1860 - Withrow to Reuben - Rockbridge Co, VA

1860 - Withrow to Reuben - Rockbridge Co, VA

04/02/1860

1

Whereas Andrew Withrow, late of the town of Lexington, Rockbridge County State of Virginia, and now deceased, being the owner of a negro man slave named Reuben aged about fifty years. And whereas a certain Hugh Adamas also of said county, who died in Sept 1854 was the owner of a negro woman, named Rosa, who was the wife of the said slave Reuben, and the said Hugh Adams, having by his last will on record in said county, emancipated his slave, including the said Rosa & given them the chief portion of his estate & directed their remnant to the Colony of Liberia, and the said Rosa, having appealed to the said Andrew Withrow to allow her husband Reuben to accompany her to Liberia, the said Andrew Withrow, in his life time to wit: in the month of June 1858, agreed to let the said Rosa have her husband, the said Reuben for the sum of seven hundred dollars, which sum was in the said month of June 1858 paid to him by Robt Hutchinson, the Executor of the said Hugh Adams, on behalf of the said Rosa. In consideration whereof, the said Andrew Withrow, bound himself to emancipate his slave Reuben whenever it might be proper to do so, to enable him to accompany his wife Rosa to Liberia. And whereas the said Rosa & others slaves of the said Hugh Adams, are about receiving their certificates of freedom, preparatory to their removal to Liberia, for which Colony they will embark during the coming month of April. And the said Andrew Withrow, having died suddenly in the month of Feb. last without having made the said deed emancipating, his slave Reuben, who had been delivered to his wife Rosa in 1858. And having by his will recorded at the March term last of the County Court of said county appointed J.H. McNult & William Withrow (the undersigned) Executor of his said will, who have fully qualified as such in said County Court. And the said Rosa & the Executors of Hugh Adams dec’d having called upon the undersigned Executors of the said Andrew Withrow, dec’d to carry into execution the contract of the said Andrew Withrow, dec’d for the emancipation of the said slave Reuben, which contract is hereto attached and is intended to be read, taken & recorded, as a part of this deed, as fully, to all intents & purposes as if incorporated herein. Be it therefore known to all men by their presents that we John R. McNult & William Withrow, of said County, Executors of the last will of the said Andrew Withrow, dec’d in consideration of the sum of seven hundred dollars, paid as aforesaid to the said Andrew Withrow, in his lifetime, and for the purpose of carrying into complete execution his contract aforesaid & hereto attached have manumitted & set free and do hereby manumit & set free from slavery the said slave Reuben. And we do hereby give, grant & release unto the said Reuben all of our right, title & interest & all the right, title & interest of the said Andrew Withrow, dec’d of, in & to his the said Reuben’s person, labor & services & of, in & to all the estate & property, which he may hereafter acquire or obtain. In witness whereof the said John H. McNult & William Withrow, Executors of Andrew Withrow, dec’d have hereunto set their hand, & seal, this 31st day of March A.D. 1860.

John H. McNult (seal)
Wm. Withrow (seal)

Rockbridge County, to wit,
I, Andrew Patterson a Justice of the Peace for the county aforesaid, in the State of Virginia, do hereby certify that John J. McNult & William Withrow, whose names are signed to the writing hereunto annexed bearing date on the 31st day of March 1860, have acknowledged the same before me, in my county aforesaid.
Given under my hand the 31st day of March 1860.

Andrew Patterson, JP

In Rockbridge County Court Clerk’s Office April 2, 1860
This deed of emancipation from John H. McNult and William Withrow, Executors of Andrew Withrow deceased to slave Reuben was this day produced to me with the annexed certificate of its acknowledgment and admitted to record.
Teste, C. Chapin, C.C.

Memorandum of an agreement entered into this first of June 1858 between Andrew Withrow of the one part & Robert Hutchinson acting Ex. Of Hugh Adams, dec’d all of Rockbridge County & State of Virginia of the other part. Witnesseth that whereas the said H. Adams did by his last will & testament now of record in the Circuit Court of Rockbridge emancipate all his slaves except two, with direction that they are to be sent to Liberia. And whereas the said Andrew Withrow is the owner of a negro man named Reuben, who is the husband of Rosa a woman belonging to said estate & so emancipated & the said Reuben being anxious and willing to accompany his wife to Liberia & the said Withrow, being desirous of gratifying him in that regard, doth hereby bind himself, his heirs, executors to emancipate the said Reuben by deed or otherwise as may be found most convenient & effectual for the purpose of enabling the said Reuben to accompany his wife & family to Liberia which said emancipation is to take effect at a convenient time before said slave starts for Liberia, for which said act of emancipation the said Withrow is to be paid by the…..

Deed Book HH:150

deed