A story from a time over one hundred years ago, when slaves were chattel and were bartered, exchanged, and inherited like any other property, was found by an Ashland man, W. E. Gannon of Westwood, in an old wallet.

It proved to be a varitable treasure trove of interesting relics of Carter, Greenup, and Owen Counties, all of them long since dead. The pocket book bears the inscription "James Warnock, 1824" and was given to Mr. Gannon by his stepfather, J. C. Warnock. It is a hand made affair of finest soft leather sewed with "Whang." In it were various deeds and legal papers dating from 1825 down to the 1890's and bearing many well known family names, the bearers of which are living in this section of the state.

The most interesting, however, are the two legal papers which tell of the negro girl "Judy" by her grandfather, John W. Howe, and the subsequent purchases and exchanges resulting from the gift. The origional deed recorded in Greenup County Court reads as follows:

Know all men by these present that I, John W. Howe of the County of Greenup, State of Kentucky, for and in consideration of the sum of $300 current money of the United States, to him and in hand paid, receipt whereof he does hereby acknowledge, and in the natural affection and love, which the said John W. Howe bears for his granddaughter, Mary Warnock of the County of Owen, in the State aforesaid, sold and delivered unto the said Mary Warnock one negro girl named Judy, age about seven years or upwards. And I do hereby warrent and defend the title of said negro girl unto the said Mary Warnock, her heirs, executors and administrators and against the claim of every person or persons whatsoever. And the said John W. Howe for himself, his heirs, etc. further warrents the negro girl, Judy, and her kin to be slaves for the during life.

In witness whereof, I the said John W. Howe, have hereunto set my hand and seal, the seventh day of April, 1825.

/s/ "John W. Howe"
signed and sealed inthe presence of
George W. Kouns and James Vanbibber, Jr.

It is agreed by and between James Warnock, father and guardian to the within named Mary Warnock, and the within named John W. Howe, for and in consideration of $20.00 by said John W. Howe, paid to the said James Warnock; the receipt whereof the said Warnock does hereby acknowledge the said John W. Howe is to have possession of the within named negro girl, Judy, until the seventh day of April, 1828, and the said Howe is to keep the girl in clothing, pay her taxes, and deliver her to the same James Warnock or to his daughter, Mary, on the seventh day of April, 1828. In witness thereof, the said parties have set their hand and seal this seventh day of April, 1825.

Traded for a boy.

I hereby authorize my father, James Warnock, for me and in my name, to recind the contract I formerly made with John W. Howe to wit the exchange of the negro girl, Judy, for the negro boy, Jefferson, on such terms as he shall consider fair and just to each party, that is the heirs of said Howe and myself. Witness this day 20th day of February, 1834.

Matthew Warnock
Witness: John W. Howe Warnock

• A note to Sam Seaton from James Warnock dated September 30, 1850 (1830?) with a receipt signed April 2, 1833 (1853?).
• Tax receipts signed by J. Davis, Sheriff, Carter Co. with William Underwood, his deputy in 1866.
• A receipt given James Warnock from DVJ Trimble in September for 50 "coal baskets," sheding some light on the industrial activities in 1830.
• Last, but not least, is a receipt from W. J. Raredin, editor of the Greenup Gazette, to Robert Warnock for one year's subscription ($1.25) signed in 1887.