Cicero
It is unknown when Cicero was born. He was the enslaved baker of Richard Kennon, grandson of the Richard Kennon who established the family at Conjurer’s Neck, and his wife, Anne Hunt Kennon. In 1763, he was rented out to Theodorick Bland of Cawsons for the sum of £30, about the equivalent of $7,500 in today’s money. Enslavers liked to name their enslaved people after Greco-Roman characters, heroes, and authors. Cicero was named after the Roman statesman, lawyer, scholar, philosopher, orator, and writer.
Sam
It is unknown when Sam was born. He was enslaved by Elizabeth Worsham Kennon until 1719. In that year, she gave Sam to her son, Richard and his bride to be, Agnes Bolling, as a wedding gift. This was a common occurrence in the colonial era, the gifting of enslaved people as wedding gifts.
Tony
It is unknown when Tony was born. He was enslaved by Elizabeth Worsham Kennon until she gave him to her son, Richard, as a wedding gift for his marriage to Agnes Bolling.
Moll
It is unknown when Moll was born. Moll was used as a shortened form of Molly or Mollie and were diminutives of the name Mary. She was enslaved by Elizabeth Worsham Kennon until 1719 when she gave Moll to her son, Richard, as a gift for his eventual marriage to Agnes Bolling.
Amy
It is unknown when Amy was born. She was one of the enslaved people owned by Elizabeth Worsham Kennon and given to her son, Richard, as a wedding gift just before he married Agnes Bolling in 1719. It was common for a favored enslaved person to be given as a gift. It could be possible that Amy was favored by Richard, or even Agnes. One of the most unfortunate circumstances enslaved people had to endure was being split apart from their families and sent elsewhere.
Frank
It is unknown when Frank was born. He was an enslaved man owned by Elizabeth Worsham Kennon when she gave him as a gift to her son, Richard and future daughter-in-law, Agnes Bolling. When slavery was an institution in our country, it was common for children of the white plantation owners to be assigned their own enslaved person. The enslaved person assigned to the white child would usually be around the same age. They would grow up together and play with each other in younger years. As the white child and enslaved person grew up, things would change as the roles both would play began to become apparent, one as the enslaver, the other as the enslaved. The enslaved person would be expected to wait on their young master and accompany them wherever they went. In many instances, this enslaved person would stay with the child they were assigned to for much of their life. Frank could have been assigned to Richard Kennon when he was in his youth.
Jenny
It is unknown when or where Jenny was born. Jenny was enslaved by Elizabeth Worsham Kennon until she was deeded to Richard Kennon in 1719 as a wedding gift.
Tom Boy
It is unknown when Tom boy was born. He was enslaved by Elizabeth Worsham Kennon and deeded to her son Richard in 1719, just before his marriage to Agnes Bolling. From the name he was listed as in Elizabeth’s deed of gift to Richard, it is possible that Tom was a young boy at the time that he was given to Richard, or it could have been a nickname.
Harry
Harry was born in January, 1720. He was enslaved by Richard and Agnes Bolling Kennon. He is one of a number of enslaved people listed in the Bristol Parish Vestry Birth Register who were enslaved by the Kennon family. Unfortunately, the parents of the enslaved children listed in the register are not listed, only who their enslavers were. Hopefully in the future more information will come to light to allow us to find out who these children’s parents were.
Nutty
Nutty was born October 3, 1711, likely at Conjurer’s Neck. She was an enslaved person owned by William Kennon, son of Richard and Elizabeth Worsham Kennon. Nutty, and the following enslaved people would likely have been born at Conjurer’s Neck. Richard Kennon died in 1696, but his widow, Elizabeth would have had rights to remain at Conjurer’s Neck the remainder of her life. William, being the eldest son, would have inherited Old Brick House, and he likely lived there with his family and mother. Nutty and 21 other enslaved people were listed in the Bristol Parish Birth Register as belonging to Major (later Colonel) William Kennon.
Pegg
Pegg was born March 18, 1716 at Conjurer’s Neck. Enslaved by William Kennon, she was listed in the Bristol Parish Birth Register.
Lewis
Lewis was likely born at Conjurer’s Neck on April 20, 1719. He was listed in the Bristol Parish Birth Register and was enslaved by William Kennon.
Annake
Listed in the Bristol Parish Birth Register, Annake was born February 14, 1720, likely at Conjurer’s Neck. Enslaved by William Kennon and likely named by him (enslavers liked to name their enslaved people after characters from Greek and Roman history and mythology), her name is unique. One possible origin of her name could come from Ananke, a goddess of necessity, compulsion, and inevitability in Greek mythology. The translation of the name is “force” or “power”. The other origin of her name could be the Dutch and Low German female name Anneke, which means little Anna or little Anne.
Hannibal
Born December 17, 1722, Hannibal was one of the enslaved people of William Kennon listed in the Bristol Parish Birth Register. He was likely named after the famed Carthaginian general and politician, Hannibal (247 B.C.-183/181 B.C.), who led Carthage in the Second Punic War against the Roman Republic.
Kate
Kate was born June 3, 1723. She was listed in the Bristol Parish Birth Register as an enslaved person owned by William Kennon.
Bille
Bille was born May 1723. He is listed in the Bristol Parish Birth Register as an enslaved male owned by Richard and Agnes Bolling Kennon. It is unknown where the enslaved people of Richard and Agnes were born. They owned land in Henrico and Charles City County. As part of their marriage gift, Richard and Agnes were given 444 acres of land at Winterpock Creek in 1719 by Elizabeth Worsham Kennon. It could be possible that some of their enslaved people were born at Winterpock Creek, but it is not certain.
Mol
Mol was born August 1725. She was an enslaved person owned by Richard and Agnes Kennon. Mol is a shortened version of Molly or Mollie, both of which are diminutives of the name Mary.
Janne
Janne was born February 1725. She was an enslaved person listed in the Bristol Parish Birth Register and was owned by Richard and Agnes Kennon.
Sue
Sue was born December 1727. An enslaved person owned by Richard and Agnes Kennon, she was listed in the Bristol Parish Birth Register.
Dick
Dick was born March 1727. He was an enslaved person owned by Richard and Agnes Kennon and was listed in the Bristol Parish Birth Register. His name is likely the nickname commonly used for the name Richard.
Hannah
Hannah was born June 2, 1723. She was an enslaved person owned by William Kennon and was likely born at Conjurer’s Neck.
Harry
Harry was likely born at Conjurer’s Neck on March 1, 1725. He is likely a twin brother of Phillis, who was born on the same date. He was an enslaved person owned by William Kennon.
Phillis
Phillis was born March 1, 1725, likely at Conjurer’s Neck. She is likely a twin sister of Harry, born on the same date. She was an enslaved person owned by William Kennon.
Scippio
Scippio was born March 3, 1727. He was an enslaved person owned by William Kennon and was likely born at Conjurer’s Neck. He was likely named for the famed Roman general and statesman Scipio Africanus or his father, Publius Cornelius Scipio, also another Roman general and politician.
Lucy
Lucy was born July 10, 1729, likely at Conjurer’s Neck. She was an enslaved person owned by William Kennon.
Juno
Juno, an enslaved girl of William Kennon, was born July 5, 1729, likely at Conjurer’s Neck. She was probably named after Juno, a Roman goddess of marriage, women, and families and was queen of the Roman gods.
Sampson
Sampson, an enslaved boy of William Kennon, was born December 1, 1729, likely at Conjurer’s Neck. He was likely named after Samson, a Nazarite from the Book of Judges in the Bible who was known for his extraordinary strength.
Phebe
Phebe, an enslaved girl of William Kennon, was born January 2, 1730, likely at Conjurer’s Neck. It’s possible that she was named after Phoebe, from Greek mythology, a Titan who had the power of prophecy and power over the moon.
Sam
Sam was born January 4, 1730. He was an enslaved person of William Kennon of Conjurer’s Neck.
Daniel
Daniel was born in August 1732. He was an enslaved person of William Kennon of Conjurer’s Neck.
Cyrus
Cyrus was an enslaved person of William Kennon of Conjurer’s Neck. He was born in July 1733. It is possible that his enslaver named him after Cyrus the Great, founder of the Achaemenid Empire. He may possibly be a twin brother of another enslaved boy at Conjurer’s Neck named Cato. Both were born in the same month and named after famed historical figures from antiquity.
Molbrow
Molbrow, an enslaved boy of William Kennon, was born June 1731. This is an interesting name, one that, to our knowledge, does not appear in any records. Therefore, there is no known roots or meanings of the name. It is possible that this name could have been a misspelling.
Cato
Cato was born in July 1733. He was an enslaved person of William Kennon of Conjurer’s Neck. Cato was likely named after a one of a couple of famous figures from Roman history. One possibility could be that he was named after Cato the Elder, a famed Roman soldier, politician, and historian. He could also be named after Cato the Younger, a great grandson of Cato the Elder, and was also a Roman politician known for his opposition of Julius Caesar. It is possible that he could be a twin brother of the above-mentioned Cyrus, which is a good possibility considering both are named after famous historical figures from antiquity.
Prince
Prince was born December 1733, likely at Conjurer’s Neck. He was an enslaved boy of William Kennon of Conjurer’s Neck. Possibly a twin brother of Adam. Prince could possibly be named after the book, The Prince, a political treatise written by Niccoló Machiavelli in the 16th century.
Adam
Adam was born in December 1733, likely at Conjurer’s Neck. He was an enslaved boy of William Kennon. Possibly a twin brother of Prince? He may have been named after Adam from the Bible, the first human man.
Jemmy
Jemmy was born in March 1733, likely at Conjurer’s Neck. He was an enslaved boy owned by William Kennon. The name Jemmy is primarily a diminutive of the name James and has roots in Hebrew, meaning “supplanter” or “one who follows”.