The Rogerenes: some hitherto unpublished annals belonging to the colonial history of ConnecticutBolles, John R. (John Rogers)
History
The Rogerenes: some hitherto unpublished annals belonging to the colonial history of Connecticut
Bolles, John R. (John Rogers)
Rogerenes -- History
John and Bathsheba not complying with a demand so contrary to the
directions given them by their father, James, Jr., is appointed
executor, to complete the settlement, viz.: the division of the
movable estate. He now presents an inventory, which inventory is
dated as having been taken in 1788; just after the death of James
Rogers. The movables, of which he claims that John Rogers should
render an account, figure at £100 value. Although the original
inventory presented mentions an Indian and his negro wife and a
mulatto man, each having about three years to serve, also a negro
woman “deaf and dumb,” no mention is made of these or of any other
slaves by the new executor, and no complaint is made regarding the
fact that they and their children have been freed by the former
executor.
While this is going on, John and Bathsheba appear in court in regard
to Hager, a former slave of John Rogers (the negro wife mentioned in
the inventory), who has lost the written discharge from bondage that
was given to her years before by the executors. John and Bathsheba
testify that, shortly before his decease, their father agreed with
William Wright to sell him his negro slave, Hager, for a certain
term of service on the part of William Wright, and at the time of
this agreement gave her to him for his wife, providing for the
couple “a wedding dinner.” They also say that long before this
agreement with William Wright, their father and mother had promised
Hager her freedom at the age of thirty-six years.
“William Wright having been banished before his term of service had
expired, we, being intrusted by our deceased father with his whole
estate, seeing the support of the woman and her children was more
than her service, gave her a written discharge, upon condition she
should support her younger children” (her eldest son to be free at
the age of twenty-one), “which said writing she hath lost.” She is
herewith again discharged, with all her children except the above,
“by these presents.”
The next move by James, Jr., is to attach property belonging to the
late executor to the amount of the value of the aforesaid
“moveables.” Thus, with no appeal to court on the part of any of the
children of James Rogers, and with no breach of trust on the part of
John and Bathsheba, the residue of the estate passes fully into the
hands of the new executor, and is clearly minus any of the “negroes”
which the irregular claimants were prepared to demand.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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