robertmackayclan

I wondered about Marie as well. The probate file indicates the inventory was filed 27 November 1838. My best guess is that Marie was excluded from the inventory because she was already in the possession of Ann Tagart Archer and became Ann's property when James Tagart died between 16-26 September 1838.

I also wonder if some of the slaves listed in the inventory had nicknames or used name variations; because other than "Harrell", I have not found them in any other later records--unless "Martha Jane" could be "Jane Bonds"? (a speculation)

The probate folder of James Tagart also includes two sub-files for Margaret Tagart. One file appears to be dated 1843 and the other is dated 1878. My hope was to find a probate for James Tagart's widow Margaret, and then find another inventory or some listing of the slaves by name. However, these files only show periodic monetary administrations and I think one, or both, of the sub-files are for James Tagart's daughter--Margaret. Margaret was a Tagart all of her life because she married her cousin--Andrew Tagart (sound familiar). Coincidentally, one of the distributions Margaret received was approved by Probate Court Judge "Robert Miller" in 1845. So Judge Robert Miller was involved in the probates of both James Tagart and James McKay.
I'm anxious to renew my searches. After a year and a half of remodeling, the FHL is now scheduled to reopen on October 25th.

L.D.S. 0967565 St. Charles Co. MO Land Deed Book M,239, dated 16 Sep 1838, probated 2 Oct 1838, will of James Tagart (he signed the record)

Wife: Margaret to have the home tract he had purchased from Isaac Best, also that tract he had purchased from James Green, also all slaves, household furniture & farming utensils need to keep up the farm. After her death divided among his five children.

Son: Franklin Tagart to have the above property after the death of mother.

Son: Rezin A. Tagart to have the tract whereon he now lives, he purchased from Rezin Abley.

Daughter: Sarah Tagart now Goodrick to have the tract he had purchased from Peter Journey.

Daughter: Ann Tagart now Archer to have slave girl Marie now in her possession, also 80a in Warren Co.....? entered in the land office of St. Louis & also $400.

Daughter: Margaret Tagert to have $1000

All remain property not willed equally divided among all five children.

Appointed son Rezin A. Tagar as executor.

Wit: Warner Briscoe, James Goodrick & Leo Twyman.

I thought it interesting that the above slave Marie, not included on the inventory of James. I have not look if Marie might be listed among Archer slaves.

I wanted to find on this film James McKay purchasing slave Harriet. But that was not to be. Perhaps that record will be found on earlier land deeds.

I did not see on his film Tagart buying or selling slaves to Robert Miller or anyone else. We might need to find the maiden name of Margaret to see if some of the Tagart slaves came from her father or mother family.

This film covers 1838-1840 Book M & N.

He executed two deeds of trust in St. Charles Co.MO one dated 7 Jul 1838 & the other 12 Jul 1838, to secure his debts due to James Tagart & others.

Said Leo Twyman it would appear was a doctor and he used slaves to secure his debts:

In 7 Jul 1838 slaves: Esther (@38 years) and her child Lavisa (@13 years), Martha (@13 years) & Joe (@7 years)

In 12 Jul 1838 slaves: Lucy (@11 years) and "one lame negro woman named Maliah & her son Jackson". He might have had other slaves in his household, but did not use them as collateral.

I did not find in later deeds if he failed to pay back the debt. What would happen the slaves sold at public auction.

Above are the kind of records I hope to find surrounding the names of McKay, Miller & Tagart, the end game to trace the movement of the slaves.

Hope we can find very interesting information about your families by the end of the year.

I remember in one of your earlier posts, you discussed the importance of "abstracting" when researching ancestors. With Leo Twyman, you've given me a good example of what can be found by searching the surrounding neighbors and associates in the community--especially so for slave sales and transactions. I will use this approach on a few other persons that lived near or did business with McKay, Miller or Tagart. In particular, I've noticed in the censuses of 1830 and 1840, a "Flemming Miller" lives very near Robert Miller. Maybe Flemming can help me confirm Robert's exact origins.

L.D.S. 0967565 St. Charles Co. MO Land Deed Book M,239, dated 16 Sep 1838, probated 2 Oct 1838, will of James Tagart (he signed the record)

Wife: Margaret to have the home tract he had purchased from Isaac Best, also that tract he had purchased from James Green, also all slaves, household furniture & farming utensils need to keep up the farm. After her death divided among his five children.

Son: Franklin Tagart to have the above property after the death of mother.

Son: Rezin A. Tagart to have the tract whereon he now lives, he purchased from Rezin Abley.

Daughter: Sarah Tagart now Goodrick to have the tract he had purchased from Peter Journey.

Daughter: Ann Tagart now Archer to have slave girl Marie now in her possession, also 80a in Warren Co.....? entered in the land office of St. Louis & also $400.

Daughter: Margaret Tagert to have $1000

All remain property not willed equally divided among all five children.

Appointed son Rezin A. Tagar as executor.

Wit: Warner Briscoe, James Goodrick & Leo Twyman.

I thought it interesting that the above slave Marie, not included on the inventory of James. I have not look if Marie might be listed among Archer slaves.

I wanted to find on this film James McKay purchasing slave Harriet. But that was not to be. Perhaps that record will be found on earlier land deeds.

I did not see on his film Tagart buying or selling slaves to Robert Miller or anyone else. We might need to find the maiden name of Margaret to see if some of the Tagart slaves came from her father or mother family.

This film covers 1838-1840 Book M & N.

They do have listing for Y markers of men bearing the name Tagart (various spellings) I do not know if the project manager of his group would be willing to tell you if any of the entries lived at one time in St. Charles Co. MO. But you might try to contact him. They will not give you their e-mail address. I believe most or all under "R" a few "I".

This is one of the sites where the test kits do not tell you the oldest known ancestors, which would be very helpful if they did.

I will wait until I can see if James Tagart is listed on a land deed where he lived before MO. You might need to find his wife's maiden name. Because some of the slaves he possessed might have come from her family. She being born in KY. There was a James Jr. & James Sr. Tagart living in Warren Co. KY for 1800 census. Might be a location that needs checking.

I am still laboring under the idea that Jane Bonds was brought into MO by Robert Miller. If this is the case, there should be record in land deeds of MO. At least this is what people did who brought slaves into VA from other states. If he purchased her in MO then that record should be found in land deeds or will books under inventory or estate sales of others.

As I am reading through these film for MO or VA I will be looking for a slave named JANE BONDS. I have seen in the past if a slave had a common name and there were two slaves of the same first name in the same household , the slave entering into the household might keep the surname of the last master, so they could keep the two slaves straight. All done for the benefit of keeping account of the slaves in their community.

I do believe the grave sites of Robert & his wife should be found in St. Charles Co. MO Cemetery listed in some book, for that where some one has abtracted the information as to their birth & death dates on line.

I have three films coming into Fairfax Public Library dealing with early Orange Co. VA. After I view them and send them back I will order Rockbridge Co. VA Wills & Land Deeds to see if I can find your Robert Miller. Samuel Miller's will filed in that location in 1846.If this record does not name a son Robert, then I will hope another document will turn up.

And as far as Robert Miller's slaves his wife Magdalene Simonds(daughter of John), might have been brought slaves into their family household, so that surname should be check in Rockbridge Co. VA.

The good news a lot of film for Rockbridge Co. VA is available for viewing. State of VA does have Chancery Suit Files on line for Rockbridge Co. VA. might check that site.

While searching Frederick County historical sources, I found a link to your site. I wish to document the relationship of James McKay to Asa McKay and I am also looking for a will or probate file for Asa McKay. I have researched James McKay in Missouri and now want to document his origins. Thanks for any guidance.

Hey Gerard,

I've added the website with your research now. There are a few areas I'm going to touch up. I want to try to give control of this section over to you but I haven't totally figured out how to do that yet. That way if you need to make any edits you can, provided you know how to do it. If you have any problems you can just send me a message with what you want changed or added and I'll see what I can do.

Here's the link:http://gerard.robertmackayclan.com/

L.D.S. 0967565 St. Charles Co. MO Land Deed Book M,239, dated 16 Sep 1838, probated 2 Oct 1838, will of James Tagart (he signed the record)

Wife: Margaret to have the home tract he had purchased from Isaac Best, also that tract he had purchased from James Green, also all slaves, household furniture & farming utensils need to keep up the farm. After her death divided among his five children.

Son: Franklin Tagart to have the above property after the death of mother.

Son: Rezin A. Tagart to have the tract whereon he now lives, he purchased from Rezin Abley.

Daughter: Sarah Tagart now Goodrick to have the tract he had purchased from Peter Journey.

Daughter: Ann Tagart now Archer to have slave girl Marie now in her possession, also 80a in Warren Co.....? entered in the land office of St. Louis & also $400.

Daughter: Margaret Tagert to have $1000

All remain property not willed equally divided among all five children.

Appointed son Rezin A. Tagar as executor.

Wit: Warner Briscoe, James Goodrick & Leo Twyman.

I thought it interesting that the above slave Marie, not included on the inventory of James. I have not look if Marie might be listed among Archer slaves.

I wanted to find on this film James McKay purchasing slave Harriet. But that was not to be. Perhaps that record will be found on earlier land deeds.

I did not see on his film Tagart buying or selling slaves to Robert Miller or anyone else. We might need to find the maiden name of Margaret to see if some of the Tagart slaves came from her father or mother family.

This film covers 1838-1840 Book M & N.

L.D.S. 967568 St. Charles Co. MO Land Deed Book S, 232, dated 1 Sep 1846, probated 21 Oct 1846, Rezen A. Tagart indebted to James Green for $308 in three bonds, used as collateral his slave: Harl (mulatto man @25 years, slave for life), if he had other slaves they were not used to secure the debt. Also named horses, stock animals, household furniture & items. The JP was Robert Miller.

Now if we look at the Slave Schedule 1850-- R.A. Taggart had one female black 45, one female black 5 years. So what happened to Harl (sic) ?

I still have Book T to read which runs up to 1849. Perhaps he died before 1850 or sold.

I do not know if Harl should be perhaps Harold, Hart or Harry.

Another interesting deed in Book S,254, dated 29 Oct 1845, probated 11 Nov 1846: Henry Wade of Lincoln Co. MO sells for $400 to Wm. G. Pettus of St. Charles Co. MO to be held in trust for the sole benefit of Caroline Andrews wife of Owen Andrews & her children (not named), "one negro woman called & known by the name Nelly but whose right name is Harriett aged @22 or 23 years, being of sound in body & mind, slave for life".

Now I thought I found your Harriet, but your Harriet still held by Kizer (from McKay estate).

L.D.S. library has death records 1850-1909 for the town of St. Louis, MO, you might want to look for your ancestors in that location.

I think should be the same slave listed on James Tagart's inventory. Will not be until Tuesday before I can check Book T. It would be nice to see if I can find a deed filed by R.A. Tagart selling said slave to Robert Miller.

They do have listing for Y markers of men bearing the name Tagart (various spellings) I do not know if the project manager of his group would be willing to tell you if any of the entries lived at one time in St. Charles Co. MO. But you might try to contact him. They will not give you their e-mail address. I believe most or all under "R" a few "I".

This is one of the sites where the test kits do not tell you the oldest known ancestors, which would be very helpful if they did.

I will wait until I can see if James Tagart is listed on a land deed where he lived before MO. You might need to find his wife's maiden name. Because some of the slaves he possessed might have come from her family. She being born in KY. There was a James Jr. & James Sr. Tagart living in Warren Co. KY for 1800 census. Might be a location that needs checking.

I am still laboring under the idea that Jane Bonds was brought into MO by Robert Miller. If this is the case, there should be record in land deeds of MO. At least this is what people did who brought slaves into VA from other states. If he purchased her in MO then that record should be found in land deeds or will books under inventory or estate sales of others.

As I am reading through these film for MO or VA I will be looking for a slave named JANE BONDS. I have seen in the past if a slave had a common name and there were two slaves of the same first name in the same household , the slave entering into the household might keep the surname of the last master, so they could keep the two slaves straight. All done for the benefit of keeping account of the slaves in their community.

I do believe the grave sites of Robert & his wife should be found in St. Charles Co. MO Cemetery listed in some book, for that where some one has abtracted the information as to their birth & death dates on line.

I have three films coming into Fairfax Public Library dealing with early Orange Co. VA. After I view them and send them back I will order Rockbridge Co. VA Wills & Land Deeds to see if I can find your Robert Miller. Samuel Miller's will filed in that location in 1846.If this record does not name a son Robert, then I will hope another document will turn up.

And as far as Robert Miller's slaves his wife Magdalene Simonds(daughter of John), might have been brought slaves into their family household, so that surname should be check in Rockbridge Co. VA.

The good news a lot of film for Rockbridge Co. VA is available for viewing. State of VA does have Chancery Suit Files on line for Rockbridge Co. VA. might check that site.

Other than Slave Schedules, probate inventories and tax records, I have not found any state or county records which registered or recorded slaves, but I think you are right about the origins of Jane Bond. I just reviewed an affidavit in Amelia Taggart McKay's pension file which was submitted by a man (Dowell Williams) identified as Amelia's cousin. Dowell Williams was born in 1840 in St. Charles and his death certificate shows his mother was "Sarah Bond", born in Virginia. If Sarah is the sister or some relative of Jane, this seems to confirm they were brought from Virginia before 1840. I haven't found a record on Sarah Bond to identify her slave owner.

Time will tell if I can find a group of slaves in Rockbridge Co. VA who were listed under the surname Bond/Bonds, even if owned by slave owners of a different surnames.

I know the records for Rockbridge Co. VA are available for viewing, so just a matter of ordering and reading them.

L.D.S. 967568 St. Charles Co. MO Land Deed Book S, 232, dated 1 Sep 1846, probated 21 Oct 1846, Rezen A. Tagart indebted to James Green for $308 in three bonds, used as collateral his slave: Harl (mulatto man @25 years, slave for life), if he had other slaves they were not used to secure the debt. Also named horses, stock animals, household furniture & items. The JP was Robert Miller.

Now if we look at the Slave Schedule 1850-- R.A. Taggart had one female black 45, one female black 5 years. So what happened to Harl (sic) ?

I still have Book T to read which runs up to 1849. Perhaps he died before 1850 or sold.

I do not know if Harl should be perhaps Harold, Hart or Harry.

Another interesting deed in Book S,254, dated 29 Oct 1845, probated 11 Nov 1846: Henry Wade of Lincoln Co. MO sells for $400 to Wm. G. Pettus of St. Charles Co. MO to be held in trust for the sole benefit of Caroline Andrews wife of Owen Andrews & her children (not named), "one negro woman called & known by the name Nelly but whose right name is Harriett aged @22 or 23 years, being of sound in body & mind, slave for life".

Now I thought I found your Harriet, but your Harriet still held by Kizer (from McKay estate).

L.D.S. library has death records 1850-1909 for the town of St. Louis, MO, you might want to look for your ancestors in that location.

The age and description of "Harl" fall within the descriptions and age ranges of the 1838 James Tagart inventory, the 1880 census and the 1889 and 1892 affidavits in Amelia McKay's Widow's Pension file. Plus, Rezen Tagart hired "Harold" out previously for the year 1840. The name variations on these documents and others include: Harrell, Harrold, Harold and Herald.

Since so far, no transactions or deeds have shown up for the sale of Tagart slaves to Robert Miller, I'm beginning to wonder if Judge Miller somehow used his legal authority and involvement in the probate administrations to acquire the slaves.

Anyhow, one week to go before the FHL reopens.