Charles Baptist (bef. 1797)

Born before Sep 1797 in York, Virginia, United States

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Biography

Charles Baptist is a part of US Black heritage.

Charles's year of birth is estimated based on the fact that he was included in the will of Edward Baptist Jr written on 18 September 1797.^[1] Based on his valuation of $90 on 15 September 1800, Charles was probably a healthy man in his prime, and may have been born around 1778.

An older Charles was held by Edward's father, Edward Baptist Sr, and it is possible the two may have been father and son or another close relation.

In Edward Baptist Jr's will, he bequeathed Charles to his son, William Harwood Baptist.

I also give my aforesaid son four negroes named Peter, Charles, Nanny and her Daughter Cate with their future increase to him and his Heirs.

William Harwood followed his father in death just two years later. He was in his thirties when he died, leaving behind a [probably pregnant] widow and two young sons. William's will had a rushed quality to it, and he may have been very ill when it was written. He did not make many specific bequests, nor name his slaves in his will. They were simply given in one lot to his young son, Edward Baptist, IV.

"I give all my slaves to my son Edward to be retained and worked on the land for his benefit."

All four slaves recently willed to William at his father's death in 1797 were present in William's estate inventory after his death in 1799. Peter and Charles were each valued at $90 for a total of $180 together, while Nanny was valued at $45, and her daughter, Cate, was valued at $50.^[2]

The date of Charles's death is unknown at the time of this writing. He may have died in Virginia, as the Baptist family continued to reside there well into the 1800s.

Slave Owners

1. Edward Baptist Jr
2. William Harwood Baptist
3. Edward Baptist IV

Note regarding the place holder LNAB being used: This surname is being used currently as a place holder surname until it can be determined what surname this person used.

Sources

1. ↑ Probate: "Virginia, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1652-1900"
   Deeds, Orders, Wills, 1633-1710; Orders, Wills, 1709-1732; Wills and Inventories, 1732-1811; Author: Virginia. County Court (York County); Probate Place: York, Virginia
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 62347 #627234 (accessed 12 January 2022)
   Edward Baptist probate on 1 May 1797.
2. ↑ Colonial Williamsburg Digital Library. Inventory of estate of William H. Baptist, 1800, September 15th | Colonial Williamsburg Digital Library. (n.d.). Retrieved January 15, 2022, from https://research.colonialwilliamsburg.org/DigitalLibrary/view/index.cfm?doc=Probates%5CPB00554.xml&highlight=