Slave Inventory of Benjamin F. Cater 1840, Kelvin Grove Plantation, Glynn Co., Georgia

Benjamin F. Cater was the owner of Kelvin Grove Plantation on St. Simons Island. Many of the people he enslaved intermarried with those of the Retreat Plantation, before and after the Civil War.
According to history, Benjamin's father, Thomas Cater, was murdered by his own wife, Elizabeth Cater, and the overseer with whom she was having an affair.
Benjamin was taken by an enslaved man, Ben, to Retreat Plantation, due to Ben's fear that the child would be murdered as well.

William Page, of Retreat, became young Benjamin's guardian until he reached his majority and could maintain the Kelvin Grove plantation on his own.

Inventories & Appraisements Vol. D pgs. 379-380
[Glynn County Probate Court]

NAME	AGE	VALUE	NAME	AGE	VALUE
Mary	65	$185	London	60	$150
Chloe [Murphy]	30	$550	Dembo	65	$200
Peggy [Gilsey/Giggy]	27	$550	Dembo	25	$600
William	25	$600	Jenny	65	$100
Robert	19	$550	Charlotte	60	$250
Harriet	16	$500	Ruthy [Gardner?]	20	$550
Joseph	13	$450	Jenny	23	$550
Henry	20	$200	Betty	17	$550
Jane	8	$200	Pender	18	$550
Cassius [Murphy]	1	$100	Molly	30	$550
Sam	60	$300	Nancy	10	$300
Sam	20	$600	Flora	6	$250
Juno	27	$550	Toney	4	$200
Jim	25	$600	October	2	$150
Nancy	22	$550	Eve	1	$100
Ally	18	$500	Phillis	1	$100
Robin	14	$400	Jim	27	$600
Mary	7	$250	John	60	$250
Morris	2	$150	Liddy	55	$250
Nelly	45	$450	Clarissa	45	$450
Jenny	60	$150	Charlotte	35	$450
Monday	55	$250	Jacob	18	$600
Boatswain	60	$250	Joe	22	$600
Clarissa	30	$350	Nelly	16	$500
Nicholas	10	$325	Davy	10	$300
Delia	14	$350	John	13	$400
Peggy	8	$220	Clarissa	6	$250
Charles	3	$200	Liddy	4	$200
Edward infant	"	$100	Charity	5	$220
Rinah	25	$550	Casar	3	$200
Francoise	11	$300	Robin	65	$250
Jupiter	4	$200	Robin	21	$600
Charlotte	60	$250	Summer	25	$600
Hester	3	$200	Hannibal	18	$550
Cato	2	$200	Hannah	30	$550
Charlotte	4	$200	Nanny	27	$550
Rose	35	$550	Sary	23	$550
July	65	$200	Elsey	60	$180
Peggy	55	$180	Elsey	7	$220
Andrew	25	$600	Hannah	5	$200
Jack	35	$600	Hester	4	$200
Phillis	23	$550	May	4	$200
Betsey	20	$550	Trim	2	$200
Pender	7	$300			$15,270
Lenny	5	$250			$16,410
Nelly	4	$200			$30,580
Judy	1	$100
		$16,410

The following is a list of enslaved people sold by Hugh F. Grant from
the estate of B.F. Cater, and who purchased them.

H. duBignon:

July
Peggy
Andrew
Jack
Phillis For $2330
Betsy
Penda
Jeanny
Nelly
Judy
Lucy

Wm. Berrie:

John
Clarissa
Judyann For $2000
John
Nelly
Davy

U. Dart:

London
Jenny for $140
Monday

H.A. Grant:

Jim
Charlotte
Charity for $1760
Caeser
Lydia
Clarissa

J.W. Armstrong:

Joe for $580

The groups of enslaved persons purchased by duBignon, Berrie, Dart, Grant, and Armstrong offer a bit of confusion. Lucy, purchased by duBignon was not listed on the original estate inventory, which suggests she may have been born between 1840 and 1841.

Then, Berrie purchased Judyann and two men named John, one of which, is not listed in the family grouping from the inventory listing John, Liddy, Clarissa, Charlotte, Jacob, Joe, Nelly, and Davy. Was Judyann really Liddy? Who was this other John? Was he really Joe? Or was he John from the next family grouping?

Benjamin left 1/3 of his estate to his wife, Margaret K. Cater, which included enslaved persons and land in Liberty County and the remaining 2/3 went to his daughter, Ann Cater and should she die, her share reverted back to her stepmother and vice versa.

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