George Gatton (abt. 1769)

Born about 1769 in Frederick, Province of Maryland [uncertain]

Biography

George Gatton is a part of US Black heritage.

George was born about 1769. In 1776, he was an enslaved person in the household of Benjamin Gatton in Sugarland Hundred, Frederick, Maryland. He died some time after August 1779.

Benjamin Gatten 42 appeared in the 1776 provincial census of Sugarland Hundred, Frederick, Maryland with wife Elizabeth 33, children: Phillinder 15, John 10, Benjamin 1 mo., George Medley 13; also, 2 men: Edward Prusten 40, George Niles 30; also Hester a Negroe 28, Moll 28, Nan 3, Jean 2--Jose 13; Harry 8; George 7; Bob 1 month.^[1]

Benjamin Gatton wrote a will on 31 Jan 1779. It stated "….I give to my loving Wife Elizabeth Gatton during her natural life a Negro woman named Ester, a Negro Woman named Moll, and a Negro boy named Joshua and the said Negros after the decease of my said Wife I give with their increase to be equally divided between my two loving children Vhelinder Gatton and Samuel Gatton to them their heirs and assigns forever. I give and bequeath to my loving daughter Vhelinder Gatton a Negro boy named Harry, a Negro boy named George, and a Negro girl named Jean…..I give and bequeath to my loving son Samuel Gatton a Negro Girl Called Nan and a Negro boy called Bob….." (image 119)^[2]

On 4 Aug 1779, Benjamin Gatton's widow, Elizabeth Gatton declared that concerning his personal estate, she claimed her dower or one-third part according to law. (image 120)^[2]

An inventory of his estate on 30 Aug 1779 listed seven enslaved people with their monetary value:

• Estar 50.00 pounds. Joshua 47.10 pounds. Left by the dec'd. to the widow, she having declined standing to the will, chooses to take under the law or to chattels 97.10 pounds.
• Moll 45.00 pounds.
• Harry 30 pounds. Jenney 20 pounds. Legacies to Philender Gatton.
• Nan 25 pounds. Bob 15 pounds. Ditto to Samuel Gatton.^[2]

Slave Owners

• Benjamin Gatton
• Vhelinder Gatton

Research Notes

• Since he does not appear in the inventory, George apparently died, ran away, or was killed between the January 1779 will and the August 1779 inventory.

Sources

1. ↑ 1776 census: "Maryland Records Colonial, Revolutionary, County, and Church from Original Sources Vol. I"
   Gaius Marcus Brumbaugh M.S. M.D. Maryland Records Colonial, Revolutionary, County and Church from Original Sources. Vol. I. Baltimore, MD, USA: 1915; Page: 219-220
   Ancestry Record 6161 #6285 (accessed 5 November 2022)
   https://www.familysearch.org/library/books/viewer/406218/?offset=1#page=230&viewer=picture&o=&n=0&q=
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2} Probate records 1777-1916: "Maryland Register of Wills Records, 1629-1999"
   Catalog: Probate records 1777-1916 Liber A-B 1777-1792
   Image path: Maryland Register of Wills Records, 1629-1999 > Montgomery > Accounts, inventories, wills 1777-1780 vol A p. 180 > image 119 of 459
   FamilySearch Image: 33S7-9TBG-CPT (accessed 4 November 2022)