Moses Robinson was one of the most remarkable African American residents of early Clark County. He won his own freedom and, despite stark racial discrimination against freedmen in the Antebellum Period, he managed to free his whole family and provide for their support. His net worth at the time of his death probably exceeded that of any African American in the county prior to Emancipation.
Moses was born into slavery in about 1792 in Kentucky. His owner, John Robinson, a native of Virginia, was a wealthy farmer in Fayette County. He resided east of Lexington, near the Clark County line. While Moses’ early history is uncertain, in January 1832 his owner, John Robinson, went before the Fayette County Court and testified, “In Consideration of the Services of my black man Moses have this day by these presents Set free & emancipated the said boy.”
Despite the condescending language of the times—referring to a 40-year-old man as “boy”—Robinson must have held Moses in high regard.
Though we can find no record of their marriage, Moses’ wife was named Milly. She was free by 1850. We cannot say if this was the work of Moses, as the record of her emancipation has not been found. At the time the 1850 census was recorded, Milly was living with her daughter Emily Mitchell in Fayette County. It is not known if her separation from Moses was temporary or permanent. Milly is the presumed mother of Moses’ other three children—Sarah Jane, Andy, and Permelia.
Moses moved from Fayette to Clark County, where he was recorded in the 1840, ’50 and ’60 censuses. He is not listed on any of the Clark County tax rolls in the 1830s, so he may have removed to Clark in about 1840. That year the census recorded 145 free Blacks in the county, including children, out of a total population of 10,802. Enslaved Blacks (3,902) greatly outnumbered free blacks.
Free Blacks did not enjoy the same privileges accorded to Whites. Any perceived transgressions were severely punished. There was no prison for free African Americans, and they were for the most part subject to the “slave laws.” These called for the death sentence for a lengthy list of crimes, including manslaughter, arson, rape, and destruction of public property. For minor transgressions freemen were subjected to corporal punishment—public whipping—and fines. Moses must have avoided serious trouble as a free man. We don’t find his name listed in any of the civil or criminal proceedings during his time in Clark County.
In the 1850 census Moses was listed as a laborer, still living alone. In 1860 he gave his occupation as shoemaker and reported a personal estate of $3,800. This equaled or exceeded the worth of most Whites in Clark County—a rare accomplishment and an indication of Moses’ financial ability and thrift. His 22-year-old son Andy, a day laborer, was living with him.
At that time, Moses owned no property. From the names of his close neighbors, as listed in the 1850 and 1860 censuses, we know Moses resided in northwest Clark County, very near the intersection of Clintonville Road and Van Meter Road. He was closely associated with John Whitesides and may have lived on his farm.
Moses used his earnings to purchase his daughter Emily and two of her children, Sarah and Dickerson, owned by Thomas Ellis of Fayette County. He then went to court and obtained a certificate of emancipation for each in 1841. Thomas Ellis’ will called for Moses’ other three children—Sarah Jane, Andrew and Permelia—and their offspring to be freed at the death of his wife; she died in 1858.
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Moses died in 1861. He left a will, written in 1849, devising all his estate to his children whom he named: “Emily, the wife of Francis Mitchal; Sarah Jane, the wife of Charles [Wilson]; Andrew; Parmelia, the wife of Gustus Alexander.”
The material goods Moses left behind—a horse and buggy, a saddle, shoemaker’s tools, two shotguns and a pistol, silver watch, a few pieces of furniture, utensils and other odds and ends—are not suggestive of a wealthy man. When sold, the whole lot amounted to only $86.10.
John Whitesides conducted the sale of Moses’ personal estate at Moses’ residence in May 1861. All of Moses’ children attended the sale. Permelia purchased a stone jar and crock (65 cents), Emily a saw and slate (10 cents), and Jane coffee and sugar (5 cents). Andy, who was listed with a personal estate of $300 in 1860, purchased a good portion of his father’s possessions, including his shoemaker’s tools ($2.35), silver watch ($1.80), two Bibles and a hymn book (5 cents), a safe with its contents (50 cents), two axes and a grindstone ($1.05), plus a few other odds and ends. Andy was also high bidder on the most expensive item in the sale: Moses’ buggy and harness, for which Andy paid $39. (Andy already owned two horses.) A Robert Robinson bought Moses’ horse for $20; it is not known if he was a kinsman, or even if he was African American.
To be continued.
