Have you ever come across something in your genealogy files that challenges you to develop new skills? That’s my situation as I’m reviewing the records I have for Henry Burke of Platte County, Missouri.

Henry Burke’s estate had several entries in the 1846 court records after his death in 1845. One of those entries is for the approval to sell a slave named Clovia.

The court authorizes the administration of
Henry F Burk deceased to sell a negro girl named
Clovia, belonging to said estate to the highest bid
der on the first day of the June county court
on a audit of twelve months.

Platte County, Missouri, Court Record, v. 1 1839-1846, image 256; Elizabeth Burke; FamilySearch, http://www.familysearch.org; FHL microfilm 988945 / #007631728.

Although I was vaguely aware that the BURKE family likely owned slaves while living in Platte County, I had never done any research in slave records. Now, that I’m aware of Clovia, I’ve gone back to see what other information I can find for the BURKE family and their slave holdings.

I started this search with the 1850 slave schedules for Platte County. In those records, I found Henry Burke’s widow, Elizabeth listed with one 19 year old female slave. Since this record is 4 years after the order to sell Clovia, it appears that the BURKE family had owned at least 2 female slaves.

Going back to the 1840 census, the Henry Burke household is shown on the census in Platte County, Missouri with 2 total slaves.

The book, Platte County, Missouri Records 1839-1849, 1840 Federal Census, Sale of Sixteenth section 1842 Land Records and Tax Lists of 1839, 1847 and 1849 contains a transcription of the 1847 tax list is on page 147. This shows Elizabeth Burk with 1 slave valued at $400.

ON page 195 of the same book, a transcribed list of 1849 tax payers includes Elizabeth Burk. This entry shows Elizabeth Burk with 1 slave valued at $250.

Going forward to the 1860 slave schedule, a listing for Elizabeth Burke is not found. Thus, it appears that Elizabeth Burke may have sold her second slave between 1850 and 1860.

Even though I have no previous experience with slave research, I had heard of the Slave Name Roll Project. Thus, I searched for more information about the project, including how to submit a name.

Thus, I located an entry for Missouri and added a comment to get Clovia added to the list.