Slaves of Patton and Rogers of Itawamba Co., MS

Submitted by Barbara Tynes Claiborne

March 2006

Dorn Patton, born Kentucky 1796, moved to Alabama then in late 1830’s became a large land holder in Itawamba County, Mississippi. His daughters married Rogers, Tipton, Beachum, Works, Womack, and Warren. They and his son Dorn Patton Jr. received some of his slaves before the end of the Civil War. In addition, his daughter Mary Ann Patton married Hugh Riah Rogers, son of Hugh Rogers of the Carolinas, also a large slave holder in Itawamba and Tishomingo County Mississippi. Their slaves were distributed to their children by “Deed of Gift”, a common way to dispose of “property” in lieu of a will. These slaves took the last name of their master, and some continued to be found with the families on census after the Civil War.

Itawamba County Deed of Gift, 30th May 1856 to Sarah Ann Tipton:
"his daughter the wife of Shadrack Tipton of the County + state aforesaid mentioned the said Dorn Patton in consideration of the love and affection towards his daughter the said Sarah Ann Tipton hereby Grant Give __ and convey to her during her life the following Discribed land to wit the NW 1/4 section two (2) Township seven (7) Range Nine (9) East also one Slave to wit Harriet aged about fourteen years to have and to hold the same with the appurtenances to the said Sarah Ann Tipton during her natural life but this Donation is upon the conditions following the said Sarah Ann may by her last will and testament __ the said lands and Negroes according to her own Good and true will. If she make no such device then upon her decease the said land and slaves there upon her decease the said land and slaves are to be in __ to the heirs of her Body Given under my hand and seal the day and note above written." Dorn Patton

Itawamba County Deed of Gift to Caroline Beachum:
"Be It Known that I Dorn Patton of the State and County aforesaid for and in consideration of the Love and affection that I have for my Daughter Caroline Beachum the wife of Dudley Beachum of the County of Itawamba and State aforesaid give my said daughter Caroline for and during her life the slave Jane a female now about the age of eight years who is a slave for life together with the Issue or child or children of said Jane and her issue are to belong to the issue of my said daughter Caroline now born and to be born.
And I have set my hand and seal on this the first day of May AD 1856 - Dorn Patton

Itawamba County Deed of Gift to Drucilla Womack:
"I Dorn Patton in consideration of the care and affection I have for my daughter Drucilla Womack wife of James M. Womack of the State of Mississippi + county of Itawamba do hereby freely give to her for and during her natural my slave Mary a Female now about the age of seven years together with her issue and at the decease of my said Daughter Drucilla the said Mary and her issue are to belong to the issue of my Daughter Drucilla to be born. But if my said Daughter should die without any issue or heir then the said said Slave Mary + her issue are to return to my Estate to be divided among my lawful heirs.
In Testimony of which I hereunto set my hand and seal on this the 12th day of December 1857 Dorn Patton

Also in October 5 1855 Deed in Trust to Wm. A. Rogers this language:
"given, granted, bargained sold and delivered to William A. Rogers the following property to wit: a negro woman named Harriet about seventeen years old + Julia Ann a negro woaman about Fifteen yuears old + Eliza a negro woman about nineteen years old; In trust nevertheless for the following purposes, To wit: The said trustee to hold and control the negroes hein conveyed viz Harriet + Juliet for the use and benefit of my grandchildren, Children of Joseph Rogers Dec'd to hire or manage them in any way....(*here follows provisions for attainment of age 21 years by grandchildren)... and the said negro girl Eliza shall be held by said Trustee for the use and benefit of my beloved wife Jane during her natural life allowing my said wife to have the possession and control of said negro and appropriate the profits of her labor as she may desire and at the death of my said wife the said Trustee shall allow my daughter Sarah Cummings to have the possession of said negro.. and at the death of my daughter the said negro girl + her increase shall be by said Trustee vested absolutely in my sons John Rogers, William A. Rogers and Huriah Rogers."

Hugh Rogers was alive in October 1855, but died before 1860.