1797 - Williams to Beck - Rockingham Co, VA
Manumission Item Data Item Type Metadata
Date
07/24/1797
Manumitter
Manumitted
Number of Persons
1
Text of Freedom Document
To all people to whom these presents shall come
Know ye that I Samuel M. Williams of the County of Rockingham and state of Virginia, having weighed in the scale of Justice, the Conditions of slavery, am sincerely convinced, that it is unwarrentable as well, by the Laws of Religion, as morality, and as god originally distributed equally to the Human Race, the unalienable right to the enjoyment of Personal liberty, So it behoves each man to restore his fellow Creatures, that Invaluable Blessing, which he by unjust Laws is disposessed of:
In consideration whare of [whereof] I have and do by these presents, emancipate, set free, and forever discharge from slavery, my Negro girl, Beck, and I do for myself and my heirs, executors, administrators and assigns, by these presents, Ratify, release, grant, and confirm unto the aforesaid negro Beck, of the age of thirty nine years and her heirs, all and singular, any right, title, blame, or Interest of, in, or unto any Property or future Demand, of Personal Service which I now have in her the said Negro Beck forever[.]
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal, this 24th day July 1797 in the 22nd year of the Commonwealth. L. M. Williams (seal)
Rockingham Court 1797 This certificate of the Emancipation Be from Samuel M Williams of the one part to Beck a Negro girl was presented in Court and acknowledged by the said Samuel and is ordered to be Recorded. Teste. L M Williams CRC 13 Negro Beck Cert Emancipation. Acknode [Acknowledged] July Court 1797 Recorded
Know ye that I Samuel M. Williams of the County of Rockingham and state of Virginia, having weighed in the scale of Justice, the Conditions of slavery, am sincerely convinced, that it is unwarrentable as well, by the Laws of Religion, as morality, and as god originally distributed equally to the Human Race, the unalienable right to the enjoyment of Personal liberty, So it behoves each man to restore his fellow Creatures, that Invaluable Blessing, which he by unjust Laws is disposessed of:
In consideration whare of [whereof] I have and do by these presents, emancipate, set free, and forever discharge from slavery, my Negro girl, Beck, and I do for myself and my heirs, executors, administrators and assigns, by these presents, Ratify, release, grant, and confirm unto the aforesaid negro Beck, of the age of thirty nine years and her heirs, all and singular, any right, title, blame, or Interest of, in, or unto any Property or future Demand, of Personal Service which I now have in her the said Negro Beck forever[.]
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal, this 24th day July 1797 in the 22nd year of the Commonwealth. L. M. Williams (seal)
Rockingham Court 1797 This certificate of the Emancipation Be from Samuel M Williams of the one part to Beck a Negro girl was presented in Court and acknowledged by the said Samuel and is ordered to be Recorded. Teste. L M Williams CRC 13 Negro Beck Cert Emancipation. Acknode [Acknowledged] July Court 1797 Recorded
Document Type
Deed
Secondary Source
Library of Virginia
Files
Collection
Citation
“1797 - Williams to Beck - Rockingham Co, VA,” Manumission Project, accessed June 17, 2026, https://manumissionproject.omeka.net/items/show/1311.