Priscilla Dowell's Family--Part 2

In an earlier post I described the first three paragraphs of Priscilla Dowell’s will which was written the 23^rd day of September, 1859 and probated early in 1863. In it she first directed that her debts be paid and provided instructions for finding new homes for her slaves.

Then she turned to bequests for her European-American family members:

Bequests to Family Members  in Priscilla Dowell’s Will
Family Member		Relationship	Bequest
Rebecca McKinney		Sister	$1.00
Sally Dowell		Sister	$1.00
Elizabeth Dowell		Sister	$1.00 Household and kitchen furniture
Priscilla Jacks		Niece	$1.00
Nancy Rogers		Niece	$100.00
Heirs of Nancy Rogers and their ages in 1860:		Grand-Nieces and Grand Nephews	$2,400.00 plus interest “equally to the education of said children and in the amount to the age of 21 years or marriage of said heirs”
Hester Rogers James G Rogers Sarah Rogers Emma C Rogers Nancy Rogers John Rogers	12 11 8 6 4 1
Phillip Dowell		Brother	One third of residue of estate
John Dowell		Brother	One third of residue of estate
Heirs of Peter Dowell (deceased)		Brother	One third of residue of estate

In the 1860 US Census those heirs of Nancy Rogers were living in the Lower Division, Wilkes, North Carolina and used the Elkin Post Office. Nancy’s mother who was also Priscilla Dowell’s sister, Rebecca MCCINNY/MCKINNEY, age 76 was also living in the Rogers household. Rebecca, who was about six years older than Priscilla, really was born in Maryland. Rebecca, her daughter Nancy and Nancy’s husband R.W. Rogers were all listed as not being able to read and write. Their daughter Hester and son James were listed has having attended school in the year.

After seeing this information I went back to the census record for Priscilla. Sorry cousin Julie. It clearly shows that Priscilla could not read or write either. I guess the early 19^th century Dowells in our family line did not educate their daughters—at least this one family did not.

Next: What happened to Priscilla’s slaves after her death?