by AUDREY CREEL / December 16, 2020
©Audrey Creel, 2020 (All rights reserved.)

There is only one record of Henry’s life. Hardy Murfree’s estate settlement shows a period of uncertainty for his enslaved African Americans. After his death, the North Carolina court divided Hardy Murfree’s estate and slave holdings amongst Hardy’s living relatives. Henry (last name unknown) was listed amongst twenty-two individuals who were placed under Dr. James Maney’s possession.[i] Henry was not listed with any known family.[ii] The court stated that Henry had a monetary value of one-hundred-fifty dollars in 1814.[iii] It is probably that Henry was taken from family members as a result of the estate settlement. Following the court decision, Henry likely was taken from his home in North Carolina to Dr. James’ plantation (present day Oaklands Mansion) in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Henry’s age at the time of the estate settlement is unknown, and it is unknown what happened to Henry after 1814.

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References

[i] Estate settlement, Hardy Murfree estate settlement, Williamson County Archives, Probate Records, [75].

[ii] Estate settlement, Hardy Murfree estate settlement, [75].

[iii] Estate settlement, Hardy Murfree estate settlement, [75].