Will: Martha E. Peyton (1831)

Will of Martha E. Peyton
PWCo. Will Book N, pg. 383
Dated: 30 June 1831; Proved: 3 October 1831

I Martha E. Peyton of Prince William County Va. do make and ordain this my last will and testament, herby revoking all other wills heretofore made by me. 

First, It is my will and desire that all my debts and funeral expenses be paid as soon as possible (my debts few and of small amount) to be paid out of any money I may leave, or bonds due or to become due to me, and from the sale of what little stock I may leave, and household and kitchen furniture; and should there not be enough to discharge the just claims against me, I then direct and do hereby request my Executor hereinafter named mentioned, to hire out my negroes for one year, or longer if necessary, and apply the proceeds thereof to the payment of my debts until they are all paid.

Secondly, I do hereby will and direct that after my debts are paid in the manner aforesaid, that all my negroes, without exception, shall be emancipated and have their freedom, they having served me during my life, and as I am unwilling for them to be kept in slavery or owned by any person after my death.

Lastly, I do hereby appoint, constitute and ordain my friend Jesse Ewell Junr. Executor of this my last will. 

In Witness hereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this 30th day of June in the year of our Lord 1831.

Martha E. Peyton {seal}

Signed, sealed and acknowledged in the presence of us
Jesse Ewell Jr.
Charlotte Ewell

At a Court held for Prince William County the 3d day of October 1831.

This last will and testament of Martha E. Peyton decd. was presented to the Court and being proved by the Oaths of Jesse Ewell Jr. & Charlotte Ewell is admitted to record and Jesse Ewell Jr. the Executor therein named here in Court renounced the burthen of the Executor thereof. 

And at a Court held for said County the 2d. day of January 1832. 

On the motion of John W. Tyler, it is ordered that Jesse Ewell Sheriff of this county do take into his possession the Estate of Martha E. Peyton decd. & administer the same according to law with the Will annexed, it appearing that she has been decd upward of three months & no person having applied for administration on her Estate.

Teste, P. D. Dawe  Ct. Cur.

Friend of Friends Friday: John Gibson to Hannah (Emancipation)

Gibson to N. Hannah Deed of Emancipation
PWCo Deed Book Z, pg. 149
Recorded 8 August 1797

Know all men by these Presents, that I John Gibson of the Town of Dumfries and Commonwealth of Virginia having promised when young entire freedom to Hannah a mulatto woman now of the age of nineteen or twenty years, and who has lived with Nancy McFlea from a child and is daughter of a negro woman named Lett and is of good health and of sound memory, I do therefore by these presents give, grant, relinquish and release unto the said Hannah her entire freedom and that she, and what increase she may have be from this date entirely released from all Bondage or Servitude of any kind to me, my heirs, Executors, Administrators or assigns, or to any person or persons whatsoever. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this first day of July Seventeen hundred and Ninety Seven

John Gibson {seal}

Signed & sealed in the presence of  ----

At a Court continued and held for Prince Wm. County the 8th day of August 1797.

This Deed of freedom from John Gibson to Negro Hannah was acknowledged by the sd. Gibson, and ordered to be recorded. 

Teste    John Williams  Cl Cur.

Will: Sarah Tasker (1846)

Will of Sarah Tasker
PWCo Will Book P, pg. 254

I Sarah Tasker will to George Cornwell my colt and plow & gear and sheep for his servises rendered to me in my sickness; and I also leave my servant Clany free and I do not wish [__] my children to try to enslave her as you know that I never intended that she was to serve anyone one.

Sarah [X her mark] Tasker

Ann E. Grimes
Mary Cornwell
James G. [X his mark] Grimes

In Prince William County Court, April 6, 1846.

This last will and testament of Sarah Tasker deceased, was proved by the oaths of Ann E. Grimes & Mary Cornwell, witnesses thereto, & ordered to be recorded.

Teste.  J. Williams  C.C.

Will: Sophia C. M. Bullitt

Will of Sophia C. M. Bullitt
PWCo Will Book I, pg. 14
Proved: 2 January 1804

As I esteem it the duty of every individual to make such arrangements of his temporal concerns as may spare the survivors those difficulties and altercations that may otherwise arise, I mean with divine assistance to specify the manner in which I design my property to be disposed of after my decease; and I appoint my esteemed friends William Barnes and John Macrae executors of this my last will and testament.

My proportion of the Kentucky land I bequeath to be equally divided between my sisters Francis Garard, Sarah Barnes, and Helen Huie excepting a small legacy of Fifty Acres to my negroe boy Frederick, which fifty acres are to be of equal quality with my sisters portion. My negroes David Antony, Joan and her son Frederick I will should be emancipated after one years servitude from the time of my death during which year I desire that they may be hired out and the money arising from said hire must be appropriated to the payment of my debts. 

The Legacy of five hundred pounds the greatest part of which is yet due me from my fathers estate I direct to be equally divided between my sisters before mentioned after the following legacies are deducted. Viz. Fifty pounds to my niece Sophia Bullitt Garard, one hundred dollars to be appropriated to the education of poor children to be delivered in the hands of my esteemed friend Elizabeth Mason ten pounds to my friend and brother Thomas James Bullitt to purchase a mourning ring which I request him to accept as a small proof of my friendship and gratitude. I bequeath the same sum for the same purpose to my friend Lewis Hue Girarden. My house and lot I bequeath to my niece Helen Scott Huie, but if the hire of the negroes during one year from the time of my death is not sufficient to indemnify my creditors it must be rented out until all my debts are paid. One of my lots in Newport I devise to my niece Ann Foster Huie and the other to my niece Mary Barnes which each party is to receive by casting lots. Five guineas which were devised to me by my father in his will I bequeath to my nephew Thomas Barnes, my wearing apparel I direct to be divided between my nieces Helen and Ann Huie, my fortepiano I leave to Mary Barnes, my proportion of negroe Jenny's hire I bequeath to be annually paid into said Jenny's own hand, my body I bequeath to the dust from whence it came and my soul I recommend to the mercy of God through the merits of a redeemer.  I desire that my negroe boy Frederick should have three years schooling and that he should afterwards be bound to a trade for which purpose I have bequeathed to him the aforementioned fifty acres of land.

I wish that the money which I bequeath to my sisters may be appropriated to their own use independent of their husbands and I direct my Executors to place the money in the hands of proper Trustees to that effect. I desire that a claim which my Brother Thomas Bullitt has on me for a hundred dollars may be paid previously to my other debts. 

This I declare to be my last will and testament, and I again recommend to the God the Universe for whose mercy I humbly hope through the mediation of a blessed saviour.

Dumfries May 27th, 1803.

Sophia C. M. Bullitt

Teste
Benjamin Wells
James Rison
Peregin Davis

At a court held for Prince William County January 2nd, 1804.

This last will and testament of Sophia C. M. Bullitt deceased was presented to the Court and being proved by the Oath of Benj. Wells was ordered to be certified. John Macrae renounced in open Court the burthen of the Executor of the said Will. 

And at a Court Continued and held for the County aforesaid February the 7th 1804

This said last will and testament of Sophia C. M. Bullitt was fully proved by the Oath of James Rison and ordered to be recorded.

Test   J. Williams   Ct. Cur.

And at a Court continued and held for said county Feby. 5th, 1805.

William Barnes an Executor named in the Last Will and Testament of Sophia C. M. Bullitt decd came into Court and having proved the said Will according to Law, taken the Oath of an Executor and Executed a bond with security certificate is therefore granted him for obtaining a probate thereof in due form.

Test   J. Williams   Ct. Cur.

Deed of Emancipation: Harrison to Montgomery (1811)

Harrison to Montgomery Deed of Emancipation
PWCo Deed Book 0004 pg. 259
Proved 4 February 1811

KNOW ALL MEN by these presents that I Philip Harrison of the Town of Dumfries County of Prince William and Commonwealth of Virginia for and in consideration of the service of Sarah Montgomery my lawfull slave have released emansipated and set free and by these presents emancipate release and set free the aforesaid Sarah Montgomery who is a black woman and I do hereby acquit her of all services which by the Law of the Land she may owe to me and do hereby declare the aforesaid Sarah Montgomery to be to all intents and purposes an Emansipated Enfranchised and Free Woman. 

In Witness whereof I have hereunto affixed my hand and seal this 24 day of November A.D. 1810.

Philip Harrison{seal}

Signed sealed & delivered in the presence of ___________

At a Court held for Prince William County February 4th 1811.

This Deed of Emancipation from Philip Harrison to Sarah Montgomery was acknowledged by the said Harrison and ordered to be recorded.

Teste, J. Williams

Friend of Friends Friday: Emancipation: Hector Ross to Negro Dick

Emancipation:  Hector Ross to Negro Dick
PWCo Deed Book 1, pg. 2
6 January 1800

To all persons to whom these presents shall come I Hector Ross of the Town of Dumfries County of Prince William and Commonwealth of Virginia send Greeting:

WHEREAS William Templeman Esquire now deceased did in and by his last will and testament of record in the General Court of Virginia dated in or about the year of our Lord One thousand seven hundred and seventy three did devise unto me a negroe boy named Dick who hath now arrived at the age of about forty years Now know ye that for and in consideration of the faithfull services which the said Negroe Dick hath rendered me and in pursuance of the intention of the said Testator as expressed in the said Will I do hereby emancipate and set free the said Negroe named Dick for ever. And I the said Hector Ross do for myself my heirs Exors and Administrators do hereby covenant and grand to and with the said Negroeman Dick that he shall for ever hereafter remain free and emancipate from my claim and from all and every other person and persons claiming or to claim by from or under me which Emancipation is made by m in in pursuance and by virtue of an act of Assembly in force and in such cases made and provided In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal this sixth day of January 1800.

H. Ross {seal}

Sealed & delivered in presence of }

At a Court held for Prince William County the 6th day of January 1800.

This deed of Emancipation from Hector Ross to Negro Dick was acknowledged by said Ross and admitted to record.

Teste
John Williams  Ct Cur.

Deed: Fanny Webster to Polly [emancipation]

Deed of Emancipation

Fanny Webster to Polly

PWCo DB 2, pg. 126

KNOW all Men by these presents that I Fanny Webster of the Town of Dumfries and County of Prince William for and in consideration of the sum of one dollar to me in hand paid the receipt whereof I do hereby acknowledge have manumitted emancipated and set free & do hereby emancipate set free and liberate a certain Mulatto Girl named Polly who was devised to me by the last will and testament of Thomas Montgomerie deceased the said Girl Polly is at this time about Twenty One years of Age.  In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this Twentyeth day of October 1802.

Fanny [X her mark] Webster {seal}

Signed Sealed and delivered in presence of 

Philip Dawe Jr.

J. Lawson

John Williams

At a Court held for Prince William County the 2d day of May 1803.  This deed of Emancipation from Fanny Webster to Polly was proved by the oaths of John Williams, John Lawson, & Philip Dawe Junr. and ordered to be recorded.

Teste.  John Williams  Ct. Cur.

Deed: Bill of Sale: Macrae to Webster (enslaved person/emancipation)

In November 1815, Daniel Webster left a Will that stated that he left his "wife Lucy Webster (whom I purchased from the late John Macrae esq.) and to my child James Webster -- their freedom and enfranchisement forever, excluding all claim or right to them of any persons whatsoever."


Daniel was a free man of Color who purchased Lucinda from her master, John Macrae, for $60 as recorded in PWCo Deed Book 4, pg. 258.



PWCo Deed Book 4, pg. 258

Know all men by these presents that I John Macrae of Prince William County for & in consideration of the sum of sixty dollars & fifty-five cents paid by the note of Betsey Tebbs & Thomas Chapman of Dumfries due on the 20th of January next the receipt where of is hereby acknowledged hath bargained sold aliened & confirmed & by these presents doth bargain sell alien & confirm unto Daniel Webster a mulatto woman Lucinda to him the said Daniel Webster his heirs Executors & administrators or assigns forever & the said John Macrae his heirs Exrs & admrs warrants & defends that the said Lucinda to the said Webster his heirs Exrs Admrs & assigns against the claim or claims of all & every person or persons whatsoever.   In Witness whereof the said John Macrae hath hereunto set his hand & seal this fifth day of October 1810.

Jno. Macrae {seal}

Witnessed by 
Wm. Smith
Thomas Chapman

B. It is understood by the parties to the above bill of sale that the woman Lucinda therein mentioned is not to leave the service of sd. Macrae until Xmas next.

Daniel [X his mark] Webster

Witness
Wm. Smith
Thomas Chapman

At a Court held for Prince William County FEbruary 4th 1811
   This Deed from John Macrae to Daniel Webster was acknowledged by the sd. Macrae and ordered to be recorded.

Teste, J. Williams

---------------


After purchasing Lucy, Daniel petitioned the Virginia House of Delegates to emancipate her.

To the Honorable the Speaker and House of Delegates of the Commonwealth of Virginia. 

Your Petitioner Daniel Webster humbly represents that he is a freeman of Colour now in the decline of life being fifty eight years old. That while a Slave he connected himself with a Mulatto Woman as his wife by whom he has Several Children and who is nearly as old as himself. That lately he purchased his said wife (whose name is Lucy) and being unwilling to hold in bondage one thus connected with him and the mother of his children and especially fearing the Consequences of dying she still remaining a Slave - he is exceedingly Solicitous to emancipate her. That where they are known & have made some Patrons they are able to live in comfort, but to be turned out into another and Strange State where they are unknown at their time of life would be to cloud their last days with Misery and want and perhaps to throw them in their old age upon the Charity of the World. This must be the consequence of his wifes Emancipation unless your Honorable body will under the Peculiar Circumstances of the Case relax the rigor of the law and permit his wife after her liberation to remain in her native Country. This indulgence your Petitioner humbly prays and as in duty bound will ever pray &c [etc.]. Daniel Webster Prince Wm. County Nov. 18

Cite: Webster, Daniel: Petition, Prince William County, 1812-12-11, Legislative Petitions Digital Collection, Library of Virginia, Richmond, Va

Will: Daniel Webster (emancipation)

Will of Daniel Webster
PWCo Will Book K, pg. 502

In the name of God amen I Daniel Webster of the county of Prince William & state of Virginia, feeling weak of body but of sound mind mind and intilect do make and ordain this my last will and testament hereby revoking all others.

Item. I will and bequeath to my wife Lucy Webster (whom I purchased from the late John Macrae esq.) and to my child James Webster -- their freedom and enfranchisement forever, excluding all claim or right to them of any persons whatsoever.

Item. I give and bequeath to my wife Lucy Webster every thing I have claim to or possess in this world, property of every description, real, personal, or mixed and I further more make and appoint my said wife Lucy, the executrix of this my last will and it is my wish and desire that some friendly citizen, should aid and assist her in the execution hereof; In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this 23rd day of November, 1815.

Daniel [X his mark] Webser {seal}

Signed, sealed & delivered in presece of
Wm. S. Colquhoun
Fra. Sd. Dunnington
C. W. Colquhoun

At a court held for Prince William county,. February 5th 1816

This last will and testament of Daniel Webster deceased was presented to the Court and being proved by Wm. S. Colquhoun, Fra: Sd. Dunnington and C. W. Colquhoun is ordered to be recorded.

Teste,

Phil. D. Dawe   Cl Cur

Will: Hannah Carter (1809) (emancipation)

Will of Hannah Carter
PWCo Will Book L, pg. 381

In the name of God, Amen, I Hannah Carter of the County of Prince William and Parish of Dettengen, in the Commonwealth of Virginia being weak in body but of sound mind and judgement do make, ordain and declare this to be my last Will and Testament, revoking all others made heretofore by me.

Imprimis I recommend my soul to God who gave it my worldly estate I dispose of in manner hereinafter expressed.

Item I leave my negro woman Ealse free and to be at her own disposal after my decease. In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this twelvth day of September One thousand eight hundred and nine.

Hannah [X her mark] Carter {seal}

Signed, Sealed and Executed in the presence of
Harrison G. Golden
Walter G. Hayes
James Hayes

At a Court of Quarterly Sessions cont' and held for Prince William County August the 8th 1821.  This last Will and Testament of Hannah Carter dec'd was presented to the Court and the same being proved by the oaths of Harrison G. Golden and Walter G. Hayes is ordered to be recorded.

Teste

Phil. D. Dawe  ct cur

Friend of Friends Friday: Hale - Deed of Emancipation

Hale to Dorcas

Deed of Emancipation

PWCo Deed Book 3, pg. 305

Whereas Joseph Hale of Prince William County in the State of Virginia being legally possessed of three slaves, named Dorcas, Jacob & Dorcas Slaves for life – for divers good causes and considerations [to] me thereunto moving as well for the sum of six hundred and on dollars lawful money of the united states to me in hand paid the receipt whereof is acknowledged do hereby fully clearly and absolutely emancipate liberate and set free the said negro slaves from slavery forever and I do hereby for myself my heirs exors and assigns remise release and forever quit claim unto the said slaves all my right, title and interest as well to those person as services & estates hereby declaring them absolutely free from and against me and my heirs and against all and every person & persons claiming by from or under me.  In Witness whereof I have here unto set my hand and affixed my seal this 18^th day of July one thousand eight hundred & seven.

Jos. Hale {seal}

Signed sealed & delivered

In the presence of

Jere: W. Bronough

John Bronough

James C. Bronough

At a Court held for Prince William County October 5^th 1807 this Deed of Emancipation from Joseph Hale to Dorcas (Jacob), Jacob and Dorcas was acknowledged by said Hale to be his act and Deed and Ordered to be recorded.

Teste,

J. Williams clk

Friend of Friends Friday: Will: Hannah Carter (1821)

HANNAH CARTER Will

Prince William County Will Book L, pg 381

12 Sep 1809; proved 08 Aug 1821

In the name of God Amen I HANNAH CARTER of the County of Prince William and Parish of Dettingen in the Commonwealth of Virginia being weak in body but of sound mind and judgment, do make ordain and declare this  to be my last will and testament, revoking all others made heretofore by me.  Imprimis.  I recommend my soul to God who gave it, my worldly estate I dispose of in the manner hereinafter expressed.  Item I leave my negro woman EALSY free & to be at her own disposal after my decease.  In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this twelvth day of September One thousand eight hundred and nine.

HANNAH CARTER   {seal}

Signed sealed and executed in the presence of

HARRISON GOLDDEN

WALTER G. HAYES

JAMES HAYES

At a Court of Quarterly Sessions Contd and held for Prince William County August 8^th 1821.  This last will and testament of HANNAH CARTER decd. was presented to the Court and the same being proved by the oaths of HARRISON G. GOLDEN and WALTER G. HAYES is ordered to be recorded.

Teste, PHIL. D. DAWE