Submitted by Somerset Place State Historic Site; edited by Cheri Todd Molter
In 1859, Josiah Collins III wrote a letter to Harriet Jacobs, a formerly enslaved woman who had escaped bondage in Edenton by hiding in her grandmother’s crawlspace for seven years. Harriet was an abolitionist and wrote an autobiography entitled Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, which was published in 1861.
The letter concerned Josiah’s involvement in the will of Harriet’s grandmother, Molly Horniblow. She made her will while her children and grandchildren were still enslaved. She knew that her son, Mark, would be unable to inherit her property if he was still enslaved at the time of her death. As a result, Molly named Josiah III and Dr. William Warren as her joint executors, hoping that those two prominent men would renounce their claim to her property and make sure it passed to her descendants in its entirety.
However, by 1858, both Molly and Mark had passed away, and Harriet had escaped to the North, leaving Dr. Warren to administer Molly’s will. Harriet wrote to Josiah asking about her grandmother’s property. Josiah’s response was curt. He stated that he “never had any conversation with” Molly about becoming her heir and executor, and he wanted “no part in the settlement of the estate”. If there was any property left after settling her estate, Josiah wrote that “neither [Dr. Warren] nor I desire to touch a copper of it.”
But that promise was not kept. Josiah died in 1863, and after the Civil War, Molly’s property passed to his and Dr. Warren’s heirs. In 1867, Dr. Warren evicted Mark’s widow from the property. Molly’s dream of keeping her property in her family was forever lost.
Transcription of Letter from Josiah Collins to Harriet Jacobs (by CTM):
Somerset Place
Lake Scuppernong NC
July 23rd 1859
Harriet Jacobs.
Yr letter of June 16th did not reach me until about the 1st of the present month and would have rec’d immediate attention but for a nervous affection of the brain and eyes- from which I have been some time suffering and which has obliged me to put aside much of my business- I never had any conversation with your grandmother touching her object in leaving her real estate and other property to Dr. Warren and myself- at the same time appointing us exectutors [sic] of her will— It was from Dr. Warren that I learned that she so made her will—and that her purpose in disposing of her property as she did was the protection of the same and the ultimate disposition of it for the benefit of her son Mark— who at that time had not been emancipated.
Subsequently Mark’s emancipation was effected [sic] and in course of time Molly died and Mark remained in possession of the property without question from anyone, the will, previous to this time having been surrendered to him by Dr. Warren. While I was absent last fall at the South West, Mark died and Molly’s will came again into the possession of Dr. Warren who propounded the same for probate at the May Term of Chowan Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions and was then qualified as executors. My own disposition, at present, is to take no part in the settlement of the estate which I understand is somewhat encumbered with debts – leaving the whole matter to Dr. Warren – and acting only so far therein as maybe legally necessary. In addition to the debts – there is a question of an unadjusted exchange of land agreed to by Mark before the erection of a new building by him—occupied as a Lawyer’s office—partly upon the site of the old building destroyed in the fire of last year. This may call for some interference on my part. My reason for declining to act—if I should so conclude – is that the communication by your grand-mother of her wishes as to the disposition of her property – was made directly to Dr. Warren and not to me—and this some twelve or fifteen years ago – and I should feel unwilling to run the risk of making any settlement might be at the variance with those wishes. I therefore shall prefer to leave the responsibility of the matter with Dr. Warren – upon the settlement of the estate should there be a balance distribution this would come if I understand the will rightly, to Dr. Warren & myself—but neither he nor I desire to touch a copper of it. My portion will be renounced by me, to be distributed by him according as he may decide what will most nearly carry out your grandmother’s wishes – as to the period when I am to visit the North, I cannot speak positively, tho’ business will probably require my presence in N.Y. some time within the next two or three months—it may be the latter part of Sept. At which time, if you desire to see me, I shall be glad to give you any information which I may possess and should desire to write to me again you will find my address below.
Josiah Collins
R.E.C. Brabble
Address-
Josiah Collins
Scuppernong P.O.
N.C.
*Photographs of letter courtesy of the State Archives of North Carolina