Releasing 27 enslaved people identified in the inventory of Col. James Williams, who died in the Battle of Kings Mountain in October 1780.

His will and inventory are filed in Caswell County, North Carolina and the records have been digitized by FamilySearch. The inventory is part of the collection North Carolina Estate Files, 1663-1979, which are searchable in ABC order. The files are sorted into actual paper file folders and unpaged.

Take note that Mary Williams was the executrix who reported additional items in the estate of her deceased husband. I really wish this paper was dated because if you look at the second record on the bottom of the page, it reads “Inventory of the Estate of Daniel Williams, Deceased” and it is signed by Mary Williams Admr.

Daniel Williams was also at the Battle of Kings Mountain. I don’t find any information that Daniel died during the battle, but he must have died soon afterwards and before his father’s estate was settled. It is possible he was one of the wounded and died after the casualty count on the battlefield.

Note, too, that Henry Williams didn’t appear to be the best speller of his time! It’s a bit humorous when the colonel has six volumes of dictionaries listed in his inventory. 🙂

A Involtery of Col. James Williams Estate Desd – – –

Negro man Mingo Negro woman Linddo, do. Girl Tiro do. Girl Floro
Negro Boy Vilos do. Girl Pegg do. Girl Moll, do. Boy Mingo – – – –
Negro Woman sarah, Nigro Boy Frank, do. Boy Buck, do. Boy Fill
Negro Girl. Lidah, do. girl Judah
Negro Man Will, & his Wie Sue, Negro girl Agge Negro girl Nancy
Negro wimin Dinah Negro Boy Natt do. Boy May – – –
Negro Man Tom, Negro Woman Ibey Negro Man Sampson – – –
Negro Man Charles do. Woman Patt, In, all 26. – – –
To. 1 gray Stalon by the Name of Farley, 1 do. Bay horse dolfin, —–
To. 1 Bay Horse Snip, 1 Bay Horse Harvey, do. 1 Bay Horse his son Daniel,
to. 1 Black Horse Named Steel 1 do. gray named (Flames?), 1 do. Gray (dredno? – page torn)
To. 1 Gray Horse dick, 1 do. Gray Named Bullit 1 do. Gray Named davy
To 1 Bay Mare Named Maggy – 1 do. Sorril Named Nancy 1 do. Sorril,
To 1 Black Mare- – – – – – – – – – –
To 2 Fether Beds, 3 Sheets. 4 Bed Quilts, 1 Counterpin, 40 lbs. Fethers
To 1 Large Bible, 1 Burkitt’s Expository, 6 Voliams Henry’s Commin?
To 2 Vol Ainsworth Dictionary, 1 Holyork’s . do. 1 Jacobs. do. Lau??
To 2 Vol. Johnson’s, Dictionary, To 2 olde dictionary’s English Latin
To 1 Mackneg(blot) Harmony, 6 Vol. Doddrige’s, Paraphrase, – – – –
To 3 Vols. Burn’s Justic, 3 Vols. Erskins sermons, 2 Vol. Watsons Horace
To 2 Vol. Cooke’s Terince 1 Fitz Gerald’s Terence, 1 Andersons Remonst?
To 1 Bostons Fourfold Sttae, 1 Vol. attorney’s Pocket Book, – – – – – –
To 3 Vol. Sherlocks discourse, 1 Book (?) Vol. Human understanding
To 1 Vol. Melmoth, Letters, 1 Book, Confession of Faith, Bennets Oratory
To 1 Horn Book, 1 a practical Christian Perfection, 1 Sermon Book,
To 1 Sermon Book Lecturer of Select Subjects 1 Book Disenting Gentlem–
Letters, 1 Book the young man’s Companion, 1 Book, Pilgrims Progress
To 1 Book, of Marchant Accompts, 1 do. Mair’s (Sallust) 1 do. a Treatise
Concerning the Lords. day 1 Book. Richard Aesops, 1 do. (Falter Sd. Vol.?)
To 1 Book. The Mariners New Calendar, 17. Books, Containing Latton & gre?
To 3 Chest’s 1 Box 1 olde silver Watch (blot) 1 Silver Spoon 14 Puter do. – – –
To 2 Bedstedds & (?) Screws, 1 Sett Coloco Curtins 2 Largedishes, 2 small dis-
To 7 Pewter Plaits, a Rimnent of Batting Cloath a Remnantof Flouerd gaws- –
To 2 yds Spotted gaws 1 Foot rule or Scale. 17 Earthen Plaits, 69 Gun (Lock?) –
To 2 wasons, 1 Mans Saddle, about 1 Hundred gallons Brandy – –
To 2 still Wagon Geer, 1 Still 45 gallons, 1 Pole Axxi dutch Plow, – –
to 1 olde Bro Hor?, 17 Hundred dollars North Carolina Currency
636. Continantal dollar, 16 head Sheep, 16 head Geese, 2 Cows & Calves
To 2 Wooling Wheals 2 Linnin do. To small Quantity Powder, & Lead
Proved by – – – Henry Williams
– – – – – – –

Here is the transcription of the shorter list provided by his widow, Mary Williams and the very short inventory of her deceased son, Daniel.

Part of An Inventory of the Estate of Col. James Williams

To 1 Negroe man Buck
To 3 Colts to 1 large trunk trunk & little bench
To 3 Fether Bedds, 4 (?) Bedd Quilts 3 (Counterpins?)
To 2 Shitts & 1 pweter Dish & 10 pewter plates
To 1 (Serve?) pan & 1 Coffe pole & 2 pots
To 1 Dutch Oven & 4 pewter Basins
to 1 Linen Wheels, & 2 Cotten wheels & 1 Bedstid
To 1 Silver Spoon & 1 Silver tea Spoon
To 1 large Dividing Spoon 7 Butter pote & 2 Case
Bottles To 1 plow shere and 2 (Col–?) & 1 pare (Song–?)
To a Number of old Irons & 3 flat Irons & 1 Box Iron
To 725 Dollars 7 4 (B—?) Candle & (???)
To 1 Turin & 1 pewter Can & Slilver Cup
__________________________________
Mary Williams Exctr.

Inventory of the Estate of Daniel Williams Deceased
One Gray Stalion by the name of Farler
One bay Gelding, Jock, & one (??) horse –

Mary Williams admtr.
Duly Proved in open Court by Mrs Williams