Antigua and Barbuda—Slave Returns, 1742–1863 [M3V5-266]

MaryC In AZ

This is the first record of this type that I have indexed so I want to be sure I'm doing it correctly before indexing other records like this. The instructions say to index every unique name shown as either Proprietor or Enslaved Person. On the top of the right side of the page in the Increase/Decrease column there's a statement by Geo W Ottley, the Proprietor. Under that there is a statement and signature of a witness. Should I index that name and choose Proprietor for that field even though it's just a witness and not really the Proprietor?

Similar question in that same column, next section in the listing that says 'one by sale "Sutton" to John Freeland'. Should I list John Freeland as a Proprietor as well?

Here's the batch I'm working on: https://www.familysearch.org/indexing/batch/1fe25d78-efaa-40c0-ae66-ebd9935e284b

Am I missing anything else?

Thanks

MC

Melissa S Himes

That's a great question @MaryC In AZ!

I think this is a question that should be escalated to the Project Managers. There is no "Relationship to the Proprietor" in the drop-down that allows one to properly index a notary public (NP), or justice of the peace (JP), or witness in that field. The entries are either for Proprietors or Enslaved Person. We don't add identifiers in parenthesis after Surnames, just like we don't add Jr, Sr, etc.; it wouldn't be right to include (Witness) after a name.

It is not in the instructions to index the names of witnesses or the enumerators, although it does say:

Be careful to examine the full document and index all names recorded on the document.

On this image there would be two more names to record: one for the statement of Geo W Ottley (GWW Ledeatts?), and another for the statement of Francis Byam Ottley (W Lee). They are probably justices or notaries, so they will show up many times on these returns. On the last project that I indexed involving slaves, we did index those NP's and JP's names, over and over and over. (Makes no sense to me...but, I am just an indexing volunteer.) Since the current instruction is to index all names on the document, I would index the extraneous names using the Proprietor entry form until such a time that something changes in the instructions.

You did a fantastic job getting all of the slave and proprietor names indexed. John Freeland is a proprietor who bought Sutton. So you are correct in indexing him as such. The only thing I saw was that entry 18 might be Cora instead of Cea. (notice George Roberts name and the way the o and r are combined).

AndLinda

@MaryC In AZ, please do as Melissa has instructed and put those names, including the witness, using the Proprietor entry form. I have noticed in one of the indexing examples these instructions:

Please Note: Entries will need to be added for all proprietors and enslaved persons listed on this register. Names listed under the "Increase" and "Decrease" columns were proprietors.

Since the witness was listed under the Increase and Decrease, you would put as a proprietor. I am also asking another person about the instructions, but in the meantime continue to follow these guidelines. Thank you for all that you do!

And Thank you @Melissa S Himes for the detailed explanation.

Basford P A

Hello @MaryC In AZ Thank you for submitting your query with regard to the above. I think you have indexed correctly all the fields required. However if you add another column after number 42 there is a question "Do you see anymore information on this page to index" you could enter the witness details and then in parenthesis after the surname add Witness. Also on other pages enter the details of Sutton and John Freeland. John Freeland as Proprietor.

Thank you once more for the invaluable work that you do in FamilySearch adding information towards the Family Tree.

Kind Regards, Peter A Basford.

P.S. I realise it is "tongue in cheek" to use parenthesis but sometime the original document is not always available so the extra information provided may help someone to identify an ancestor, especially when a category is identified such as witness.

MaryC In AZ

Thanks AndLinda for the direction and @Melissa S Himes for the detailed info. I agree that there needs to be some clarification for that field for this type of record. In the past when I've indexed records listed as "Bills of Sale of Enslaved Persons", there was no field that required identification of a name as either Enslaved Person or Proprietor. On those records, the instructions stated that "every unique name should be indexed" and the names included witnesses, notaries, executors, etc. It doesn't make sense to me why these Slave Returns records need a field to categorize the role of the named person when other similar types of records of Enslaved Persons don't include that "category" field. If the purpose of indexing the information is to make it searchable so that someone can find a name, they can then view the original record and determine the role of the named person for themselves.

Again, thanks for the help and for now I'll choose Proprietor for all the names that are not designated as Enslaved Persons.