Chatham County North Carolina Note: Much of the following information was obtained through the generosity of Charles Ashworth who paid for professional genealogical research at the NC Archives in 2007.   Thomas Dowdy of Gulf, Chatham Co NC, d. 1859   Estate Files of Thomas Dowdy of Gulf Contain many documents between family members complaining about issues of the indebtness of William A. Dowdy to his father Thomas Dowdy, Sr. William went by the name Billy and Thomas Sr. is referred to as “the old man” It appears that William A. Dowdy was in debt with numerous bills to pay. His father Thomas Dowdy issued a deed to him of William’s land. in order to save it for William and his children. The estate file is filled with court documents. Just a few were chosen to reflect on the character of William A. Dowdy . Slaves are mentioned as being sold to cover the debts. J. M. Stedman Ex vs Wm. A. Dowdy - Answer of Deft filed Sept Term “59 21st day Janr 1860 - Waddell Sols. “he well remembers that he was called on not only to witness the deed which was executed at Complts own house but also to witness the delivery of the negroes and other personal propety sold. .. a short time after the above mentioned sale and delivery of the property and deeds, the father told this Deft that the son had sent over the negroes ot his (the father's) house and that he had then upon told them to return to his sons's and that he would call for them or send for them when he should need then. W. H. Burk had at one occasion charged the Father with having fraudently purchased this property to cover his son debts .. and that last summer when the tax lists were taken the Complt gave it all in as his father's ,, a short time before the death of his testator, the Complt was at his (Testators) house and in the presence of Deft stated that there were some judgments in Testators possession which had been paid off by the Complt and which therefore he ought to have and there upon the Testator produced all his papers and requested Complt to pick out any such judgments which Complt according did. .. .. Complt had relinquished his right to qualify as Executor of his father's will and found that the Deft was in the act of makin an Inventory of his Testators estate including that now claimed by Complt and then for the first time he objected and claimed the said property his own .. the Deft lived in sight of his said fathers house for 2 or three years after the execution of the said deeds to the father. And the said father was confined to the house for 2 or 3 weeks ... Deft that in examining the papers of his Testator he hath found notes, judgements and other evidences of debt paid off by the said Testator for the Compt. To the amount of Fifteen or Sixteen hundred dollars. [Date of deed 8 April 1856 ... slave sold who was sold and bought by Ferrell did bring the sum of $500 ... Deft delivered at the court house door and way bid off by Frances Ferrill he is not positive but believes that he sold $500 Court Documents Nov. Term 1864 James Dowdy and others vs. Matthew Dowdy & Wm. A. Dowdy petition for division of slaves   Estate Box CR.022.508.41 Two lists of slaves were found from the Inventory of the Estate of Thomas Dowdy deceased taken November 1859. Thirteen slaves were divided among the heirs of Thomas Dowdy in 1864 Inventory Lists from Estate papers of Thomas Dowdy Inventory the Estate of Thos Dowdy Nov. Term 1859 recorded in Book K page # 262 & 63  17 Negroes as fowlers Clarrisse Jery Clarisse Jerry Charles Green Mariah Leatha Andeson Dilloh John Richard Morat ? Word beside name not legible Ellis Cato Ann Margreit Sandy Eller A inventory of property found at Thomas Dowdys Deceased 1859    17 negroes as fowlers Clarisse Jery Charles Green Mariah Leatha Anderson Dilloh John Richard Ellis Cato Moriah [scratched out oldest] Ann Margaret Sandy Ella List of sale - no slaves sold. Notes on slaves Charles Segraves hired 1 girl Moriah at $9.60 Sarah Dawdy - 1 boy Anderson $11.50 1 girl Diller - $1.61 1 girl Leatha to Keep & 4 children [no amount given] SLAVE SCHEDULE 1850 Slave Schedule Upper Regiment, Chatham Co., NC. Census taken 11 October 1850. William A. Dowdy and Thomas Dowdy are listed on the same page. [No page number on the page] The second Thomas Dowdy is listed with neighbors John Green, Wm. T. Burns and Henry Harris. Thomas Dowdy with wife Elizabeth is listed on the 1850 census with these neighbors. 1850 Upper Regiment William A. Dowdy Thomas Dowdy Thomas Dowdy -Wife Elizabeth Age - sex - race 32 Female Black 14 Female Mulatto 9 Female Black 7 Male Black 6 Male Mulatto 6 Female Black 5 Male Mulatto 1 Female Mulatto Age – sex – race 41 Female Black 24 Male Black 21 Female Black 21 Female Black 20 Male Black 19 Male Black 17 Male Black 14 Male Black 11 Female Black 8 Female Black 6 Female Black 2 Male Black 1 Female Black 8 Male Black Page 25 William A. Dowdy and Sarah Dowdy on same page. Census taken 21 July 1860 1860 Middle Division Schedule 2, page 25 Wm. A. Dowdy Sarah Dawdy Thomas Dowdy married to Elizabeh Age – sex – race 40 Female Black 23 Female Mulatto 9 Female Mulatto 2 Male Mulatto 10/12 Female Mulatto Age – sex – race 30 Female Black 26 Male Black 18 Female Black 6 Female Black 5 Male Black 4 Male Black 3 Male Black 1/ m Male Black Age – sex – race 35 Female Mulatto 22 Female Mulatto 17 Male Black 15 Male Black 7 Male Mulatto 6 Female Mulatto 2 Female Mulatto “Exibit “e” - James M. Steman as Executor of Thomas Dowdy on acct. current with said estate 1859-1868 Year - Expense Date Paid Person with Description 1859 12 January 1860 For catching “Lewis” a run away out Prison charges Lewis $6.50 $5.00 1860 12 January 1860 shoes $2.10 1860 12 January 1861 Paid Negro Charles $3.00 1860 12 January 1861 Mending shoes Making clothes $ .25 $ .85 1860 12 January 1861 Return Negro him? $ .40 1860 12 January 1861 Return Negro him $ .40 Negro Hire Notes for 1860 1860 January 3 By note J. J. Palmer , A. P. Latarn 2 Jos pen? From Out from January 3 1861 $258.00 $181.88 1860 January 3 By note Sarah Dowdy Out from Jan 3, 1861 $76.50 $65.63 May be others ?? 1861 1 January 1862 For keeping Letitia & children $75 $60 1862 1 January 1863 For keeping Letitia & children $28 $20.72 1863 For keeping Negros $24 $16.32 1864 For keeping Negros $400 $248 1864 – Jan 1 January 1864 Clothes $2.00 Receipt to James M. Stedman dated 3 January 1865 On or before the 25 day of Dec next we or either of us promis to pay J. M. Stedman .. $2,050 in such money be taken by the Treasure of North Carolina for the hire of Two negroes Jerry and Charles W. A. Dowdy Receipt to James M. Steadman dated 4 January 1864 Front: 12 months after date we or either of us to pay J. M. Steaman .. $227.50 for value received of him and do promise to shoe the negroes & cloth them Letha & Richard & Jeffery. Mathew Dowdy Back: Received of the widow Note $100 provided to Mathew keeps Lettia and 2 children not in perpation for the time he keeps them. Mathew Dowdy Note $227.25 Thomas Dowdy Estate Documents . , 1862  Rent of the Plantation of Thomas Dowdy Decd year 1862 by J. M. Stedman Exr rend pond Field to Eli Dowdy $2.25 and other big filed $4 2 big filed Minter Foushee $12 Others 1 medow field, 1 field by the house, stud lot Negro hire for the year by the estate Clarisee - James Coggins $41 Jery - A. Comeron $77 Charles - Sarah Dowdy $51 Green - W. Colville $92.50 Anderson -W. J. Slown $50.75 Mariah & child - Mrs. Loia or Laia $14 Dellar - Minter Foushee $16 John – Alvese Poe $10.25 Ellis = Plesant Wicker $2.25 Dick – Mathew Dowdy $5 Leatha & 2 children to keep for the --?[list] Sarah Dowdy - $28            Court of Pleas & Quarter Sessions August Term 1864 Committee ordered to divide the slaves. Brooks Harris, Jordon Tyser, A. McIntyre November Term 1864 Commission has included in the division of the slaves certain slaves the property of J. M. Stedman & not the property of the Estate of said Dowdy Commissioners have failed to include in the division certain slaves given to other children of Thomas Dowdy who have removed levy and the limits of this State. Which slaves should have been included, if female slaves given to Stedman were included as the report shows was don at is manifestly unjust to Stedmand to include the slaves he has & not included those given to the other children of Thomas Dowdy have been removed out of this state several other statements but division was set aside 5 November November 1864 Jordon Tyson A. McIntrye, Brooks Harris Slaves divided Lot #1 Nelson G. Hill & wife Mary Hannah & Child & Jerry Lot #2 Mathew Dowdy & William A. Dowdy their mothers interest Green, Cato, Dollar and Adeline Lot #3 James Dowdy Flora, Richard, Mary Lot #4 William A. Dowdy Charles Clarisa Lot #5 Mathew Dowdy Anderson, Leathy Lot #6 Allen Dowdy - Samuel 2nd girl of James M. Stedman Lot #7 Heirs of Thomas Dowdy Jr. Moriah and first child of The James M. Stedmans woman Lot # 8 Armstead L. Dowdy Delah, John Lot #9 James M. Steadman and wife Sally, Esther & child Cato and fifth child of Esthers and a defetive child? James Stedman negro boy Joe #1 N. G. Hill & wife Mary #1 Mathew & W. A. Dowdy [mothers interest] #3 James Dowdy #4 William A. Dowdy #5 Mathew Dowdy #6 Allen Dowdy #7 Heirs Thomas Dowdy Jr. #8 Armstead L. Dowdy #9 James Steadman wife Sally Hannah & child $4500 Green $3655 Flora $2700 Charles $3655 Anderson $4000 Samuel $4000 Moriah $3500 Dellah $3300 Esther & child $3300 Jerry $2500 Catos $1800 Richard $3000 Ellis $2740 Leathy $2500 2nd girl James M. Steadman woman $2250 1st child of James Stedmans Woman $2750 John $3300 Cato child $1800 Adaline $1200 Mary $800 Clarissa $400 5th child Esther $800 Defective child $400 Boy Joe $$1500 James M. Stedman alloted boy Joe for a composition him for causing the Children of Esther Court Case II -- Concerning the estate of Sarah Dowdy- Slaves [# given to identify documents] 11 February Term 1864 James Dowdy, Allen Dowdy, Armistead L. Dowdy, heirs of Thomas Dowdy Junior, Nelson G. Hill & Mary his wife, James Steadman & wife Sarah Plaintiffs vs. Mathew Dowdy & Wm. A. Dowdy Defts. Conderning the slave division * States Thomas Dowdy Sr. died in 1861? -- that the slaves left by him .. were to be divided among the Legatees share and share alike. .. the widow having depened from the will was entitled to one share but the same was never divided and delivered to her but the said slavees were kept by the Executor named in the said will unitl the full Settlement of the estate .. The slaves about 13 in number equally divided .. among the legatees. 12 November Term 1864 James Dowdy & others vs. Matthew Dowdy & Wm. A. Dowdy Service accepted John Manning At. For Matthew & Wm. A. Dowdy August Term 1864 H. H. for Pltfs. Petition for Division of Slaves 13 November Term 1864 Petition for Division Slaves Dowdy vs Dowdy James & Sally Stedman. Indicating disapproval of division because slaves that they were given were included in the heirs divison and the slaves that were given to out of state heirs were not included. 14 16 November 1864 Slave Division Lots - # 1 Nelson G. Hill & wife Mary – Hannah & Child – Jerry #2 Mathew & Wm. A. Dowdy – mothers share – Green, Adeline #3 James Dowdy -Flora, Richard, Mary #4 William A. Dowdy- Charles, Ellis, Clarisa #5 Mathew Dowdy- Anderson, Lhethy, #6 Allen Dowdy, - Samuel & girl of James Stedmans woman #7 Heirs of Thomas Dowdy -Moriah and first child of James Stedmans woman #8 Armisted Dowdy -Dellah , John #9 James Stedman and wife Sarah Esther and Child , Cator, Fifth child of Ester & defective child and James Stedman one negro boy Joe as compensation to him for causing the children of Esther Civil War Ends April 1865 More ex-Slave Families Traced 1870 NC Census Swains Station, Greenwood, Moore Co NC Jerry Dowdy 40 b NC (black) Elizabeth Dowdy 28 Emily Dowdy 7 Isabella Dowdy 6 Cornelia Dowdy 5 Leander J Dowdy 7/12 Margaret Dowdy 12 b NC (black) living nearby in HH of Emanuel Morris (white) Sloans, Moore Co NC (this may be the right family?) Jno Gillam 49 Leatha Gillam 46 Dellah Gillam 18 Richard Gillam 16 John Gillam 14 Ellis Gillam 12 Cato Gillam 11 (he's too young) Adline Gillam 9 (she's likely too young) Sarah Gillam 5 Mary Gillam 4/12 Oakland, Chatham Co NC Charly Dowdy 29; black; farmhand Caraline 25 Harriet 12 Willis 7 Margaret 5 Henry 4 James 2 Ellis Dowdy 18; black; farmhand (in HH of Samuel Gilmore) Moriah Dowdy (female) 57; black; keeping house (living next door to William A. Dowdy) Ella 12 Loyd Emerson HH 1870 Census P. O. Gulf, Chatham Co., NC, Roll M593-1129, Page 64 Sandy born 1862 mother can not read or write 1880 CENSUS - Loydd Emerson HH 1880 Census Gulf Township, Chatham Co., NC, Roll T9-958, Page195B, ED 31, SD 2 Ann born 1840 Sandy born 1859 Emma born 1862 1900 CENSUS - Sandy Dowdy 1900 Census Gulf Township, Chatham Co., NC Roll T623-1188, Page 3A, ED 7, SD 4 Sandy Born June 1858 Aunt Ella born 1859 Frank Tysor HH 1900 Census Gulf, Chatham Co., NC, Roll: T623 -1188, Page: 1A, ED 7, ED 4 Ella born 1860 1910 CENSUS - Sandy Dowdy 1910 Census Gulf Township, Chatham Co., NC, Roll T624-1102, Page 7B, ED 10, SD 4 Sandy born 1848 or 1858 Ann born 1842 Lloyd Emerson a boarder [Divorced] in household of Calton McHaney 1910 Census Williams Township, Chatham Co., NC, Roll T624-1102, Page 9B, Ed 19, SD 4 William Rives HH 1910 Census Matthews Township, Chatham Co., NC, Roll T624-1102, Page 2A, ED 15, SD 4 Ellen born 1875? Frank Tysor HH 1910 Census Gulf Township, Chatham Co., NC, Roll T624-1102, Page 3A, ED 9, SD 4 Ellen born 1859 1920 CENSUS Sandy Dowdy HH 1920 Census Gulf Township, Chatham Co., NC, Roll T625-1289, Page 1A, ED 9, SD 4 Sandy born 1858 Wlliam Rieves HH 1920 Census Gulf Township, Chatham Co., NC, Roll T625-1289, page 144, ED 10, SD 4 Emma born 1857 1930 CENSUS - Sandy Dowdy HH 1930 Census Gulf Township, Chatham Co., NC, Roll 1680, Page 7B, ED 12, SD 9 Sandy age Age 72 married when 26 years old William Rieves HH 1930 Census Gulf Township, Chatham Co., NC, Roll 1680, Page 9A, ED 11, SD 9 Emma born 1962 Possible lineage Lunny, Darlington, South Carolina Greene Doudy 31, black, born North Carolina Edith Doudy 30 Ella Doudy 12 Ida Doudy 4 Easter Doudy 3 Mary Doudy 1