The will of Thomas Edgar, dated July 2, 1822, and recorded in Greenbrier County, West Virginia, provides a glimpse into the life and possessions of a man living in the early 19th century. The will, which begins "In the name of God Amen," reveals several key details about Edgar and his family:
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Family: The will names Edgar's wife, Ann, and several children: Nancy, Lucy, Elizabeth, and Archer. He also mentions a granddaughter, Eliza Walkup.
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Property: Edgar owned a variety of property, including at least one horse, two cows, and other livestock. He also possessed household goods, kitchen furniture, and a "looking glass & dressing table." The will also reveals that Edgar owned enslaved people and provides instructions for their sale. He stipulated that his “negro girl Lucy” be sold, with proceeds going to his daughter, Nancy. He also directed the sale of a 20-year-old “negro man Bob” and a “negro Girl Matilda.”
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Enslaved Man's Service: Edgar acknowledged the service of one enslaved man, stating: “My negro man Cesar having been a very useful servant to me and very Pleasant & obedient to my Family—I do hereby direct that at the Expiration of four years from the time of my death that he shall be hired out by my Executors & the hires paid to my wife & my son Archer.”
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Distribution of Estate: Edgar directed that one-third of his property go to his wife. His granddaughter, Eliza Walkup, was to receive twelve hundred dollars to be used for her education. The remainder of his estate was to be divided among his children, with his son, Archer, receiving a slightly larger share than his other sons.
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Executors: Edgar appointed his sons, James and Archer, as executors of his will.
The will of Thomas Edgar, a document steeped in the realities of its time, offers a poignant window into the complexities of family, property, and the enduring legacy of slavery in the early American republic.
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