I Give and Bequeath: Rockett-Ware

 

“Swing low, sweet chariot, 
Coming for to carry me home.” Swing Low, Sweet Chariot, Wallace Willis

From http://www.harriet-tubman.org/songs-of-the-underground-railroad/:

“If a slave heard this song he would know he had to be ready to escape, a band of angels are coming to take him to freedom. The Underground Railroad (sweet chariot) is coming south (swing low) to take the slave to the north or freedom (carry me home). This was one of Tubman’s favorite songs according to Sarah Hopkins Bradford’s biography, Scenes in the Life of Harriet Tubman.”

Caption: Swing Low Sweet Chariot, Fisk Jubilee Singers (1909) as uploaded by Nathaniel Jordan on YouTube.com.

I want to share how difficult it is seeing human beings listed as property in wills and itemized along with tables and chairs in the inventories of probate records. To go so far as to state how future-born children and grandchildren are to be handled reminds me of how I felt upon learning that money held in trust that I had inherited in my early twenties could only be left to the “issue of my body”, meaning if I ever adopted children then I would not be able to leave any of this money to them. I was shocked and angry. To this day, I just cannot imagine the level of control someone must feel that they have over another person’s body.

Following Robyn N. Smith’s recommendations at the excellent blog https://reclaimingkin.com/ , Suggestions for the White Descendants of Slaveholders (14 Feb 2017), I am including as much information that I can find about the slaves I come across in wills, probate records, inventories, and other family history documents in my family lines.

In looking at the Ware-Rockett wills, I was startled to find not only blacks but Indians. I do not know if these are true Native Americans or perhaps from the Caribbean. As Alan Gallay points out in Indian Slavery in the Americas at https://ap.gilderlehrman.org/essay/indian-slavery-americas?period=1:

“The paradigm of “what happened” to American Indians under European colonialism must be revised. Instead of viewing victimization of Africans and Indians as two entirely separate processes, they should be compared and contrasted. This will shed more light on the consequences of colonialism in the Americas, and how racism became one of the dominant ideologies of the modern world. It is time to assess the impact of slave trading and slavery on American Indian peoples, slave and free.”

There were so many tribes living in Virginia before and during the colonial period that all I can find out is that the slaves mentioned in Susanna Ware’s will (see below) probably spoke an Algonquian, Siouan or Iroquoian language. Given that she lived in the Richmond, Henrico County, Virginia, area, her Indians may have come from the indigenous Algonquian people of eastern Virginia. More research is needed in this area.

WARE, Susanna (Adams) (1665-1735), Virginia

Will 8 Feb 1734, Proved 5 May 1735, Henrico County, Colony of Virginia, British Colonial America

Jane, an Indian wench - given to her daughter Mary Ware who was married to Richard Levins.

Roger, an Indian fellow - given to her grandson Jacob Oglesby (son of Richard and Susannah Ware Oglesby).

Sarah, an Indian girl - given to her granddaughter Elizabeth Coraly Oglesby (daughter of Richard and Susannah Ware Oglesby).

Sarah the Indian girl’s first two children - given to granddaughters Alice and Mourning Oglesby (daughters of Richard and Susannah Ware Oglesby).

Will, an Indian fellow - to son-in-law Richard Levins who was married to her daughter Mary Ware.

Executor - son-in-law Richard Levins.

Source: The Edward Pleasants Valentine Papers, Vol. 1, p 2. Accessed 21 Oct 2023 at Ancestry.com.

ROCKETT, Baldwin (1681-1731), Virginia 

Will 20 Feb 1730, Proved 5 Jul 1731, Henrico County, Colony of Virginia, British Colonial America

Adam, a negro - given to his wife Ann (Ware)

Jane, a negro - given to his wife Ann (Ware)

Dinah, a negro wench - given to his son Ware Rockett

Will, a negro - given to his son Francis Rockett

Lucy, a negro girl - given to his son Baldwin Rockett, Jr.

Dinah's first born - given to his son John Rockett

Dinah's first grandchild - given to his son Richard Rockett

If Dinah has no children, then John and Richard receive twenty five pounds each. Witnesses: John W. Wood, Turlton Woodson, and W. Benson.

Executrix - wife Anne Ware Rockett

Proved by oath of William Benson, Tarlton Woodson, and they mentioned John Woods.

Baldwin's wife, Ann, married second to Capt. Abraham Cowley. He died in Richmond, VA, in 1780. If she did not marry for a third time then future research would be to check Abraham for a will and also Ann Cowley for a will.

Source: John Franklin Rockett(e), Rockett and Allied Families 1681-1981 (Baltimore, Maryland: Gateway Press, 1981), pp. 27-28.

ROCKETT, Ware (1714-aft 1760), Virginia

He inherited Dinah from his father Baldwin Rockett in 1731. No will found yet. He married Mary Poindexter about 1753 and lived in Chesterfield County, Colony of Virginia, British Colonial America. He fought in the French and Indian War under Col. George Washington. They had two children: Sarah (1754-1832) and Francis (1756-1777). More research and a will are needed.

Source: John Franklin Rockett(e), Rockett and Allied Families 1681-1981 (Baltimore, Maryland: Gateway Press, 1981), pp. 37-39.

ROCKETT, Francis (1716-1749), London, England

No mention of a slave even though he inherited one named Will from his father Baldwin Rockett in 1731. Francis was a sailor who did not spend much time in Virginia. He never married and died of smallpox in London in 1749. His will dated 6 Jun 1748 and proved 21 Apr 1749 does not mention any slaves.

His will reads as follows: Francis Rockett late of the Parish of Goochland, Co. Henrico, Province of Virginia, now of St. John Wapping, London will dated June 6, 1748, proved April 21, 1749. To William Fettiplace of St. John aforesaid victualler, executor, my tract of land in Goochland adjacent to Inskatt Creek, County Henrico, Virginia in America with all houses, furniture, wood, undressed.

Source: John Franklin Rockett(e), Rockett and Allied Families 1681-1981 (Baltimore, Maryland: Gateway Press, 1981), p. 39.

 ROCKETT, Baldwin, Jr. (1718-1782), Virginia

Will 6 Feb 1782, Proved 2 Apr 1782, Richmond, Henrico County, Virginia, United States of America

Lucy, a negro woman - given to his mother Mrs. Ann (Ware) (Rockett) Cowley who was now married to Capt. Abraham Cowley.

Littie, a negro girl - given to his mother Mrs. Ann (Ware) (Rockett) Cowley who was now married to Capt. Abraham Cowley. He then specifies that after her death, her son Abraham Cowley, his heirs and assignees forever.

Phil, a negro man - given to his half-brother, Abraham Cowley, his heirs and assigns forever.

Betty, a negro woman and her two children - given to his half-sister, Theodocia (Cowley) White, whose husband Capt. Elisha White had died in 1781. If she marries again and has a child, then this child will get Betty and her two children. Otherwise, her brother Abraham Cowley gets them. But, if Theodocia and Abraham “die without leaving lawful heirs of their bodies”, then Betty and her children go to his brother Ware Rockett.

Executrix - his mother, Mrs. Ann Cowley

Witnesses: Elisha White, Archer Browning

Source: John Franklin Rockett(e), Rockett and Allied Families 1681-1981 (Baltimore, Maryland: Gateway Press, 1981), pp. 40-41.

ROCKETT, Capt. John (1719-aft 1763), New York

Based on his father’s will, did he ever receive a child from Dinah or was he given 25 pounds? In 1752, John appointed his brother Richard Rockett to be his power of attorney in Virginia because he was moving to the Province of New York.

Source: John Franklin Rockett(e), Rockett and Allied Families 1681-1981 (Baltimore, Maryland: Gateway Press, 1981), pp. 41-43.

ROCKETT, Richard (1721-1784), Virginia and South Carolina

Based on his father’s will, did he ever receive the first child from Dinah’s first child or was he given 25 pounds?

1757 - Richard Rockett has a deed of mortgage to Robert Tucker of 1,200 acres in Henrico County, VA, along with his house, furnishings and six slaves named:

Tammy

Hannah

Sue

Sett

Casar

Peter

However, the wordy legal document is hard for me to understand. I do not know if Robert Tucker paid Richard Rockett in full or if he made payments to Richard Rockett. This is important because Richard Rockett’s estate after his death mentions two negroes named Peter and Tall. Did the six slaves mentioned above become Tuckers or Rocketts?

Source: John Franklin Rockett(e), Rockett and Allied Families 1681-1981 (Baltimore, Maryland: Gateway Press, 1981), pp. 45-48.

1785 - Probate Records for Richard Racket, Ninety-Six District, Abbeville County, South Carolina, found in Box 80, Package 1959, the date is probably 16 Jan 1785

An inventory was ordered for the estate of Richard Rockett, deceased:

Peter, a negro man - valued at 54 pounds, 2 shillings, 6 pence

Tall, a negro man - valued at 75 pounds

Administrator - James Carson

Witnesses: John Hitt, William Stringer, George Delaughter

 16 Mar 1785 - an estate sale for Rieckar Rockitt shows:

Peter - sold for 72 pounds to James Carson

Tall - sold for 109 pounds to John Harris

Sources: South Carolina, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1670-1980 [database on-line] at Ancestry.com.

John Franklin Rockett(e), Rockett and Allied Families 1681-1981 (Baltimore, Maryland: Gateway Press, 1981), pp. 48-51.

COMMENT

Up to this point, my slave documentation has involved wills and probates where the slaves have a name. Following Robyn N. Smith’s example of creating a chart (https://reclaimingkin.com/ , Suggestions for the White Descendants of Slaveholders (14 Feb 2017)), I decided to do the same and include approximate birth years and possible birth locations if the slaves had been with the family for quite some time. When I opened up Hosea Holcombe Rockett’s 1850 Slave Schedule (see below) listing 22 slaves, I broke down in tears. Compared to the wills and probate, where they have names, the slave schedules are just gender and ages only. This is the most difficult, heart-wrenching family history project I have ever attempted. I hope my efforts might help someone looking for their slave ancestors in future.

ROCKETT, Richard (1765-1843), Mississippi

This Richard Rockett is the son of Richard Rockett (1721-1784) and grandson of Baldwin Rockett (1681-1731). He starts out in North Carolina and ends up in Mississippi.

1810 Census, Richd Rockett, 6 Aug 1810, Capt. Andrews District, Lincoln County, NC

In this census, he has 8 slaves. Their gender and ages are not broken down.

From 1818 until about 1837, he and his second wife, Martha Rose Sadler, lived in Jefferson County, AL.

1830 Census, Richard Racket Senior, Jefferson County, AL

In this census, he has 11 slaves. Their gender and ages are broken down. I have created a chart adding the range of birth years and possible birth locations based on where the Rocketts were living:

Type	Gender	Age	Number	Approx. Birth Year	Possible Birth Location if Travelling with R. Rockett (1765-1843)
Slaves	Male	Under 10	2	1821-1830	Jefferson County, AL
Slaves	Male	10-23	3	1807-1820	From 1807-1817, Lincoln County, NC Then 1818-1820, Jefferson County, AL Note: to get from NC to AL, you went through SC and GA
Slaves	Male	36-54	1	1776-1794	1763 - NC 1784 - SC
Slaves	Female	Under 10	2	1821-1830	Jefferson County, AL
Slaves	Female	10-23	3	1807-1820	From 1807-1817, Lincoln County, NC Then 1818-1820, Jefferson County, AL Note: to get from NC to AL, you went through SC and GA
Slaves	All		11

Some time between 1838 and 1842, they moved to Lafayette County, MS, with their son, Hosea Holcombe Rockett.

1842, Lafayette County, MS - On 28 Dec 1842, Richard and Martha (Sadler) deeded:

Lucy, a slave girl, age 10 - given to their daughter Mary Tucker (Rockett) Holcombe who was married to Alva Jackson Holcombe (1804- ).

Witnesses: Frank Y. Rockett, John Baldwin Rockett.

Source: Probate Records - Richard Rockett, 1844-1850, No. 4 Box 1-40, No. 88 Box 42-88, No. 93 Box 89-136, No. 128 Box 89-136; MS Dept. of Archives & History, Jackson, MS.  

ROCKETT, Rev. Hosea Holcombe (1811-1869), Mississippi

This Hosea Holcombe Rockett is the son of Richard Rockett (1765-1843). He died 1 Feb 1869 in Lafayette County, MS. I have not been able to find a will or probate records.

1850 U.S. Federal Census - Slave Schedules, H.H. Rockett, Lafayette County, MS

In this census, he has 22 slaves:

Number in Order Listed	Gender	Age	Approx. Birth Year	Possible Birth Location if Travelling with R. Rockett (1765-1843) and H.H. Rockett (1811-1869)
9	Female	60	1790	possibly NC
10	Female	38	1812	Lincoln County, NC
11	Female	38	1812	Lincoln County, NC
12	Female	35	1815	Lincoln County, NC
3	Male	28	1822	Jefferson County, AL
4	Male	28	1822	Jefferson County, AL
13	Female	25	1825	Jefferson County, AL
14	Female	25	1825	Jefferson County, AL
5	Male	25	1825	Jefferson County, AL
1	Female	21	1829	Jefferson County, AL
6	Male	19	1831	Jefferson County, AL
15	Female	18	1832	Jefferson County, AL
19	Female	16	1834	Jefferson County, AL
16	Female	15	1835	Jefferson County, AL
17	Female	14	1836	Jefferson County, AL
7	Male	10	1840	Lafayette County, MS
8	Male	10	1840	Lafayette County, MS
18	Female	8	1842	Lafayette County, MS
21	Female	5	1845	Lafayette County, MS
20	Female	4	1846	Lafayette County, MS
22	Female	3	1847	Lafayette County, MS
2	Male	2	1848	Lafayette County, MS

1860 U.S. Federal Census - Slave Schedules, H.H. Rockett, Lafayette County, MS

In this census taken 21 Aug 1860, he has 15 slaves with 2 Slave Houses:

Number of Slaves	Gender	Color	Age	Approx. Birth Year	Possible Birth Location if Travelling with R. Rockett (1765-1843) and H.H. Rockett (1811-1869)
1	Female	Black	35	1825	Jefferson County, AL
1	Female	Black	28	1832	Jefferson County, AL
1	Male	Black	25	1835	Jefferson County, AL
1	Female	Black	26	1834	Jefferson County, AL
1	Male	Black	10	1850	Lafayette County, MS
1	Female	Black	8	1852	Lafayette County, MS
1	Female	Black	10	1850	Lafayette County, MS
1	Male	Mulatto	7	1853	Lafayette County, MS
1	Female	Mulatto	6	1854	Lafayette County, MS
1	Male	Black	6	1854	Lafayette County, MS
1	Female	Black	5	1855	Lafayette County, MS
1	Female	Black	5	1855	Lafayette County, MS
1	Female	Black	4	1856	Lafayette County, MS
1	Female	Black	3	1857	Lafayette County, MS
1	Female	Mulatto	1	1859	Lafayette County, MS

Originally Published 21 Oct 2023.