl 1797; Henry Son of Harry born 10th Feby 1801; Edy daughter of Betty Born 2nd Apl 1789; Jud daughter of Betty born 19th Feby 1795; Tom Son of Betty born 26th Decr 1792; Lucy daughter of Betty born 24th November 1794; Davy Son of Betty born 20th Novr 1796; Betty daughter of Betty born 2nd July 1800; John Son of Daphney born 9th Novr 1801; Anthony & Ron twins of Betty born 1st May 1803
[Docketing:]
List of Births / Thomas Moseley Son of Robert
The within Memorandum is taken from a record kept in my father’s own handwriting. 12th day of October 1835/ Thomas Moseley Jr.
Historical Background
The frequency of births among the Moseley’s bondswomen, an average of roughly one per year between 1789 and 1803, demonstrates the importance of fertility to the profitability of slavery, especially in the upper South. Moseley held seventeen enslaved people in 1820 and ten in 1830, and in both years, a significant number of the slaves were children. Moseley may have sold the enslaved children when they reached a certain age, or more likely gave them to his numerous children to enhance their economic capacity and social standing.
Thomas Smith Moseley (1759-1835) was born in Virginia, and served in various Virginia units during the Revolutionary War for nine and a half months. In 1782, he married his first cousin Magdalene Guerrant (1762-1830); they had twelve children between 1783 and 1806. In 1795 or 1796, brothers Thomas and James Moseley and their families moved west to Montgomery County in eastern Kentucky. In 1810, the census recorded that Judge Moseley owned one slave. By 1820, he owned 17, seven of whom were under the age of fourteen. Ten years later, Moseley owned ten slaves, of whom four were under the age of ten.
His son, Thomas Moseley, Jr. (1794-1876), wrote the present document, copying from his father’s notes, in 1835.
Provenance: found laid into a copy of Webster’s Dictionary owned by the family of Patsy Moseley Glover (one of the owner’s daughters listed here); Swann Galleries, September 30, 2021, lot 247, and again on March 24, 2022, lot 2598.
