Slaves of John Adam Keller

Date: [unknown] [unknown]
Location: Chatham, Georgia, United States
Surnames/tags: Black_Heritage Slavery Keller

The purpose of this page is to record the people enslaved by John Adam Keller of Chatham County, Georgia, in an attempt to connect them through subsequent owners to their post-emancipation families.

John Adam Keller passed away in 1830 leaving his wife, Levicy, with 5 (or more) children to raise, 30 slaves, and a rather large estate.^[1] When the inventory and appraisement of the estate was taken in December of that year, the following 22 slaves were named—often in family groups—and valued as part of his estate.^[2]

Rachel (Lot 3) and her girl child, Rose—$375.00

Eave (Lot 2) and her boy child Ausberry and her girl child Tamer—$500.00

Betsy (Lot 2) and her two boy children, Isaac (Lot 6) and Aaron (Lot 3)—$550.00

Mary (Lot 4) and her girl child, Dorah—$400.00

Phoebe (Lot 4) and her adult daughter Clarissa (Lot 3)—$600.00

Sally and her adult daughter Lynda (Lot 1)—$400.00

William (boy child) (Lot 2), Toney (boy child), Harry (boy child), and Mary {Lot 4) (girl child) [specified as a family but no parents attached]—$500.00

Mariah (girl)—$250.00 (Lot 1)

Tom (man)—$350.00

Cain (man)—$350.00 (Lot 3)

Toney (man)—$200.00 (Lot 4)

An additional 8 slaves were "set aside" for the use of the two minor sons, George and Thomas M Keller:^[3]

Rachael (woman)—$700.00 (Lot 5)

Tony (boy)—$750.00 (Lot 5)

Rose (girl) (Lot 5)—$350.00 [NOTE: This may be the same girl as shown above as d/o Rachael.]

Joe (boy)—$225.00 (Lot 5)

Maria (woman)—$700.00

Harry (boy)—$400.00 (Lot 1)

David (boy)—$200.00 (Lot 1)

Casinda (girl)—$300.00 (Lot 1)

The 1830 Census shows 30 Slaves in the possession of John Adam's wife, Levicy.^[4] Note that not all of those named slaves from the inventory are found in the 1838 "Lots", and some found in the "Lots" are not named in the inventory.

Of the slave distribution (1838), Thomas M Keller drew Lot 1; Margaret V (Keller) Gould drew Lot 2; Stephen F Keller drew Lot 3; Lavisa Zipperer drew Lot 4; George A Keller drew Lot 5; and John P Keller drew Lot 6.^[5]

Sources

1. ↑ "Georgia Probate Records, 1742-1990": Estate of John A Keller; Chatham County Georgia Administration Records; November 1830 FamilySearch (Images 299-329 of 732)
2. ↑ Estate of John A Keller; FamilySearch (Image 306 of 732)
3. ↑ Estate of John A Keller; FamilySearch (Image 308 of 732)
4. ↑ "United States Census, 1830": Mrs Adam Keller household; Cherokee Hill District, Chatham County, Georgia; Scripted Sheet #278; Line 2 FamilySearch (Images 4-5 of 7)
5. ↑ Estate of John A Keller; FamilySearch (Image 316 of 732)