Thursday, April 28, 2011

James Harrod in 1790

Court records on Natchez reveal details of a trip made by Henry French of Kentucky who arrived in Natchez in April or May 1790.

Colonel Turner Williams was empowered by Peter Walker and John Tear, both of Kentucky, to seek and restore slaves for them. He stated that he found them in possession of Andrew Beall of the Natchez District.

James Harrod was summoned and he appeared as a witness. He testified that he knew the negro Isaac in Kentucky and he was in possession of James McFadden who brought him from North Carolina to Henry French who later told deponent that he wanted to take his slaves to another country or he would lose them. The deponent was preparing to make a voyage and French arranged to come along with him and brought four slaves. He left on a flat boat and French, who had come down the river in a pirogue, got on his flat boat. "When we came to Great Falls, our only stop, Henry French hid the Negroes."

Turner Williams reported he was not able to locate all the slaves and that he would have to go back to Kentucky....

However, while in Natchez, Williams bought a slave, Peter, from Silas McBee "citizen of America", June 2, 1790.

Source: Passports of Southeastern Pioneers 1770-1823 by Dorothy Williams Potter

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