720William Black
Key Facts
Snapshot:planter, slave owner
Parents:unknown
Born:unknown
Died:between 14 January and 28 March 1826
presumably Screven County, Georgia
Buried:unknown

720William Black appears frequently in early Screven County (Georgia) property records, many of which I've summarized in the table below. Some notes about the table and its contents:

•I highlighted a few gleanings I consider important.
•Although the first record describes 720William as of Jefferson County, all subsequent records either describe him as of Screven County or don't mention his residence. I didn't routinely include those descriptions in the table below.
•Take care not to confuse 720William with his son and grandson also named William. 720William is sometimes shown as William Black Senr, in contrast to his son William W. Black,1 sometimes shown as William Black Junr. William A. Black is 720William's grandson.2 Below I've only included records that I'm reasonably confident pertain to 720William rather than his son, but errors and omissions are possible. 720William also had sons 360Robert and John and daughters Ann and Jane,1 all of whom are mentioned in the table below (except for Jane, whose husband Samuel is mentioned instead).
•The deeds show that 720William had a close, lengthy assocation with a Tumblin family. It is therefore plausible that 720William's wife Jane (named in his will—see below) may have been a Tumblin, but sufficient evidence is lacking.

datesellerbuyerpropertywitnessessourceimage
18 February 1797William Black of Jefferson CountyJames Archer of Screven Co.50 acres, part of 950 acres originally granted to Phillip Dell and recorded in book XXXX folio 146[?]Phillip Dell, Robert BlackScreven Co. deeds book A (1794-1805), page 255link
16 May 1798the stateWilliam Black13 acres in Jefferson County bounded by William Black, Grays, and Jno. Lowryn/aGeorgia register of grants volume AAAAA (1797-1799), page 530link
5 April 1800William BlackRobert Black450 acres, part of 950 acres on the Little Ogeechee, recorded in book XXXX folio 184, originally granted to Phillip Dell then by deed to William BlackDennis Colson, Samuel Hodges, Martin MartinScreven Co. deeds book A (1794-1805), page 227link
1 November 1800William Black, planter of Screven Co.his son John Black, planter of Jefferson Co.200 acres in Jefferson County, originally granted to William Black on 1 February 1788Jas Arches JP, Jas Caswell CSCSCScreven Co. deeds book A (1794-1805), page 246link
15 November 1800John Loney[?]William Black250 acres crossing near the head of Ebenezer CreekWilliam Black Junr, Jas Caswell BSCSC[?]Screven Co. deeds book A (1794-1805), page 253link
14 January 1801Caleb Howell, planterWilliam Black, planter200 acres bounded west by Little Ogeechee, granted to Andrew Willoughby on 14 January 1785Jas. C[?] Caswell ___, Richard Scruggs, J. H. Rutherford HPScreven Co. deeds book A (1794-1805), page 282link
21 March 1801Richard Scruggs and wife AnnRobert Black200 acres granted to Richard Scruggs on 15 December 1784William Black, William Black JunrScreven Co. deeds book A (1794-1805), pages 283-284link
8 August 1801Joseph Curry and wife SallyWilliam Black250 acres originally granted 8 April 1801 + 50 acres originally granted on the same dateClement Lavin JP, John Black, James OliverScreven Co. deeds book A (1794-1805), pages 338-339link
warrant dated 4 October 1802n/aWilliam Black200-acre lot plat mapJoseph Curry, Dougal GrahamScreven Co. plat book for years 1793-1812, page 282link
15 January 1803Gabriel CarsonWilliam Black400 acres on the Little Ogeechee originally granted to Gabriel Carson on 1 January 1800Wyrriet[?] Cason, Clement Sanin[?] JP, Jas Archer JPScreven Co. deeds book A (1794-1805), page 338link
15 August 1806William Black"Lucina Warren my beloved granddaughter of my own daughter Ann Warren and Edmund Warren"negro named CumberWm Shepheard, Clement Sinnear JJCScreven Co. deeds book A (1794-1805), page 426link
3 January 1807Jonas[?] Temple, planter, and wife SallyWilliam Black, planter600 acres originally surveyed for Isreal Barber recorded in book AAAAA folio 752Robert Black, Jas Gaddy JPScreven Co. deeds book A (1794-1805), pages 458-459link
28 July 1809John B. DeveauxWilliam Black Senrnegro Jack, age ~30; contingent on payment by 1 January 1810Henry Crawford, Thos CrawfordScreven Co. deeds book I (1810-1817), pages 236-237link
20 November 1811William Black, planterJohn Black, planter250 acres originally granted to Joseph Curry on 8 April 1800 adjoining CasonWm W Black, Mund[?] Gross J.P.Screven Co. deeds book I (1810-1817), pages 130link
16 January 1812Thomas Tumblin, guardian of the estate of James TumblinWilliam Black Senr, the highest bidder200 acres, which was granted to James Brewer on 17 July 1897, now in Screven but formerly EffinghamRobert Douglass, William (his mark) Peake[?], Lewis Lanier JJC, John Black JP, Elijah BetsillScreven Co. deeds book I (1810-1817), pages 329link
3 January 1815William Black, admr of the estate of Thos Tumblin deceasedElijah Betsill, the highest bidder480 acres, "part of two tracts, one of which was granted to Jones Temples of [600] acres, the other was granted to Thomas Tumblin"J. M. Lucas, Lewis Lanier JJCt[?]Screven Co. deeds book K (1817-1824), pages 47-48link
20 June 1815Charles M. GoolsbyWilliam Black Senrnegro slave girl MahalaHenson Wilder, Lewis LanierScreven Co. deeds book K (1817-1824), page 336link
21 September 1815James TumblinWilliam Black200 acres; bounded by James Chanory[?], John Black, William Black, said James Tumblin; part of 300-acre tract purveyed to James Tumblin by Thomas TumblinSamuel Hodges, W. W. Black (described as William Black Junr later on the same page)Screven Co. deeds book K (1817-1824), page 330link
3 March 1816Russel CurrieWilliam Black Senr150 acres "adjoining lands formerly did belong to Jones Temples & also John Hodges which said land was granted to sd Hodges"James Fay, John BlackScreven Co. deeds book K (1817-1824), pages 352-353link
15 June 1816James TumblinWilliam Black Senr200 acres whereon said William now lives, previously sold by James Brewer to Thomas TumblinJohn Black, Milley[?] TumblinScreven Co. deeds book K (1817-1824), pages 334-335link
1 November 1816John Lucas SenrWilliam Black Senrnegro woman named PatJames S. Lucas, John M. LucasScreven Co. deeds book K (1817-1824), page 44link
3 December 1816Charles M. GoolsbyWilliam Black100 acres "which was given Amelia Tumblin […] from her son James Tumblin" on 2 October 1816, adjoining John Black, James Conner, and Wm DonaldsonA. g:[?] Loper[?], W. W. Black, Lewis Lanier J.J.Ct.Screven Co. deeds book K (1817-1824), page 49link
3 January 1818Charles M. GoolsbyWilliam Black Senrnegro woman named July[?], and negro boy named DaveJohn Black, William BlackScreven Co. deeds book K (1817-1824), page 109link
23 January 1816Charles M. GoolsbyWilliam Black Senrnegro girl Silvey, age ~7William T. Sheppard, Robert BlackScreven Co. deeds book K (1817-1824), page 336link
19 March 1823William Black SenrWillioughby Casonall of a tract originally granted to Phillip Dill on 14 May 1796, except part that William previously conveyed; in [then] present-day Screven County on the Little OgeecheeHillery Cason, Burrel Phillips, Lewis LanierScreven Co. deeds book L (1822-1834), page 55link
31 July 1823William Black SenrWilliam W. Black in trust for Susan Hodges, daughter of Samuel Hodge200 acres granted to Richard Scruggs on 15 December 1784; and 40 acres granted to Benjamin Merrell on 17 February 1802William A. Black, Lewis LanierScreven Co. deeds book L (1822-1834), pages 58-59link

In addition to the above records, 720William Black of Screven County registered for Georgia's 1805 land lottery, but he didn't win. He was entitled to two draws, which means that he was over age 21, had a wife, and had legitimate children under age 21.3


1805: 720William participated in Georgia's land lottery but didn't win. Full page.3

By 1820 720William and his wife were living alone (except for their slaves) in Screven County. His entry in the 1820 census is copied below; the numbers represent: 1 white male age 45+, 1 white female age 45+, 1 person engaged in agriculture, 1 male slave age 0-13, 2 male slaves age 14-25, 4 male slaves age 26-44, 3 female slaves age 0-13, and 2[?] female slaves age 26-44.4


1820: 720William's household in Screven County, Georgia. Full page.4

720William wrote his will on 14 January 1826, and it was proved in nearby (and much more developed) Chatham County on 28 March. Chatham County's copy seems to be the original, so we can see (what I think is) 720William's actual signature. The will and a transcription (minus the probate statement) are below.1 In addition to the slaves named in the will, a subsequent probate-related court petition clarifies that 720William had owned slaves Peter, Jack, Cyrus, Moses, Peggy, Sylvia[?], Sillah, Violet, Lydia, and Mariah.5

Georgia   ——   } In the name of God amen
Scriven County } I William Black Sen considering the
mortality of this mortal life and being of sound
and perfect mind and memory do make and publish
this my last will and Testament in manner and
form following That is to say a part of my
estate Both Real and Personal I give and Bequeath
to my wife Jane Black first The plantation
on which I now live, three negros Peter Dinah
and Eliza, a Horse & Gig six Cows & Calves Two Beds &
furniture and all the plantation Utensils that is
necessary for said place The above designated
property to remain in her possession during of her
natural life then to be the Property of William W.
Black and this legal heirs

The remainder of my prop-
erty I give and bequeath to the following persons
their Heirs and assigns forever my son Robert
Black, Jane Hodge, Ann Wommack, & William W.
Black, share and share alikeMy son John
Black I give [The rest of this line is not visible.]
to be his full legacy & part, to be Raised out of my
Estate after my deseas

And I hereby appoint
my son William W. Black Sole Executor of this
my last will and Testament, Giving of him full
power and athority to have the manegment and

control of all the property both real and
personal which may or shall fall to my daug-
hter Jane Hodges and my daughter Ann
Wommack, not subject to be taken for any debts
or contracts of their presant Husbands, Samuel Hodges,
or John Wommack, or any future Husband
they may later[?] intermarry with

Hereby Revoking all former wills
by me made,

In witness whereof I have hereto
set my hand and seal this forteenth day of January
Eighteen Hundred and Twenty Six

Signed Sealed Published and declared
by the Testator, to be his last will and
Testament In the prsance of us,
who have Hereunto subscribed our
names, as witnesses in the prsance
of said Testator ——
Robert Willes
[a signature barely visible]William Black
___[?] Willis

William W. Black (720William's son and executor) and his brother-in-law Samuel Hodges later took legal action against each other over a debt allegedly owed by the estate and also due to a controversy about residing on land owned by 720William's estate.6

Sources Cited:

1: Chatham County, Georgia. Estate records (wills, estates, administrations, bonds, etc.) B for the years 1777-1852, box 2 (Bell-Boyle), folder of loose documents pertaining to the estate of William Black (1826), the will of William Black. FamilySearch, <https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-893T-XWGF?lang=en&i=525> et seq., accessed 7 June 2025.

2: Monroe County, Georgia. Wills book A, pages 141-142. FamilySearch, <https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L93L-GW88?cat=288329&i=102&lang=en>, accessed 20 June 2025.

3: State list of entitled drawers for the 1805 Georgia land lottery, section for B surnames, Screven (or "Scriven") County, registrant #2406 William Black. FamilySearch, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSKK-LVKV?i=124&cat=285452&lang=en. FamilySearch restricts access to this image, so see a copy here. This record is indexed in: Paul K. Graham, 1805 Georgia Land Lottery Persons Entitled to Draws (The Genealogy Company, Decatur, Georgia, 2005), page 45, entry #2406 for William Black of Screven County.

4: 1820 U.S. Federal Census. Screven County, Georgia. Page 253, line 5, William Black household. FamilySearch, <https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GYBC-4NT?lang=en&i=8&cc=1803955>, accessed 19 June 2025.

5: Chatham County, Georgia. Estate records (wills, estates, administrations, bonds, etc.) B for the years 1777-1852, box 2 (Bell-Boyle), folder of loose documents pertaining to the estate of William Black (1826), an undated and unnumbered loose petition signed by John Womack, W. W. Black, Robert Black, and Jane Hodges. FamilySearch, <https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-893T-XW57?lang=en&i=528> et seq., accessed 21 June 2025.

6: Screven County, Georgia. Superior court minutes and writs book for the years 1828-1833, pages 72-73. FamilySearch, <https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C3H3-R95Y-L> et seq., accessed 19 June 2025.