William Muckleroy charged the estate of John Fornes ten dollars (written as 100 shillings) for “carrying home” a man named Abram on January 17, 1840. Abram was a slave belonging to John Fornes. The account does not say where Abram had been or why he had to be brought home; he may have been hired out, may have been taken up as a runaway, or may have been away when Fornes died. Muckleroy swore to the account before Alderson Ellison, Justice of the Peace, on March 15, 1841, and signed a receipt on the back for payment in full from James Roach, special administrator, on June 17, 1841. A first copy of the receipt was crossed out and written again below it.
Account of William Muckleroy against the estate of John Fornes for bringing home Abram, a slave – 1840–1841
Transcription notes: spelling, capitalization and punctuation follow the original. Words in [square brackets] are editorial notes; [?] marks an uncertain reading and [illegible] marks words that could not be read.
The Estate of John Fornes Decd.
To William Muckleroy Dr. [debtor]
1840
Jany. 17 To Carrying home Negro man Abram 100/- [100 shillings] $10.00
The above was Sworn to before me by Wm. Muckleroy 15th March 1841.
Ald. Ellison J.P. [Justice of the Peace]
William Muckleroy
[Back, first receipt, struck through:]
Recd. of James Roach Special administrator of John Fornes Ten dollars in full of the within Account 17th day June 1841
[Back, second receipt:]
Recd. of James Roach Special Admr. of John Fornes decd. Ten dollars in full of the within account 17th day of June 1841.
William Muckleroy
About the original
Abram is not among the five people (David, Dick, Major, Jinney and Rachel) whom the estate hired out in 1840 and 1842, so he may have died, been sold, or belonged to someone else in the family by then; the papers do not say.
The surname is written “Muckleroy” (it may be the same family as the “Addam McLeroy” who bought a table at the Fornes sale). Water stains cover the middle of the paper, and the bottom edge is torn, but the text is complete.
Source: Account of William Muckleroy against the estate of John Fornes for bringing home Abram, a slave. Roach Family Papers (#346), East Carolina Manuscript Collection, J. Y. Joyner Library, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, Box 1, Folder b (Inventories, Wills, and Estates, 1783–1868). Collection guide. Digitized folder: ECU Digital Collections, 0346-b1-fb.
Images courtesy of East Carolina Manuscript Collection, J. Y. Joyner Library, East Carolina University. View in ECU Digital Collections: 35980.
Part of the Roach Family Papers collection on East Carolina Roots.
