4 Generations of Slaves on Motte and Broughton Plantations, Berkeley, SC

The estate inventory of Mary Motte (1753-1842 [1]) of Berkeley, SC, taken in 1842, lists the names, family relationships, birth dates and occupations of 84 enslaved ancestors who represent three generations.

Mary Motte was the widow of Isaac Motte (1738-1795 [2]) and daughter of Alexander Broughton (1720-1764) and Mary Jones (1720-1754).

Estate documents make reference to "Miss Broughton" who left Mary a lifetime estate in a group of slaves. Miss Broughton is likely Miss Charlotte Broughton, Mary Motte's younger sister.

Charlotte Broughton's estate inventory, made at Farm Plantation in 1829, appears to list many of the same slaves in Mary Motte's estate. Some are listed with parents, so the entire document trail here reveals four generations of slaves on Broughton and Motte family plantations.

After Mary's death the slaves reverted to "Mrs. Haig, Mrs. Morris and Mrs. Holmes." 

Mrs. Holmes may be Mary's daughter Charlotte Henrietta Motte (1795-1868), who married James Gadsden Holmes (1797-1882). James Gadsden Holmes was one of the Executors of Mary Motte's will. 

Several of the slaves in Mary Motte's estate were sold on 28 Feb 1844. Many more were sold on 6 Feb 1845. The record of the sale contains the names of purchasers, and who they purchased. 

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This record was indexed and made searchable by Felicia R. Mathis.

References Cited:

[1] Headstone Inscription, St Philips Episcopal Church Cemtery, Charleston, SC. Photographed by John Schneider, contribute to FindaGrave.com 25 Apr 2009.

[2] Headstone Inscription, St Philips Church Cemetery, Charleston, SC. Photographed by John Schneider, contribute to FindaGrave.com 25 Apr 2009.

Enslaved ancestors listed at the Farm Plantation of Mary Motte were:

Judy a Cook

Tenah Judy's child

Hannah House Servant & Washer

Matty Hannah's daughter & House Servant

Little Philander House Servant

Matty's child born since July

"In Mrs. Motte's Own Right": 84 slaves

Fibba Poultry minder born 1767

Simon Fibba's Son F Hd 1793

Scipio Fibba's Son a Carpenter

Grace Scipio's Wife F Hd

Mary Ann Grace's daughter F Hd

Cotto Child of Grace

Martha "  "   " Mar 38

Simon "   "  "  Aug 40

Monimia F Hd 1791

Alonzo Monimia's husband African, Gardner

Ned Son of Monimia Crippled in one hand F Hd

Taff " " " F Hd

Tandem daughter of Monimia June 26

Alonzo Son " " Oct 31 in Garden

Old Nelly a cook for the People

Phillip Son of Nelly F Hd

Wiltshire Nelly's Grandson & Son of Betty

Nelly Grand daughter of Nelly and daughter of Betty

Peggy lame with a very sore foot

Jack Peggy's Som has a bad leg F Hd

Ben " " " F Hd

Silvia a cook & attends to the Children

Little Caesar Silvia's Son F Hd

Abigail " daughter " " 

Seaton Stephney Abigail's Son, ruptured

George has Amey for Wife

Amey George's Wife and Sylvia's daughter

Penelope girl of George & Amy

Jackson boy " Sep 38

Tenan F Hd

Big Caesar Tenan's husband

Ned " " son a Carpenter

July " " F Hd

Natt "  " 

Kate " " daughter

Maria Tenans daughter & Whalley's wife born Aug 16

Bella child of Maria's

Patty "  " Oct 36

Whalley "  " Aug 39

John "  " July 41

Seaton Tenah Butler's wife F Hd July 1805

Venus child of Tenah Jany 37

Dolly Sister " " F Hd

Flora " " July 27

Nanny infirm F Hd

Peter Son of Nanny F Hd

Lizzy daughter of Nanny F Hd

Sally Child   "  " 

Delia do [ditto] dropsey in the head

Beck F Hd

Sary daughter of Beck

Nanny child of    "

Juno F Hd

Big Billy June's husband F Hd 1790

Farm Tenah F Hd

Daniel Tenah's husband a blacksmith born in 1781

Nippy child of Tenah " July 1831

Adam "  " "" Oct 38

Bob brother of Tenah F Hd Jany 1816

William "  " Nov 1810

Old Sary a cook for the People May 1776

Jimmy Son of Sary F Hd 1796

Cudjoe "  " " Cooper F Hd 1805

Jacob " " 1807

Tirah wife of Cap Pollodore F Hd

Phillis daughter of Tirah  "

Hercules son "  "  

William a Blacksmith April 1814

Charles "" F Hd

Judy daughter "

Chlorey Poultry minder at Seaton

Scipio or Snipe brother of Seaton Grace F Hd

Taffy or Poor Boy "  "    " 

Sammy brother of Monimia F Hd

Moses a carpenter

Joe one of the Drivers

Cyrus a carpenter 

Jackson a Carpenter in 1805

Flora the House Cook Sepr 1791

Nanny daughter of Florah F Hd Feb 1809

Rose Oct 22

Lucinda Sep 27

Lucy child of Nanny  1832

Sarah "  "   " 

 

"List and Valuation of Negroes which were held by Mrs. Motte during her life under Miss Broughton's will and have reverted to Mrs. Haig Mrs. Morris and Mrs. Holmes made at Farm Plantation 31 Decr 1842"

Chance FH cattle minder Oct 1794 

Taffy Juba's Son Mar 1818

Castle "" House Servant Nov 1822

Bella FH July 1784

Whalley Bella's Son a Driver Nov 1810

Butler " " FH June 1817

Sary " daughter infirm Sepr 1814

Grace child of Sary Oct 1838

Orrian Bella's daughter FH June 1820

Clarinda child of Orrian Dec 1840

Cato single FH July 1802

Marcellus husband to nurse Grace Apl 1776

Cow Billy (Father to Tenah Dolly Flora and Philander) FH 1799

Big Stephney FH

Abram FH Jany 1812

Total valuation of 4850.00

NB Th twelve last named were embraced in Lot no 2 in division of Miss Broughton's Negroes and were assigned to Mrs. Motte 

Done at Farm Plantation 31 December 1842

Thos. Ashby

James Ferguson

Robt W Roper

Thomas Milliken

[In left margin] Memorandum the only negro in this schedule that does not belong absoloutely in the estate of Mrs. Mary Motte is Chance the first named - the others are by mistake put under this head as they properly belong to Mrs. Mary Motte and are therefore not returned as such 7 Feby 1842

C G Morris Exor.

The estate inventory of Mary Broughton Motte, abstracted above, refers to slaves that were left in a life estate to Mary by "Miss Broughton." The inventory notes that Mary received Lot #2 in the division of Miss Broughton's estate. 

Miss Broughton is likely Charlotte Broughton, sister of Mary Broughton Motte. Charlotte Broughton's estate inventory was made at Farm Plantation in 1829 and appears to list some of the same slaves that are listed in the 1842 estate inventory of Mary Motte.

In Charlotte Broughton's estate inventory, slaves are listed in groups. It is unclear whether or not these were family groups, but we have preserved the groupings below.

Listed in the estate of Charlotte Broughton were:

· Long Scipio - slave

· Betty - slave

· Maurice - slave

· Snow - slave

 

· Lucinda - slave

· Bella - slave

· Little Walley - slave

· Little Sary - slave

 

· Butler - slave

· Orian - slave

· Hampton - slave

 

· Stable Morris - slave

· Clarinda - slave

· Phillis - slave

· Mingo - slave

 

· Bess - slave

· Cicero - slave

· Big Moses - slave

· Amos - slave

 

· Scilla - slave

· Betty - slave

· Sampson - slave

 

· Cooper Simon - slave

· Cato - slave

· Young Polidore - slave

 

· Toney - slave

· Dinah - slave

· Charles - slave

 

· Cooper Walley - slave

· Big Jack - slave

· Hester - slave

· Tom - slave

 

· Rachell - slave

· Little Hester - slave

· Mathias - slave

 

· Caroline - slave

· Cottage Simon - slave

· Lucy - slave

· Juddy - slave

 

· Seaton - slave

· Sam - slave

· James - slave

· Caty - slave

 

· Matilda - slave

· Frederick - slave

· Louisa - slave

· Cicero - slave

 

· Marcellus - slave

· Cornelia - slave

· Clory - slave

 

· Cooper Billy - slave

· Carpenter Polydore - slave

· Juba - slave

 

· Joe - slave

· Taffy - slave

· Little Cassil - slave

· Young Scipio - slave

 

· Jenny - slave

· John - slave

· Andrew - slave

· Clarinda - slave

 

· Cassils - slave

· Chance R - slave

· Flora - slave

· Nanny - slave

 

· Maria - slave

· Martha - slave

· Rose - slave

· Little Billy - slave

 

· Lucinda - slave

· Jack - slave

· Big Cudjoe - slave

 

· Patty - slave

· Kitty - slave

· Philander - slave

 

· Isaac - slave

· Abraham - slave

· Stepney - slave

 

In 1844 and 1845, slaves in the Estate of Mary Motte were sold. Listed below are purchasers and the names of those they purchased:

28 Feb 1844:

C G Morris in Trust for Edward Morris & Wife:

· Judy - Slave

· Tenah - Slave

C G Morris in Trust for J G Holmes & Wife:

· Hannah - Slave

· Matty - Slave

· Child - Slave

· Philander - Slave

Sales at Auction 6 Feb 1845:

J C Huger:

· Ned 32 - Slave

· Sary 30 - Slave

· Grace 6 - Slave

· Little Ned 9 mos - Slave

M E Cohen:

· Daniel 63 - Slave

· Tenah 40- Slave

· Nippy 14 - Slave

· Adam 5 - Slave

· Thomas 19 mos - Slave

· William 34 - Slave

J G Doniphan:

· Jackson 39 - Slave

Mrs Haig:

· Abram 32 - Slave

· Moses - Slave

Mrs Holmes & Mrs Morris:

· Bella 60 - Slave

· Orian 24 - Slave

· Clarinda 5 - Slave

· William 4 mos - Slave

· John 21 mos - Slave

· Nelly elderly - Slave

· Philip 31 - Slave

· Wiltshire 9 - Slave

· Nelly 6 - Slave

· Sammy - Slave

· Flora 53 - Slave

· Nanny 35 - Slave

· Rose 22 - Slave

· Scinder 17 - Slave

· Lucy 12 - Slave

· Sary 9 - Slave

· Philander 1 - Slave

· Venus 20 mos - Slave

· Joe 57 - Slave

· Taffy 27 - Slave

· Castle 23 - Slave

· Caesar 41 - Slave

· Abagail 60 - Slave

· Cyrus 46 - Slave

· Peggy 65 - Slave

· Jack 43 - Slave

· Ben 40 - Slave

· William 30 - Slave

· Hercules 27 - Slave

· Phillis 21 - Slave

· Charles 17 - Slave

· Judy 15 - Slave

· Tenah 6 mos - Slave

· George 44 - Slave

· Amy 44 - Slave

· Penelope 12 - Slave

· Jack 6 - Slave

· Big Billy 55 - Slave

· Juno 56 - Slave

· Old Sary 65 - Slave

· Jimmy 48 - Slave

· Jacob 37 - Slave

· Cudjoe 39 - Slave

· Scipio 30 - Slave

· Grace 40 - Slave

· Mary Ann 19 - Slave

· Cotto 9 - Slave

· Martha 6 - Slave

· Simon 4 - Slave

· John 13 - Slave

· Chlorey 66 - Slave

· Big Simon - Slave

· Scipio 47 - Slave

· Taffy 36 - Slave

· Marcellus 68 - Slave

W S Whaley:

· Nanny 41 years- Slave

· Bob 29- Slave

· Nanny 9 - Slave

· Peter 23 - Slave

· Lorry 19 - Slave

· Sally - Slave

· Hardtimes - Slave

· Cato 6 mos - Slave

· Sary 17 - Slave

· Cato 42 - Slave

· Old Caesar 70 - Slave

· Tenar 57 - Slave

· July 25 - Slave

· Natt 22 - Slave

· Kate 17 - Slave

· Cow Billy 50 - Slave

· Tenah 30 - Slave

· Dolly 25 - Slave

· Flora 21 - Slave

· Venus 7 - Slave

· Butler 20 mos - Slave

· Butler 27 - Slave

· Alonzo-Slave

· Monimia 53 - Slave

· Tandem 16 - Slave

· Little Alonzo 14 - Slave

· Taff 24 - Slave

· Ned 34 - Slave

· Lydia 6 mos - Slave

The following bills of sale are among the holdings of the South Carolina Department of Archives and History. You may order copies of these:

Series: S213050

Volume: 006A

Page: 00358

Date: 2/7/1845

Description: HOLMES, JAMES G. AND C. G. MORRIS, EXORS. OF MARY MOTTE TO WILLIAM S. WHALEY, BILL OF SALE FOR 29 SLAVES. 

Names indexed: ALONZO (SLAVE); BOB (SLAVE); BUTLER (SLAVE); CATO (SLAVE); CATY (SLAVE); COW BILLY (SLAVE); DOLLY (SLAVE); FLORA (SLAVE); HARDTIMES (SLAVE); HOLMES, JAMES G.; JAY (SLAVE); JULY (SLAVE); KATE (SLAVE); LITTLE ALONZO (SLAVE); LIZZY (SLAVE); LYDIA (SLAVE); MONIMIA (SLAVE); MORRIS, C. G.; MOTTE, MARY; NANNY (SLAVE); NAT (SLAVE); NED (SLAVE); OLD CAESAR (SLAVE); PETER (SLAVE); SALLY (SLAVE); SARY (SLAVE); TAFF (SLAVE); TENAH (SLAVE); TENAN (SLAVE); VENUS (SLAVE); WHALEY, WILLIAM S.

Document type: BILL OF SALE

Topics: ESTATE DISPOSITIONS; SLAVES, NAMED 

============================

Series: S213050

Volume: 006B

Page: 00233

Date: 5/4/1847

Description: HOLMES, JAMES G. AND C. G. MORRIS, EXORS. OF MARY MOTTE TO J. C. HUGER, BILL OF SALE FOR 4 SLAVES NAMED NED, SARY, GRACE AND LITTLE NED. 

Names indexed: GRACE (SLAVE); HOLMES, JAMES G.; HUGER, J. C.; LITTLE NED (SLAVE); MORRIS, C. G.; MOTTE, MARY; NED (SLAVE); SARY (SLAVE)

Document type: BILL OF SALE

Topics: ESTATE DISPOSITIONS; SLAVES, NAMED

============================

Series: S213050

Volume: 006D

Page: 00509

Date: 7/14/1856

Description: HAIG, HENRY MAHAM TO DR. ISAAC MOTTE CAMPBELL, TRUSTEE OF JACOB RHETT MOTTE AND MARY, HIS WIFE, BILL OF SALE FOR 1 UNDIVIDED MORETY OF THE SLAVES AMBROSE AND JENNY. 

Names indexed: AMBROSE (SLAVE); CAMPBELL, ISAAC MOTTE; HAIG, HENRY MAHAM; JENNY (SLAVE); MARY (SLAVE); MOTTE, JACOB RHETT; MOTTE, MARY

Document type: BILL OF SALE

Topics: SLAVES, NAMED

If we compare the estate inventories of Mary Motte with the estate sale record, the following possible interpretation emerges. Buyers' names are in brackets:

 

Judy a Cook [C G Morris in Trust for Edward Morris & Wife]

Tenah Judy's child [C G Morris in Trust for Edward Morris & Wife]

 

Hannah House Servant & Washer [C G Morris in Trust for J G Holmes & Wife]

Matty Hannah's daughter & House Servant [C G Morris in Trust for J G Holmes & Wife]

Little Philander House Servant [C G Morris in Trust for J G Holmes & Wife]

Matty's child born since July [C G Morris in Trust for J G Holmes & Wife]

 

Fibba Poultry minder born 1767

Simon Fibba's Son F Hd 1793

 

Scipio Fibba's Son a Carpenter [Mrs. Holmes & Mrs. Morris]

Grace Scipio's Wife F Hd [Mrs. Holmes & Mrs. Morris]

Mary Ann Grace's daughter F Hd [Mrs. Holmes & Mrs. Morris]

Cotto Child of Grace [Mrs. Holmes & Mrs. Morris]

Martha "  "   " Mar 38 [Mrs. Holmes & Mrs. Morris]

Simon "   "  "  Aug 40 [Mrs. Holmes & Mrs. Morris]

 

Monimia F Hd 1791 [W S Whaley]

Alonzo Monimia's husband African, Gardner

Ned Son of Monimia Crippled in one hand F Hd [W S Whaley]

Taff " " " F Hd [W S Whaley]

Tandem daughter of Monimia June 26 [W S Whaley]

Alonzo Son " " Oct 31 in Garden [W S Whaley]

 

Old Nelly a cook for the People [Mrs. Holmes & Mrs. Morris]

Phillip Son of Nelly F Hd [Mrs. Holmes & Mrs. Morris]

Wiltshire Nelly's Grandson & Son of Betty [Mrs. Holmes & Mrs. Morris]

Nelly Grand daughter of Nelly and daughter of Betty [Mrs. Holmes & Mrs. Morris]

Peggy lame with a very sore foot [Mrs. Holmes & Mrs. Morris]

Jack Peggy's Som has a bad leg F Hd [Mrs. Holmes & Mrs. Morris]

Ben " " " F Hd [Mrs. Holmes & Mrs. Morris]

Silvia a cook & attends to the Children

Little Caesar Silvia's Son F Hd [Mrs. Holmes & Mrs. Morris]

Abigail " daughter " "  [Mrs. Holmes & Mrs. Morris]

Seaton Stephney Abigail's Son, ruptured

George has Amey for Wife [Mrs. Holmes & Mrs. Morris]

Amey George's Wife and Sylvia's daughter [Mrs. Holmes & Mrs. Morris]

Penelope girl of George & Amy [Mrs. Holmes & Mrs. Morris]

Jackson boy " Sep 38 [Mrs. Holmes & Mrs. Morris]

 

Tenan F Hd [W S Whaley]

Big Caesar Tenan's husband [W S Whaley]

Ned " " son a Carpenter [J C Huger]

July " " F Hd [W S Whaley]

Natt "  "  [W S Whaley]

Kate " " daughter [W S Whaley]

 

Maria Tenans daughter & Whalley's wife born Aug 16

Bella child of Maria's

Patty "  " Oct 36

Whalley "  " Aug 39

John "  " July 41

Seaton Tenah Butler's wife F Hd July 1805

 

Venus child of Tenah Jany 37 [W S Whaley]

Dolly Sister " " F Hd [W S Whaley]

Flora " " July 27 [W S Whaley]

Nanny infirm F Hd [W S Whaley]

Peter Son of Nanny F Hd [W S Whaley]

Lizzy daughter of Nanny F Hd [W S Whaley]

Sally Child   "  "  [W S Whaley]

 

Delia do [ditto] dropsey in the head

Beck F Hd

Sary daughter of Beck

Nanny child of    "

 

Juno F Hd [Mrs. Holmes & Mrs. Morris]

Big Billy June's husband F Hd 1790 [Mrs. Holmes & Mrs. Morris]

 

Farm Tenah F Hd [M E Cohen]

Daniel Tenah's husband a blacksmith born in 1781 [M E Cohen]

Nippy child of Tenah " July 1831  [M E Cohen]

Adam "  " "" Oct 38 [M E Cohen]

 

Bob brother of Tenah F Hd Jany 1816 [W S Whaley]

 

William "  " Nov 1810 [M E Cohen]

 

Old Sary a cook for the People May 1776 [Mrs. Holmes & Mrs. Morris]

Jimmy Son of Sary F Hd 1796 [Mrs. Holmes & Mrs. Morris]

Cudjoe "  " " Cooper F Hd 1805 [Mrs. Holmes & Mrs. Morris]

Jacob " " 1807 [Mrs. Holmes & Mrs. Morris]

 

Tirah wife of Cap Pollodore F Hd

 

Phillis daughter of Tirah  " [Mrs. Holmes & Mrs. Morris]

Hercules son "  "  [Mrs. Holmes & Mrs. Morris]

William a Blacksmith April 1814 [Mrs. Holmes & Mrs. Morris]

Charles "" F Hd [Mrs. Holmes & Mrs. Morris]

Judy daughter " [Mrs. Holmes & Mrs. Morris]

Chlorey Poultry minder at Seaton [Mrs. Holmes & Mrs. Morris]

Scipio or Snipe brother of Seaton Grace F Hd [Mrs. Holmes & Mrs. Morris]

 

Taffy or Poor Boy "  "    " 

 

Sammy brother of Monimia F Hd [Mrs. Holmes & Mrs. Morris]

 

Moses a carpenter

 

Joe one of the Drivers

 

Cyrus a carpenter [Mrs. Holmes & Mrs. Morris]

 

Jackson a Carpenter in 1805 [J G Doniphan]

 

Flora the House Cook Sepr 1791 [Mrs. Holmes & Mrs. Morris]

Nanny daughter of Florah F Hd Feb 1809 [Mrs. Holmes & Mrs. Morris]

Rose Oct 22 [Mrs. Holmes & Mrs. Morris]

Lucinda Sep 27 [Mrs. Holmes & Mrs. Morris]

Lucy child of Nanny  1832 [Mrs. Holmes & Mrs. Morris]

Sarah "  "   "  [Mrs. Holmes & Mrs. Morris]

 

Chance FH cattle minder Oct 1794 

 

Taffy Juba's Son Mar 1818 [Mrs. Holmes & Mrs. Morris]

Castle "" House Servant Nov 1822 [Mrs. Holmes & Mrs. Morris]

Bella FH July 1784 [Mrs. Holmes & Mrs. Morris]

 

Whalley Bella's Son a Driver Nov 1810

 

Butler " " FH June 1817 [W S Whaley]

 

Sary " daughter infirm Sepr 1814 [J C Huger]

Grace child of Sary Oct 1838 [J C Huger]

 

Orrian Bella's daughter FH June 1820 [Mrs. Holmes & Mrs. Morris]

Clarinda child of Orrian Dec 1840 [Mrs. Holmes & Mrs. Morris]

 

Cato single FH July 1802 [W S Whaley]

 

Marcellus husband to nurse Grace Apl 1776 [Mrs. Holmes & Mrs. Morris]

 

Cow Billy (Father to Tenah Dolly Flora and Philander) FH 1799 [W S Whaley]

 

Big Stephney FH [Mrs. Haig]

Abram FH Jany 1812 [Mrs. Haig]

 

Slaves listed in the estate inventory of Isaac Motte (1738-1795), husband of Mary Motte, were:

Seaton Plantation:

Scipio

Grace

Betty

Peggy

Nelly

Mattey

Maryann

Jeffrey

Pollydore

Cesar

Dolly, Joe, Moses and Venus

Oranoak "an old Fellow"

In Charleston:

Joe

Judith

July

Doll

Kitty

Nancy

Rina

Venus

Dick

Sylvia

Judith

 

 

A transcription of the Family Bible of Isaac Motte is available in the archives of the [GA-Roots] mailing list.

You can view a transcription of the 1854 Will of Nathaniel Broughton on the Deep Southern Roots website.

If you know of additional resources, we invite you to add those to this story!

 

This document was digitized as part of a collaborative effort between Footnote, Lowcountry Africana, the South Carolina Department of Archives and History and FamilySearch, to digitize all surviving Charleston, SC Estate Inventories, 1732-1872 and Bills of Sale, 1773-1872, for a FREE Footnote collection.

When the project is complete, the names of more than 30,000 enslaved ancestors will be preserved in this FREE collection, for generations to come.

This remarkable collection contains the name of every slave ever listed in a surviving estate inventory for Charleston, SC from colonial times to Emancipation. Many of the post-Civil War inventories list the names of former slaves as well. You can volunteer to help index this FREE collection, to make the records searchable.

To learn more and volunteer, please CLICK HERE.

This document trail was discovered by Felicia R. Mathis, when she volunteered to index 10 pages of this free collection. What will YOU discover in your 10 pages? To volunteer to index, you can go right here. We will cherish your contribution.