Silvia.
Silas purchased an adult woman, Silvia, on May 25, 1826, from the Estate of Richard Simpson, deceased. Richard was maternal 2x Great Grandfather of Silas’ spouse, Hannah, and Great Grandfather of his sister-in-law, Mildred Simpson Burke who was married to his brother, Benjamin Burke. Hannah and Mildred were Niece/Aunt in their relationship. Mildred was sister of Hannah’s mother, Anne Simpson Coffer. Silas was required under oath of law to administer the Estate of Richard Simpson. Most likely Silvia was known by Silas’ spouse and sister-in-law because she was enslaved on their Great Grandfather’s farm – and the lands of Richard Simpson and Silas Burke were in close proximity. See map below.
When Silas’ father died, he and his siblngs inherited his father’s land and enslaved people. These were not purchases that he sought, rather they occurred through death of his father. Silas’ siblings were entitled to money from the Estate of their father – and the ‘sale agreement’ that the Fenton Project references is an accounting of paying the Estate of his father for some of the Inventory and enslaved people which was the legal way in which to satisfy the inheritance distribution for the Siblings of Silas.
Fenton.
22 days later, on June 16, 1826, Silas purchased Fenton, an enslaved 6 yr. old boy from the Estate of his father, James Burke, deceased. Silas was Executor of his father’s Estate and required under oath of law to handle all transfers and sales.
NOTE: It is unknown to everyone if there was a family relationship between Silvia and Fenton: Mother/Son or Sister/Brother – or some other family relationship. It is also unknown to everyone whether there was any relationship of Fenton to James Burke (Silas’ father) other than enslaved, or of Fenton’s health state – physically or mentally. Everyone’s scenario as to those relationships would be supposition, but it is ‘fact’ as to dates, their Location and that they were brought together at the Silas Burke property 22 days apart.
It is NOTED that Silas specifically selected them out of ‘all the other enslaved persons’ that he could have chosen from the respective two Estates (Simpson Estate and James Burke Estate) – but he selected an adult woman from one Location and a young boy from another which causes consideration as to their relationship and Silas’ knowledge of that dynamic.
LOCATION A on the map below is RICHARD SIMPSON land where Silvia lived
LOCATION B on the map below is JAMES BURKE land where Fenton lived
LOCATION C on the map below is SILAS BURKE land where Silvia and Fenton came together within 22 days of Silas arranging for purchases
1760-1810 Fairfax County Map showing locations of land ownership during that time
https://www.arcgis.com/home/item.html?id=cca6b4a3ef644dbfa89e16b6feb515fe
1820-1860 Fairfax County Map showing locations of land ownership during that time GRID: 78-4
https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/history-commission/1860-fairfax-county-maps
On August 22, 1848, 3 of Silas’ slaves – Julia, Noah and Martha – are mentioned in a Trust of Eleanor Barker. Eleanor Barker was the wife of William Barker, marked D on the Map. The Barker Family was a client of Silas Burke for various land transactions. It appears Silas purchased them together to keep whatever relationship they had to each other intact.
