Sylvey

Sylvey

• Father: Ned b. say 1817, d. 7 April 1858
• Mother: Fanney b. say 1817, d. circa 1848

• Sylvey was born on 4 March 1842 in Montgomery County, Alabama, at Greenwood plantation.
• Promissory Note from Green Wood to Bolling Hall, dated 5 January 1850
       Notation across text of the second page, “Cancelled, Bolling Hall, February 16th, 1855”
       State of Alabama, Montgomery County (Deed Book Vol. N, pages 382-383)
       Whereas I am indebted to the Estate of the late Doctor Thomas Brown in the sum of Thirty Eight Thousand five hundred and fifty four Dollars and thirty nine cents and to secure the evidence and payment thereof have executed to Bolling Hall Executor of the last will and testament of said Thomas Brown a note of which the following is a copy – “$38,554.39. Twelve months after date, I promise to pay Bolling Hall executor of the Estate of Thomas Brown Dec’d or bearer Thirty Eight Thousand five hundred and fifty four Dollars and thirty nine cents for value received with interest from date – January 5th 1850. “Green Wood.”
       Now, therefore, know all men by these Presents, that I Green Wood, for and in consideration of the premises, and to secure the payment of said sum of money in said note mentioned and also in consideration of the sum of One Dollar to me in hand paid by Bolling Hall at and before the Sealing and delivery of these Presents, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, have bargained, sold and conveyed, and do by these Presents, bargain, sell and convey unto the said Bolling Hall the following named negroes slaves viz. Neptune & wife Pleasant and her two children Richmond & Butler; Henry and wife Crecy and her five children, Andrew, Sarah, Charles, Sandy and Mahala; Ned, Sylvy, Bill, Stephen, Turner, Warren, Granville; Little Bob and wife Eliza and their three children, Frank, Aleck and an infant not recollected, but believed to be Montgomery. Peter and his wife Darcas and her two children Dilsey and Charity, Peter Quarles, Ben, Hansel, Dave and wife Clarisa; Little Sam and Wife Fereby and her three children Beverly, Alfred and an infant name not recollected [Elbert]; Big Sam and wife Caroline; Jenny and her child Joe, John, Tom; Edmond and wife Ailsey; Maria and her two children Ann and Cass; Mary and her children Jerry, Morris, Sue, Rhoda, Wesley and Jane; Old Bill and wife Margaret and her children Len, Amanda, Harriet, Rose, Smith and an infant name not recollected [Frances]; Big Bob and wife Kizzy and her six children, Matilda, Ben, King, Lucey, Augustus and Cummings; Leah and her nine children Jim, Little Guilford, Archy, Chloe, Abraham, Satan, Jefferson, Dallas and Patsy, and Flora, a child of Patsey; Toby and Hannah and her children Ephraim, Rachel, and two other small children names not recollected; Daniel Adam and wife Caroline and her two children not recollecting their names [Mary and Thornton], and also her children Charles, Adam, Daniel and Oliver; And also another woman Letty. To have and to hold the above bargained and sold negroes to the said Bolling Hall, his executors, Administrators and assigns, Provided always and these presents and this Sale and Conveyance are upon the express condition, not if I the said Green Wood shall pay or cause to be paid and discharged the above mentioned debt with interest at Maturity of said note according to its tenor and effect, then this deed of conveyance and all and every interest title and estate in and to the above named negroes, Shall cease, determine, and be utterly null and void; but otherwise shall remain in full force and virtue. In witness whereof I have hereunto put my hand and affixed my seal this the fifth day of January One Thousand Eight hundred and fifty. Signed sealed and delivered in presence of J. A. Elmore & W. Garrett. Green Wood [seal].
       The State of Alabama, City & County of Montgomery
       Personally appeared before me William Garrett, a commissioner duly commissioned & qualified a Commissioner to take proofs & acknowledgements of Deeds etc. executed in the State of Alabama, to be read or recorded in the State of Texas: Green Wood, the maker of the foregoing Deed to Bolling Hall, Executor etc. and executed the same by signing, sealing and delivering the same in my presence, on the same day that it bears date – given under my hand and seal this fifth day of January AD 1850. W. Garrett [seal], Commissioner.
• She married Smith, son of Bill and Margaret, on 22 September 1860 in Montgomery County, Texas, at Greenwood plantation.
• On Saturday, 22 September 1860, Green Wood recorded in his plantation daily account book: "Smith & Sylvey, & Charles & Polly married, two Weddings."
• On Tuesday, 20 November 1860, Green Wood recorded in his plantation daily account book: "Put up foundation for Smith a house," and on the following day, "Raised the Body of Smith,s house." And on Friday, the 30th, "Working on a Negro cabin for Smith."
• On 1 August 1862, Green Wood recorded in his plantation daily account book: "Sylvey had a child born."
• On 9 August 1862, Green Wood recorded in his plantation daily account book: "Sylvey,s Child died from spasms or lockjaw, a bad cold."
• Following emancipation, Sylvey adopted the name Silvia Barnes.
• Smith and Sylvey appeared in the US federal census of 1 June 1870 in Danville PO, Montgomery County, Texas. Other members of the household included Rena, Ned Eastman Barnes, Perry Barnes, Benjamin Barnes and Ophelia. The identity of Ophelia's parents is as yet unknown.
• Smith and Sylvey appeared in the US federal census of 1 June 1880 in Montgomery County, Texas. Other members of the household included Rena, Ned Eastman Barnes, Perry Barnes and James Bryant Barnes.
• Research Note: It appears that in the 1880 census, some children of Smith and Sylvey Barnes and of Virgil and Lou Barnes were enumerated in each other's households.
• Smith and Sylvey appeared in the US federal census of 1 June 1900 in Montgomery County, Texas. Other members of the household included Gillie Barnes, Jesse E. Barnes, Andrew Barnes, Anderson Barnes, Fred Lee Hill and Cunie R. Hill.
• Addie Barnes appeared in the US federal census of 15 April 1910 in Montgomery County, Texas. Other members of the household included Sylvey, Fred Lee Hill, Cunie R. Hill and Smith.
• She was employed washing for a private family, according to the 1910 census.
• Sylvey became a widow at the between 1910 and 1920 death of her husband Smith.
• Ned Eastman Barnes and Ada Johnson appeared in the US federal census of 1 January 1920 in Willis, Montgomery County, Texas. Other members of the household included Sylvey. Also in the household was their adopted daughter Evelyn (age 16). Sylvey also was enumerated with grandson Will Banres in Houseon.
• William Barnes and Josephine Turner appeared in the US federal census of 1 January 1920 in Houston, Harris County, Texas, enumerated next to Sylvey's daughter Gillie McLin.. Other members of the household included Silvia Barnes. Sylvie is identified as Will's mother, but likely she was his grandmother. She also is enumerated in 1920 with her son Ned in Willis.
• Sylvey died on 22 November 1938 at age 96 in Houston, Harris County, Texas, at Pierce Junction . Her death was officially witnessed by Josephine Turner. Informant Josephine Barnes was the wife of her grandson Will.
• Children of Fanney born between 1838 and about 1848, were recorded by Green Wood.
• Children of Sylvey and Smith born 1862 and 1864, were recorded by Green Wood.

• Last Edited: 25 May 2015