1820 Alabama Deed–Richard Eddins to his Children

Today’s subject is an 1820 Alabama Deed whereby Richard Eddins is giving various items to his children. ¹

This Deed is very unusual in that it conveys personal property to the Children of Richard Eddins/Eddings. Richard Eddins was born in Cheraw District, South Carolina in 1783. Two years later, in 1785, the Cheraw District would become the three Counties of Chesterfield, Darlington, and Marlboro. 

Richard Eddins, b. 1783 was the son of William B. Eddins and his wife Nancy whose last name is unknown. Richard Eddins married and left Chesterfield County before his father died in 1822. Also, accompanying Richard were his brothers William R. and Williams/Williamson Eddins as evidenced by the 1820 Alabama Census. All three, Richard, Williams and William R/B are enumerated on the same page of the 1820 Alabama State Census. 

The headings of each column, in order, are:
1st Column-White males over 21 = 1
2nd Column-White males under 21 = 3
3rd Column-White females over 21 = 1
4th Column White females under 21 = 4
5th Column-Total White Inhabitants = 9
6th Column-Total Slaves = 2
7th Column-Total Inhabitants = 11


I have no reason to believe that some of the individuals in Richard’s household ARE NOT part of his family. Thus, this Census indicates that when it was taken in 1820, Richard and his wife had:

• 3 Sons
• 4 Daughters

Lets, take a look at the Deed and see what it shows.

Transcription:

Richard Eddings_Deed Book A, page 3
Know all men by these presents that I Richard Eddings of the County of Wilcox and State of Alabama have this day day <sic> given granted and delivered for the consideration of the Love and Affection I bear to my beloved children -- Namely Hosey [John Hosea], Harriett, Louisa Jane, William, Liadia & Jackson (all Eddings) the following property ----Two Negroes namely Sophia a girl and Elias a boy -- two heads of horses and twenty head of cattle, forty head of hogs, one Barge with a riding chair and one horse cart with all the household and Kitchen furniture and all and every other article of property that I the said Richard Eddings am now in possession of to their own proper use and I do at this time relinquish all rights, title, claim and interest of the above named property to the aforesd named children and their heirs and Lawful assigns forever, --------
In witness I have hereunto Set my hand & Seal the the <sic> twenty ninth day of July 1820.
Test: J. BELL                                               Signed Richard Eddins {Seal}
Jepthah Bell

Along side - Recorded 10th August 1820
                 D.C. Smith, Clk.

The Deed shows a very nice correlation of children between it and the Census. In the above deed Richard names three sons:

• Hosey [John Hosea] Eddins
• William [R.] Eddins
• Jackson Eddins

Also named are three daughters:

• Harriett Eddins
• Louisa Jane Eddins
• Liadia [Lydia] Eddins 

On the 29th of July 1820, Richard Eddins named 3 daughters and 3 sons in a Deed which gave them property for “the Love and Affection I bear to my beloved children”. 

This deed has me totally perplexed because Richard’s first Child was born about 1809 and all of the 7 children recorded in the 1820 Alabama Census and all 6 listed in the deed were UNDER THE AGE OF TWENTY-ONE. 

If you have an idea why this deed was created and how children under the age of 21 can possess legal title to the property I would love to hear from you.

Richard Eddins is my 3rd Great Granduncle.





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[1] https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS73-L3J2-B?i=21&cat=560876