DEED  -  William Pinchback

Contributed by Dan Edwards

Book H, page 5 & 6 Holmes County Records [Filed for record 7th of April 1845]
Book H, page 5 & 6 Holmes County Records
[Filed for record 7th of April 1845]


DEED - William Pinchback

This Indenture made and entered into this 5th day of April in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred and forty five between William Pinchback of the county of Holmes and State of Mississippi on the first part and David Holeman of the County of Carroll and state aforesaid, and William T. Jacobs of the county of Holmes aforesaid of the Second part. Witnesseth that the said Wm. Pinchback for and in consideration of the sum of one Hundred dollars to him in hand paid the receipt. Whereof is hereby acknowledged his & does by these presents sell and convey to the said David Holeman and Wm. P. Jacobs the following Negro Slaves to wit: Eliza, a woman now abut thirty-five years of age and her children Napolium now about fifteen years of age; Mary Louisa about thirteen years of age; Pinkeny Beltin ten years old and Adeline four years old. To have and hold the aforesaid Slaves to the said parties of second part their heirs, executors, administrators and assignees forever and the said parties of the first part hereby covenants to and with the said parties of the second part that he has good and lawful right and title to said Slaves and to sell and dispose of the same and the said party of the first part hereby covenants to and with the said parties of the Second part that he will for himself, his heirs, Executors, his administrators and assignees forever covenant and defend the right and title to said Slaves to the said parties of the Second part with all the future increase of said Slaves. Yet infer the following trust, confidence, and conditions that the said parties of the second part or one of them, their heirs, executors & administrators or assignees should in some convenient time at the request of each or all of said slaves remove them to some one of the non slave holding States of the United States and there well and truly set free and Emancipate each and all of said Slaves with their future increase according to the Laws of said State in such full and ample manner as to discharge and acquit them from all the bonds of Slavery and to make them and each of them free as to all intents and purposes as the Laws of such free or non slave holding State will permit. And the said parties of the Second part hereby covenants to and with the said party of the first part they, their heirs, Executors or assignees shall and will at the request of said Slaves or either of them, remove them or such of them as shall make said request to such on of the free states aforesaid as they may choose and that they will then and there fully and freely emancipate and set free said Slaves and fully acquit & discharge them from all Bondage as slaves. In Testimony – Whereof We and each of us have hereunto set our hands and affixes our seals the day and year aforesaid.
Wm Pinchback
David Holman
Wm P. Jacobs
Personally appeared before me Armistead G. Otey clerk of the Probate Court in and for said county William Pinchback, David Holman, & William P. Jacobs whose names are signed to the foregoing instrument of writing and severally acknowledge that they signed sealed and delivered the same on their own free will & voluntary act for the purposes therein contained the day and year therein written. Given under My hand & Seal of Office At Lexington this the 7th day of April1845. A.G. Otey, Clk.
Note: Major William Pinchback took as his wife Eliza Stewart, An African-Indian woman slave whom it is said was of "rare beauty". His son Pinckney born in Macon, Georgia enroute to Mississippi on 10 May 1837. He and his older brother Napoleon [born ca 1830] were sent to Gilmore High School, Cincinnati, Ohio in 1846. After a brief career as a Mississippi river boat gambler, Pinckney began a career in politics. Serving as Lt. Governor of Louisiana [Jan. 1872 to Dec. 8, 1872], Governor [Dec 9, 1872 to Nov. 30, 1873] and as United States Senator [Dec 1, 1873 to April 1876]. See Pinckney Benton Stewart Pinchback by James Haskins; Macmillan Pub. Co. Inc.; New York, 1973.
Article by James Thaddeus Buck appearing in the Lexington Advertiser, Thursday 16 July 1936.
Buck is describing a visit to an old cemetery on the old Pinchback Plantation.
"Sacred to the Memory of William Pinchback, A native of North Carolina, born April 12, 1775 departed this life Oct. 12, 1848. An honest man is the noblest work of God. Such was he."
…the graves of these adventurous settlers are almost forgotten and their bones are resting upon the highest peak in the surrounding country, far back into the woods and up the steep incline. The Pinchback grave was originally protected by marble slabs around it, but time and lighting have made it almost impossible to point out the exact spot where this pioneer sleeps, the long sleep and this inscription on one of the scattered slabs on the ground is all that is visible to tell the brief story of his life.
Note: William Pinchback purchased the land, that became Pinchback Plantation [still referred to as such in 1999], from Thomas G. Blewett and his wife Regina Blewett of Columbus, Mississippi on 9 March 1840. Pinchback paid the Blewetts, $29,500.87 ½ for the 2,363 acres. Pinchback is described as being "of New Orleans." Much of this property is part of the old estate of Louis Leflore. The deed filed for record in Holmes County on 20 December 1840.