In 1821, Rebecca Perry Drayton, widow of John Drayton of Drayton Hall, petitioned the House of Representatives, seeking permission to free three family slaves named Abigail, Mahala and Rebecca. Abigail was described as “an old family nurse … now between eighty and ninety years old.” The petition was denied [1].
In a petition to the Senate filed in 1827, Rebecca Drayton requested permission to emancipate a slave named Abba she had inherited twenty years earlier “from a very near connection” under the promise that Abba would be emancipated. This petition was denied as well [2].
Above: Legislative Notice, Petition of Rebecca Drayton, 1827
Date: 1827-12-01; Paper: South-Carolina State Gazette And Columbia Advertiser.
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The “very near connection” from which Rebecca received Abba may have been Tobias Bowles, husband of her daughter Susannah Drayton. Bowles willed to mother-in-law Rebecca Perry, in his will dated 13 Oct 1807 and proved 4 Nov 1808, the largest portion of his estate, “on condition that she, her Executors or Administrators do & shall within three months after my decease, in due form of Law, emancipate & set free my slaves named Harriett, Thursa, Bunfy, Auba & Kit & the issue of the females to be born after the date of this my will.”
Bowles provided Rebecca Perry Drayton with sufficient means to accomplish his will: after special bequests were satisfied he left to her “all my bank shares, monies at interest, houses lands & slaves & the issue of the females to be born after the date of this my will [4].”
Rebecca Perry Drayton’s Will
Thirteen years after she petitioned the Senate, Rebecca Perry Drayton accomplished by will what she could not accomplish by petition. In her will dated 10 May 1837 and proved 5 Oct 1840, Rebecca made provisions for slaves Abba, Mahala, Rebecca and Richard. Rebecca bequeathed a portion of her estate to trusted friend Francis Y. Porcher, that he might purchase a house for Abba and contribute to her living expenses:
Item, to my friend Francis Y. Porcher I give my servant Martha, for him to take care of and maintain for my sake. All the rest and residue of my estate I give to my Executor Dr. Francis Y Porcher on the following trusts that is to say my Gold Watch, wearing apparel and furniture, I desire him to keep or dispose of for the use of my faithful woman Abba, whom I have given to him by deed, so as to enable him to do justice to my intentions toward her, and to discharge in my place the debt of gratitude which her long and diligent service in my old age and sickness, has entitled her to. All the rest of my estate both real and personal, I desire him to sell at public or private sale as he may think fit, excepting Sam and Sophy, to whom I desire he should allow the privilege of choosing their owners.
The final clause of Rebecca’s will further defined her wishes concerning Sam and Sophy: “N.B. Sam and Sophy are to stay with Abba, unless they think proper to choose an owner.”
Of the proceeds of the sale, she willed to niece Rebecca Giles $250. After this bequest was fulfilled, Francis Porcher was to use the proceeds of Rebecca’s estate sale to purchase a small house and invest the remainder. The house was to be Abba’s dwelling place for the remainder of her life.
Rebecca Drayton’s will also included provisions for Mahala and Rebecca, perhaps the same Mahala and Rebecca she had requested permission to emancipate in 1821. After Abba’s death the interest on the principle sum was to go towards living expenses of former slaves Rebecca, Richard and Mahala for as long as they lived. After their deaths Rebecca Perry Drayton bequeathed the principle sum to her great grandchildren on the condition that they not contest the will.
To further prevent challenges to her will she included the provision that “if my descendants or any of them shall dispute this will, on account of the arrangement made for the relief of the slaves therin mentioned, then I give the said house and capital of the fund so invested to the use of the said Francis Y. Porcher, discharged from any other trust forever.” Francis Y. Porcher was appointed sole Administrator of Rebecca’s estate [5].
View Rebecca Perry Drayton’s Will Page 1, Page 2
Rebecca Perry Drayton’s Estate
An inventory of Rebecca Perry Drayton’s estate was made at her residence on Bull Street in Charleston on Oct 4, 1840 [16]. Here Abba’s name is rendered “Abby.” We also learn more about Mahala, Rebecca and Richard from the estate inventory. Enslaved ancestors listed in the estate were:
- Sam, 40 years old, a carpenter
- Jacob, a laborer, 20 years old, unsound
- Jennett, 18 years old, servant
- Abram, 50 years old, laborer
- Lucy or Lucia, 35 years old, servant
- Silla, 21 years old, servant
- Sophie, 25 years old with her three children, viz Dolly, Josiah & Sarah
- Martha, an old woman
- Dye, 25 a cripple and her child an infant
- Esaw, 23 years old, a laborer
- Sarah, 40 years old, servant
- Richard, 20, at carpenter’s trade
- Rebecca, 18 years old, servant
- Mahala, 19 years old, servant
- Abby, 50 years old, nurse
View Estate Inventory Page 1, Page 2
Were Rebecca Perry Drayton’s Wishes Carried Out?
We know that, if Rebecca Perry Drayton’s wishes were carried out, her Executor Francis Y. Porcher sold the bulk of her estate and used a portion of the proceeds to buy a small house for Abba to live in for the rest of her life.
If he carried out her wishes, he also invested the rest of the proceeds from the sale, and used the interest on the principle sum to contribute to Abba, Rebecca, Richard and Mahala’s living expenses.
Question: Did Francis Y. Porcher sell Rebecca Drayton’s estate? Did he disburse funds for Rebecca, Richard and Mahala?
An advertisement for the sale of Rebecca Drayton’s house and servants appeared in the Charleston Courier in January of 1841.
Above: Detail from Advertisement for Sale of Rebecca Drayton’s Estate, 1841
Date: 1841-1-13; Paper: Charleston Courier
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The estate account return filed with the Charleston Probate Court reveals more about Francis Porcher’s administration of Rebecca Perry Drayton’s estate.
Here we see that Rebecca’s house was rented until it was sold in 1841. We also see entries for the sale of Dye, Jacob, Jeannett and Scilla in February of 1841, and the sale of Lucia and Esaw in August of 1841:
Above: Detail from Estate Return, 1840-1842, Estate of Rebecca Perry Drayton [9]. View Full Record, Page 1, Page 2
We also see notations in October and November of 1841 for payments made “to Abba for negroes:”
Above: Detail from Estate Return, 1840-1842, Estate of Rebecca Perry Drayton [10]. View Full Record, Page 1, Page 2
Question: Can we find an African American named Abba or Abby living in the city of Charleston after 1840 (date of Rebecca’s will), in a house owned by Francis Y. Porcher or the estate of Rebecca Perry Drayton?
The 1861 Census of the city of Charleston finds free person of color Abby Cripps residing on Hanover Street in a house owned by Francis Y. Porcher. Is Abby Cripps the same person as Abba [6]?
Above: Abby Cripps, 1861 Census of the City of Charleston
Adapted from Charleston, SC City Council, Frederick A. Ford, compiler.
1861 Census of the City of Charleston, South Carolina: for the Year 1861, p.
100.
The 1860 Federal Census also shows Abby Cripps Living in Charleston, City
ward 7. Her household members were [7]:
| Name | Age | Gender | Occupation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harriett Ross | 50 | F | Domestic |
| Susan Ross | 20 | F | |
| Thomas Brown | 24 | F | |
| Virginia Brown | 17 | F | |
| Abbe Cripps | 58 | F |
Above: Abby Cripps in the 1860 Federal Census
Charleston, SC, City Ward 7
Abby Cripps died in Charleston on 22 Mar 1866, from pneumonia. Her place of residence was 27 Hanover Street. The attending physician was H. Baer. Abby was buried at the MachPelah Cemetery [8].
Above: Death Record for Abby Cripps, 1866. City of Charleston, SC Returns of Deaths, 1819-1873. Microfilm Available at Charleston County Public Library, South Carolina Room.
Above: Detail from Death Record for Abby Cripps, 1866
Left Side of Page
Above: Detail from Death Record for Abby Cripps, 1866
Right Side of Page
Question: Is Abby Cripps, shown in the records above, the same person as Abba or Abby referred to in Rebecca Perry Drayton’s will and estate inventory?
This is a question for further research. Abby or Abba’s age is listed as 50 in the estate inventory made in 1840. Abby Cripps is listed as 58 in the 1860 census, and 56 in the Charleston City Death record made in 1866. We must learn more about Abby Cripps before we can speculate.
Slaves Sold from Rebecca Perry Drayton’s Estate
From the estate return above we learned that Dye, Jacob, Jeannette and Scilla were sold in February of 1841, and Lucia and Esaw were sold in August of the same year.
Question: Who purchased the enslaved ancestors sold from Rebecca Drayton’s estate? Can we locate bills of sale?
To answer this question we can consult the South Carolina Department of Archives and History’s Online Records Index [11]. Here we find only two abstracts of bills of sale from F.Y. Porcher, Executor of the estate of Rebecca Drayton.
Images of the bills of sale abstracted in the South Carolina Department of Archives and History’s Online Index are within the free collection South Carolina Estate Inventories and Bills of Sale, 1732-1872 on Fold3.com.
- Abstract: Porcher, F. Y., Exor. of Rebecca Drayton to R.E. Dereef, Bill of Sale for a Slave Named Dye and Her Child Dye [12] Record Image: View on Fold3.com [14]
- Abstract: Porcher, F. Y., Exor of Rebecca Drayton to F. Stall, Bill of Sale for a Slave Named Jacob [13] Record Image: View on Fold3.com [15]
Questions for Further Research
We know that a slave named Auba belonged to Tobias Bowles, and in his will written in 1807, he bequeathed her to Rebecca Perry Drayton, widow of John Drayton at Drayton Hall, on the condition that Rebecca would emancipate her. We also know that Rebecca Drayton petitioned the Senate in 1827 for permission to emancipate a slave named Abba.
Question: Is Auba, referred to in Tobias Bowles’ 1807 will, the same person as Abba, who Rebecca Drayton sought to emancipate in 1827?
Absent further documentary evidence we cannot say, but it merits further investigation.
Join the Search
We continue to compile the Drayton family documents and will update this page as we learn more. If you have documents which shed light on these questions, we would love to hear from you! You can write to us at info@lowcountryafricana.com or use our Contact Form.
References Cited
[1] South Carolina. Department of Archives and History, “Records of the General Assembly.” Drayton, Rebecca, and Other Inhabitants of Charleston, Petition and Supporting Statements Asking that Drayton be Permitted to Emancipate Three of Her Family Slaves, ca. 1821. Series S165015, Year ND00, Item 1876, Record 13. Abstract online at Digital Library of American Slavery, University of North Carolina at Greensboro.
[2] South Carolina. Department of Archives and History, “Records of the General Assembly.” Rebecca Drayton, Petition to House of Representatives, ca. 1827. Series S165015, Year ND00, Item 2831, Record 18. Abstract online at Digital Library of American Slavery, University of North Carolina at Greensboro.
[4] FamilySearch.org. South Carolina Probate Records, Bound Volumes, 1671-1977 [database online]. Salt Lake City, UT, USA, FamilySearch.org, 2011. Original data: South Carolina. Department of Archives and History. South Carolina Probate Records, Columbia, SC, USA. Will of Tobias Bowles, Charleston, SC, 1808, Will Book 31 (1807-1818), p.105.
[5] FamilySearch.org. South Carolina Probate Records, Bound Volumes, 1671-1977 [database online]. Salt Lake City, UT, USA, FamilySearch.org, 2011. Original data: South Carolina. Department of Archives and History. South Carolina Probate Records, Columbia, SC, USA. Will of Rebecca Drayton, Charleston, SC, 1840, Will Book 42 (1839-45), p. 185.
[6] Charleston, SC City Council, Frederick A. Ford, compiler. 1861 Census of the City of Charleston, South Carolina: for the Year 1861, p. 100. Published by Evans and Cogswell, Original from Princeton University, Digitized by Google Books 10 Oct 2008. Full-text available online at http://books.google.com/books?
id=BGouAAAAYAAJ&printsec=titlepage&source=gbs_v2_summary_r&cad=0.
[7] Ancestry.com. “1860 United States Federal Census” [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: The Generations Network, Inc., 2004. Original data: United States of
America, Bureau of the Census. Eighth Census of the United States, 1860. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1860. M653, 1,438 rolls. Year: 1860; Census Place: Charleston Ward 7, Charleston, South Carolina; Roll M653_1216; Page: 470; Image: 572.
[8] City of Charleston, SC. “Returns of Deaths, 1819-1873.” Microfilm Available at Charleston County Public Library, South Carolina Room. Death Record for Abby Cripps, 1866.
[9] and [10] FamilySearch.org. “South Carolina Probate Records, Bound Volumes, 1671-1977” [database online]. Salt Lake City, UT, USA. Charleston Returns Book B (1835-1841), page 51, Estate of Rebecca Perry Drayton, https://www.familysearch.org/search/collection/list#page=1®ion=UNITED_STATES, accessed 10 Sept 2011.
[11] South Carolina. Department of Archives and History. On-Line Records Index. http://www.archivesindex.sc.gov.
[12] South Carolina. Department of Archives and History. On-Line Records Index. http://www.archivesindex.sc.gov. Abstract, Bill of Sale, F.Y. Porcher to R.E. Dereef, 2 Feb 1841, Series S213003, Bills of Sale, Vol. 5W (1839-1843), p. 276.
[13] South Carolina. Department of Archives and History. On-Line Records Index. http://www.archivesindex.sc.gov. Abstract, Bill of Sale, F.Y. Porcher to F. Stall, 8 Feb 1841, Series S213003, Bills of Sale, Vol. 5W (1839-1843), p. 278.
[14] Fold3.com. “South Carolina Estate Inventories and Bills of Sale, 1732-1872” [database online]. Provo, UT, USA: Fold3.com, 2010. Original data: South Carolina. South Carolina Probate Records. Columbia, SC, USA: South Carolina Department of Archives and History. Bill of Sale, F.Y. Porcher to R.E. Dereef, 2 Feb 1841, Bills of Sale Vol. 5W (1839-1843), p. 276, http://www.fold3.com/image/#1|269368648, accessed 7 Mar 2012.
[15] Fold3.com. “South Carolina Estate Inventories and Bills of Sale, 1732-1872” [database online]. Provo, UT, USA: Fold3.com, 2010. Original data: South Carolina. South Carolina Probate Records. Columbia, SC, USA: South Carolina Department of Archives and History. Bill of Sale, F.Y. Porcher to F. Stall, 8 Feb 1841, Bills of Sale Vol. 5W (1839-1843), p. 278, http://www.fold3.com/image/#1|269368650, accessed 7 Mar 2012.
[16] Fold3.com. South Carolina Estate Inventories and Bills of Sale, 1732-1872 [database online]. Provo, UT, USA: Fold3.com, 2010. Original data: South Carolina. South Carolina Probate Records. Columbia, SC, USA: South Carolina Department of Archives and History. Estate Inventory of Rebecca Perry Drayton, Inventories Book A (1839-1844), p. 107.
