1846 - Brummell to Ritter, et al - Mecklenburg Co, VA
Manumission Item Data Item Type Metadata
Location
Date
04/20/1846
Manumitter
Number of Persons
8
Text of Freedom Document
In the name of God Amen. This the 7th day of March in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred and forty six (1846). I John Brummell of the County of Mecklenburg state of Virginia being in a low state of health & in view of the uncertainty of life and being in a sound state of mind & memory do make constitute and ordain this to be my last will and testament in the manner and form following (to wit). After my death it is my wish & I therefore ordain that Ritter shall have her freedom forever. Item 2nd It is also my will that Eleanor daughter of Ritter shall have her freedom forever. Item 3rd It is my will also that Martha daughter of Ritter shall have her freedom forever. Item 4th It is my will also that James son of Ritter shall have his freedom forever. Item 5th It is my will also that Eliza daughter of Ritter shall have her freedom forever. Item 6th It is my will that Thomas son of Ritter shall have his freedom forever. Item 7th It is my will also that John Wright son of Ritter shall have his freedom forever. Item 8th It is my will also that Francis daughter of Ritter shall have her freedom forever. After paying all my just debts and funeral expenses it is my wish that all of the above named children Eleanor Martha James Eliza Thomas John Wright & Francis shall have an equal share of my property to be equally divided among the above named children. It is my wish and I therefore ordain that Ritter shall be supported as long as she remains single if she should marry she is no longer to have any support from my estate to left to the above named children. In as much as the above named slaves cannot have and enjoy their freedom in Virginia it is my wish that they go to some state where the laws tolerate manumission. I therefore constitute Wm C Goode John B Smith and David G Smith as agents to carry out my wishes by sheer safe removal to North Carolina or some other state so that they may have and enjoy their freedom. Item 9th It is my also that yellow Henry son of Ritter shall go with the children above named & their mother wherever they may settle and labour for them and take care of them and he only to receive a support [illegible] which he and the above named children shall make [zet?] if he refuses to leave Virginia & had rather stay behind it is my wish that he be sold in Virginia & the money to be equally divided among the first named children from Eleanor to Francis conclusive. Yet if he chooses to go with the above named children and fights his obligation to this he is to enjoy his freedom forever. I wish after my death the house in which I now reside shall be sold & all the property such as household furniture, plantation tools, kitchen furniture stock of all kinds crops & which they owned every with them shall all be sold and equally divided between the above children from Eleanor to Francis conclusive. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this day.
Above witness John (his mark) Brummell (seal)
Witnesses
David G Smith
John B Smith
Richardson [?Puryear?]
Andrew B Gregory
Archer R Smith
James W Smith
Memorandum
It is my wish that Black Henry be sold and the proceeds be equally divided with the above children. I hereby revoke all other wills I have made as whereof my hand & seal.
David G Smith
John B Smith John Brummell (his mark)(seal)
Richardson [?Puryear?]
Andrew B Gregory
Archer R Smith
James W Smith
At a Court held for Mecklenburg County at the Court House thereof on this 20 day of April 1846. The foregoing last will & testament of John Brummell was this day proved in court and proved by the oaths of David G Smith John B Smith & Richardson Puryear subscribing witnesses hereto and ordered to be recorded. And David G Smith & John B Smith [illegible] of the executors therein named appeared in Court and refused to take upon themselves the burden of the Executors. Therefore on motion of Wm B Goode the other Executor therein named who made oath thereunto and together with M Alexander and Howell L Jefferies his securities entered and acknowledged these based on the penalty of [$500?] condition according to law certificate is granted him for obtaining probate thereof in due person.
R.B. Baptist
Above witness John (his mark) Brummell (seal)
Witnesses
David G Smith
John B Smith
Richardson [?Puryear?]
Andrew B Gregory
Archer R Smith
James W Smith
Memorandum
It is my wish that Black Henry be sold and the proceeds be equally divided with the above children. I hereby revoke all other wills I have made as whereof my hand & seal.
David G Smith
John B Smith John Brummell (his mark)(seal)
Richardson [?Puryear?]
Andrew B Gregory
Archer R Smith
James W Smith
At a Court held for Mecklenburg County at the Court House thereof on this 20 day of April 1846. The foregoing last will & testament of John Brummell was this day proved in court and proved by the oaths of David G Smith John B Smith & Richardson Puryear subscribing witnesses hereto and ordered to be recorded. And David G Smith & John B Smith [illegible] of the executors therein named appeared in Court and refused to take upon themselves the burden of the Executors. Therefore on motion of Wm B Goode the other Executor therein named who made oath thereunto and together with M Alexander and Howell L Jefferies his securities entered and acknowledged these based on the penalty of [$500?] condition according to law certificate is granted him for obtaining probate thereof in due person.
R.B. Baptist
Record Location
WB 16:254
Document Type
LW&T
Files
Collection
Citation
“1846 - Brummell to Ritter, et al - Mecklenburg Co, VA,” Manumission Project, accessed February 16, 2025, https://manumissionproject.omeka.net/items/show/1144.