Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

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Restrictions

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Preferred Citation

Benjamin Turner will, inventory, and appraisement, 1810-1812. Local Government Records Collection, Southampton County Court Records. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia 23219.

Acquisition Information

These records were digitally scanned by the Library of Virginia's Imaging Services Division and acquired 2010 May 24 under accession 45014.

Historical Information

Southampton County was named, in the opinion of many authorities, for Henry Wriothesley, third early of Southampton and treasurer of the London Company from 1620 to 1624. It is more likely, however, that the county was named for the borough of Southampton in England. Southampton County was formed in 1749 from Isle of Wight County, and part of Nansemond County was added later.

Nat Turner led a rebellion of more than fifty enslaved and free African Americans in an insurrection in Southampton County August 21-23, 1831, killing more than sixty people. The rebellion was suppressed within 48 hours, but Turner was not apprehended until October 30. He was tried and convicted 1831 Nov. 5 and executed by hanging in the town of Jerusalem, in Southampton County 1831 Nov. 11. The Commonwealth of Virginia executed Turner and 55 other African Americans suspected of being involved in the insurrection.

Scope and Content

Benjamin Turner will, inventory, and appraisement, 1810-1812. The will lists Nat Turner as part of the estate of Benjamin Turner, whose will was proven 1810 Dec 17. Benjamin Turner bequeathed Nat Turner, "Natt," and eight other slaves to his son Samuel Turner, who already had possession of them when the will was written. The estate records include a detailed inventory and appraisement of Benjamin Turner's household goods, farming implements, livestock, and slaves.

Related Material

Southampton County (Va.) Judgments - Commonwealth Causes Ended, Nat Turner Insurrection, 1831 Aug. 31-1831 Nov. 21, are available on microfilm at the Library of Virginia, Southampton County (Va.) Reel 382.

Index Terms

Personal Names:

• Turner, Benjamin, d. 1810.
• Turner, Nat, d. 1831.

Corporate Names:

• Southampton County (Va.) Circuit Court.

Geographical Names:

• Southampton County (Va.) -- History -- 19th century.

Subjects:

• African Americans -- History -- To 1863.
• Agricultural implements -- Virginia -- Southampton County.
• House furnishings -- Virginia -- Southampton County.
• Slaveholders -- Virginia -- Southampton County.
• Slavery -- Insurrections, etc. -- Virginia -- Southampton County.
• Southampton Insurrection, 1831.

Geographical Names:

• Southampton County (Va.) -- History -- 19th century.

Genre and Form Terms:

• Appraisals -- Virginia -- Southampton County.
• Estate inventories -- Virginia -- Southampton County.
• Fiduciary records -- Virginia -- Southampton County.
• Local government records -- Virginia -- Southampton County.
• Wills -- Virginia -- Prince Edward County.

Adjunct Descriptive Data