1826 - Paul to Jack Gaulaged - Rockbridge Co, VA
Manumission Item Data Item Type Metadata
Location
Date
10/21/1826
Manumitter
Manumitted
Number of Persons
1
Text of Freedom Document
In the name of God Amen, I David Templeton of the County of Rockbridge, State of Virginia, being weak in body, but of sound mind, and of disposing memory, for which I thank God, and calling to mind the uncertainty of human life and being desirous to dispose of all such worldly estate as it hath pleased God to bless me with, I do hereby make this my last will and testament in the manner and form following that is to says.
First, it is my will and desire that my executors hereafter to be named, shall after my funeral expenses are paid, cause to be paid all my just debts out of my personal estate.
Secondly, it is my will and desire, that all my slaves shall have their freedom and I do hereby give and bequeath to my slaves, Fanny, Jack, Hannah, Nancy and Jane their freedom immediately after my decease the balance of my slaves (to wit) Isaac who was born in February 1809, Andrew who was born in June 1811, Ibby who was born on November 25th 1810, Ann, who was born the last Saturday in July 1813, Eliza who was born in November 1815, James Harvey who was born in August 1817, Elizabeth who was born January 26th 1820, Robert Allen, who was born on the 7th day of February 1822, and Hugh, who was born on the 3rd day of March 1822, and any others that may hereafter be born before my decease, to each of them, I give and bequeath their freedom, when they severally arrive, the males to the age of twenty one years and the females to the age of eighteen years, and until they shall severally arrive at the ages aforesaid, it is my will and desire that the females shall be under the direction of Cinthia Carpenter, wife of Nathan Carpenter until they shall severally arrive at the age of fourteen years, or until the death of Cinthia Carpenter should she die before that time, and each of the males then to be bound to some useful trade or occupation, at the discretion of my executors until they shall severally arrive at the age of twenty one years, and if it should happen that any of the females should have a child or children after my decease, and before their freedom, it is my will and desire that such child or children shall have it freedom at the same time with its mother and for the purpose of defraying any expenses that many be incurred in carrying this my will into complete effect, it is my will that the said expenses shall be paid out of my personal estate, if there shall be a sufficient sum left after the payment of my debts, and if there is not a sufficient sum left, them to be paid out of monies arising out of a sale of part of my person estate at the discretion of my executors.
Thirdly, my executors are hereby authorized and directed to pay to the before named Fanny, Jack, and Hannah the sum of one hundred and fifty dollars to be equally divided between them, the money to be paid as soon as it can be made out of my personal estate after my debts and legacies are paid.
Fourthly, I give and bequeath to Cinthia Carpenter my bay horse called George, my desk and bookcase, one fourth of my stock of horned cattle, one third of my stock of sheep, one third of my stock of hogs, my big wheel and reel, and spinning wheels, and my loom and geer [sic] to her and her heirs forever.
Fifthly, I give and bequeath to Betsy Templeton wife of David Templeton my bay horse called Bob, my cupboard and furniture, and all my household furniture not before disposed of to her and her heirs forever.
Sixthly, I give and bequeath to James Monroe Templeton, son of my nephew David Templeton, after the whole of my female slaves have obtained their freedom and after the whole of my male slaves are bound as apprentices, all my lands to him and his heirs forever, provided, the said James Monroe Templeton shall arrive at the age of twenty one years, but should he die without issue and before he is twenty one years of age, then and in that case it is my will and desire and I do hereby in that event give and bequeath the said lands to David Alexander Templeton the second son of my nephew David Templeton to him and his heirs forever.
Seventhly, I give unto Nathaniel Carpenter and Cinthia Carpenter the use of my lands, being one half of all the lands whereof my Father James Templeton died seized and possessed of at the discretion of my executors to be divided as has been already done in part between my brother James Templeton and myself, and also a small survey adjoining which I have obtained a grant for, all of which the said Nathaniel Carpenter and Cinthia Carpenter are to have the free use of, until the youngest of my male slaves arrives at the age of fourteen years. But should the said Cinthia Carpenter depart this life before the time that all my male slaves are bound as apprentices, then and in that event, the said use of my lands to Nathaniel Carpenter is to cease and be entirely under the control of my executors.
Eighthly, I give and bequeath all the balance of my property of whatever kind it may be to James Monroe Templeton, son of my nephew David or in the event of his death to David Alexander Templeton the second son of said David Templeton, to be applied at the discretion of my executors.
And lastly, I do hereby appoint William Paxton and Alex Templeton my executors to this my last will and testament hereby revoking and making null and void all other wills heretofore made by me. In testimony whereof I do hereunto set my hand and seal this eleventh day of December in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty two.
David Templeton (seal)
Signed sealed and declared
To be the last will and testament
Of David Templeton
Before us
Arch H Paxton
David Edmonson
Robert French
At Rockbridge Superior Court of Law April 12th 1824
A writing purporting to be the last will and testament of David Templeton deceased dated the 11th day of December 1822 was produced in court by William Paxton and Alexander Templeton, the executors therein named in order to be proved, whereupon James Templeton appeared in court to contest the said will and by consent, it is ordered that the said will be contested on the 3rd day of this court.
And at said court continued and held for said County the 14th day of April 1824. A writing purporting to be the last will and testament of David Templeton dec’d bearing date the 11th day of December 1822 was this day again produced in court by William Paxton & Alexander Templeton the executors therein named and thereupon James Templeton appeared, and opposed the proof of the said will, whereupon diverse witnesses were sworn and examined and the parties aforesaid by their counsel fully heard; on consideration whereof it is the opinion of the court that the said David Templeton dec’d at the time of executing the writing aforesaid was of sound and disposing mind and memory and that he was under no undue influence- whereupon the said writing was proved according to law by the oaths of Archibald H Paxton, David Edmonson, & Robert French, witnesses thereto it is ordered that said writing be recorded as and for the last will and testament of the said David Templeton deceased. And on the motion of the said William Paxton and Alexander Templeton the executors named in said will who made oath thereto, and together with Elisha Grigsby, John McCorkle, and Alexander McCorkle, their securities entered into and acknowledged bond in the penalty of two thousand dollars conditioned as the law directs. Certificate is granted them for obtaining a probate of the said will in due form.
Teste, James D Reid DC
First, it is my will and desire that my executors hereafter to be named, shall after my funeral expenses are paid, cause to be paid all my just debts out of my personal estate.
Secondly, it is my will and desire, that all my slaves shall have their freedom and I do hereby give and bequeath to my slaves, Fanny, Jack, Hannah, Nancy and Jane their freedom immediately after my decease the balance of my slaves (to wit) Isaac who was born in February 1809, Andrew who was born in June 1811, Ibby who was born on November 25th 1810, Ann, who was born the last Saturday in July 1813, Eliza who was born in November 1815, James Harvey who was born in August 1817, Elizabeth who was born January 26th 1820, Robert Allen, who was born on the 7th day of February 1822, and Hugh, who was born on the 3rd day of March 1822, and any others that may hereafter be born before my decease, to each of them, I give and bequeath their freedom, when they severally arrive, the males to the age of twenty one years and the females to the age of eighteen years, and until they shall severally arrive at the ages aforesaid, it is my will and desire that the females shall be under the direction of Cinthia Carpenter, wife of Nathan Carpenter until they shall severally arrive at the age of fourteen years, or until the death of Cinthia Carpenter should she die before that time, and each of the males then to be bound to some useful trade or occupation, at the discretion of my executors until they shall severally arrive at the age of twenty one years, and if it should happen that any of the females should have a child or children after my decease, and before their freedom, it is my will and desire that such child or children shall have it freedom at the same time with its mother and for the purpose of defraying any expenses that many be incurred in carrying this my will into complete effect, it is my will that the said expenses shall be paid out of my personal estate, if there shall be a sufficient sum left after the payment of my debts, and if there is not a sufficient sum left, them to be paid out of monies arising out of a sale of part of my person estate at the discretion of my executors.
Thirdly, my executors are hereby authorized and directed to pay to the before named Fanny, Jack, and Hannah the sum of one hundred and fifty dollars to be equally divided between them, the money to be paid as soon as it can be made out of my personal estate after my debts and legacies are paid.
Fourthly, I give and bequeath to Cinthia Carpenter my bay horse called George, my desk and bookcase, one fourth of my stock of horned cattle, one third of my stock of sheep, one third of my stock of hogs, my big wheel and reel, and spinning wheels, and my loom and geer [sic] to her and her heirs forever.
Fifthly, I give and bequeath to Betsy Templeton wife of David Templeton my bay horse called Bob, my cupboard and furniture, and all my household furniture not before disposed of to her and her heirs forever.
Sixthly, I give and bequeath to James Monroe Templeton, son of my nephew David Templeton, after the whole of my female slaves have obtained their freedom and after the whole of my male slaves are bound as apprentices, all my lands to him and his heirs forever, provided, the said James Monroe Templeton shall arrive at the age of twenty one years, but should he die without issue and before he is twenty one years of age, then and in that case it is my will and desire and I do hereby in that event give and bequeath the said lands to David Alexander Templeton the second son of my nephew David Templeton to him and his heirs forever.
Seventhly, I give unto Nathaniel Carpenter and Cinthia Carpenter the use of my lands, being one half of all the lands whereof my Father James Templeton died seized and possessed of at the discretion of my executors to be divided as has been already done in part between my brother James Templeton and myself, and also a small survey adjoining which I have obtained a grant for, all of which the said Nathaniel Carpenter and Cinthia Carpenter are to have the free use of, until the youngest of my male slaves arrives at the age of fourteen years. But should the said Cinthia Carpenter depart this life before the time that all my male slaves are bound as apprentices, then and in that event, the said use of my lands to Nathaniel Carpenter is to cease and be entirely under the control of my executors.
Eighthly, I give and bequeath all the balance of my property of whatever kind it may be to James Monroe Templeton, son of my nephew David or in the event of his death to David Alexander Templeton the second son of said David Templeton, to be applied at the discretion of my executors.
And lastly, I do hereby appoint William Paxton and Alex Templeton my executors to this my last will and testament hereby revoking and making null and void all other wills heretofore made by me. In testimony whereof I do hereunto set my hand and seal this eleventh day of December in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty two.
David Templeton (seal)
Signed sealed and declared
To be the last will and testament
Of David Templeton
Before us
Arch H Paxton
David Edmonson
Robert French
At Rockbridge Superior Court of Law April 12th 1824
A writing purporting to be the last will and testament of David Templeton deceased dated the 11th day of December 1822 was produced in court by William Paxton and Alexander Templeton, the executors therein named in order to be proved, whereupon James Templeton appeared in court to contest the said will and by consent, it is ordered that the said will be contested on the 3rd day of this court.
And at said court continued and held for said County the 14th day of April 1824. A writing purporting to be the last will and testament of David Templeton dec’d bearing date the 11th day of December 1822 was this day again produced in court by William Paxton & Alexander Templeton the executors therein named and thereupon James Templeton appeared, and opposed the proof of the said will, whereupon diverse witnesses were sworn and examined and the parties aforesaid by their counsel fully heard; on consideration whereof it is the opinion of the court that the said David Templeton dec’d at the time of executing the writing aforesaid was of sound and disposing mind and memory and that he was under no undue influence- whereupon the said writing was proved according to law by the oaths of Archibald H Paxton, David Edmonson, & Robert French, witnesses thereto it is ordered that said writing be recorded as and for the last will and testament of the said David Templeton deceased. And on the motion of the said William Paxton and Alexander Templeton the executors named in said will who made oath thereto, and together with Elisha Grigsby, John McCorkle, and Alexander McCorkle, their securities entered into and acknowledged bond in the penalty of two thousand dollars conditioned as the law directs. Certificate is granted them for obtaining a probate of the said will in due form.
Teste, James D Reid DC
Record Location
Will Book 6:86
Document Type
LW&T
Files
Collection
Citation
“1826 - Paul to Jack Gaulaged - Rockbridge Co, VA,” Manumission Project, accessed January 19, 2026, https://manumissionproject.omeka.net/items/show/1253.