1809 - Hughes to Joicy, et al - Amelia County, VA
Manumission Item Data Item Type Metadata
Date
02/23/1809
Manumitter
Number of Persons
22
Text of Freedom Document
In the name of God Amen. I Anne Hughes of the County of Amelia being of sound and disposing mind and memory do make this my last will and testament in manner and form as followeth, First I do by these presents manumit emancipate & set free for all of my slaves, that is to say, Sam, young Sam, Tom, Adam, Judy, Joicy, Fanny, Tinsley, Standley, Marshall, Joe, Henderson, Shearly, Billy, John, Maryann, Jincy, Seancy, Polly, Branch, Armistead and Harrod, with the future increase of the females from the date hereof, and it is my wish and desire that they should enjoy all the privileges granted to free negroes by the laws of this Commonwealth.
Second. I give unto Fanny, Henderson, and Tinsley, three of the negroes before mentioned to be held by them jointly twenty eight acres of land to be taken of the south side of my tract to include the school house, to be layed [sic] of in such manner as Walter Ford one of my Executors hereafter mentioned may direct, but in case of the death or removal of the said Walter Ford I vest the same power in my other Executors as I have vested him with and wish the land to be secured to the said Fanny, Henderson, and Tinsley to them and their heirs forever, in the most legal manner the laws of Virginia will admit. Third. I give unto Edward Hughes (son of Blackbourn Hughes) the remainder of my land it being the land I now live on continuing two hundred acres be the same more or less. I also give him my desk and my interest and claim to the distill now in the possession of his father. Fourth I give unto Ann Hughes, (daughter of Blackbourn Hughes) one feather bed and furniture and my riding saddle. Fifth, I give unto Polly and Henderson, two of the negroes above mentioned one bed and furniture, it being the bed commonly called the Trunnel bed. Sixth, I give unto the negroes above mentioned for their support all the provisions of every kind that I may have at the time of my death and the crop that may be growing on my land. Seventh. All the remainder of my estate I direct to be sold ad out of the money arising from such sale in the first place to pay and satisfy my just debts, and the remainder I wish to be equally divided between George B. Hughes and John Hughes sons of Blackbourne Hughes. Eighth. It is my will and desire that my estate should not be appraised or an inventory taken. Lastly, I constitute and appoint Blackbourne Hughes, Walter Ford and Parham Booker, Executors to this my last will and testament revoking and making void all former wills by me made. As witness my hand and seal this eighteenth day of November one thousand eight hundred and four.
Anne Hughes (seal)
Signed sealed and acknowledged the
Presents of us
Walter Ford
Dudley Seay
John F Hamm
I do hereby declare this to be a codicil and a part annexed to my last will and testament. First. I do manumit emancipate and set free Dick (a child of Joicy), Sally ( a child of Judy) and young John (a child of Fanny). Second I give unto Henry, one of the negroes mentioned in my will one brindle cow. Third, I give unto Polly one of the negroes mentioned in my will one [?pied?] cow, and lastly I appoint my friends Walter Ford, Joshua Chaffin, Blackbourne Hughes, & Parham Booker executors to this codicil and to my last will to which it is annexed without my Executors aforesaid being compelled to give security for their Executorship.
Given under my hand and seal this 19th day of December 1805
Signed, sealed and acknowledged in the
Presence of us: Anne Hughes (seal)
Walter Ford
Dudley Seay
Rachal Seay
At a court held for Amelia County on Thursday the 23rd of February 1809
This paper purporting to be the last will and testament of Anne Hughes with the codicil annexed being contested by John Hughes, Sundry witnesses were sworn and examined, Parham Booker and Walter Ford two of the Exors therein named, first relinquishing their right to qualify as such, and arguments of council being heard the court after mature consideration are of opinion that the said will and codicil are valid and that the same be admitted to record; whereupon Joshua Chaffin one of the Executors named in the said codicil came into court and made oath thereto and certificate is granted him for obtaining a probate of the said will in due form without giving bond and security it being so directed by the testator.
Examined Teste, James Townes Clk
Second. I give unto Fanny, Henderson, and Tinsley, three of the negroes before mentioned to be held by them jointly twenty eight acres of land to be taken of the south side of my tract to include the school house, to be layed [sic] of in such manner as Walter Ford one of my Executors hereafter mentioned may direct, but in case of the death or removal of the said Walter Ford I vest the same power in my other Executors as I have vested him with and wish the land to be secured to the said Fanny, Henderson, and Tinsley to them and their heirs forever, in the most legal manner the laws of Virginia will admit. Third. I give unto Edward Hughes (son of Blackbourn Hughes) the remainder of my land it being the land I now live on continuing two hundred acres be the same more or less. I also give him my desk and my interest and claim to the distill now in the possession of his father. Fourth I give unto Ann Hughes, (daughter of Blackbourn Hughes) one feather bed and furniture and my riding saddle. Fifth, I give unto Polly and Henderson, two of the negroes above mentioned one bed and furniture, it being the bed commonly called the Trunnel bed. Sixth, I give unto the negroes above mentioned for their support all the provisions of every kind that I may have at the time of my death and the crop that may be growing on my land. Seventh. All the remainder of my estate I direct to be sold ad out of the money arising from such sale in the first place to pay and satisfy my just debts, and the remainder I wish to be equally divided between George B. Hughes and John Hughes sons of Blackbourne Hughes. Eighth. It is my will and desire that my estate should not be appraised or an inventory taken. Lastly, I constitute and appoint Blackbourne Hughes, Walter Ford and Parham Booker, Executors to this my last will and testament revoking and making void all former wills by me made. As witness my hand and seal this eighteenth day of November one thousand eight hundred and four.
Anne Hughes (seal)
Signed sealed and acknowledged the
Presents of us
Walter Ford
Dudley Seay
John F Hamm
I do hereby declare this to be a codicil and a part annexed to my last will and testament. First. I do manumit emancipate and set free Dick (a child of Joicy), Sally ( a child of Judy) and young John (a child of Fanny). Second I give unto Henry, one of the negroes mentioned in my will one brindle cow. Third, I give unto Polly one of the negroes mentioned in my will one [?pied?] cow, and lastly I appoint my friends Walter Ford, Joshua Chaffin, Blackbourne Hughes, & Parham Booker executors to this codicil and to my last will to which it is annexed without my Executors aforesaid being compelled to give security for their Executorship.
Given under my hand and seal this 19th day of December 1805
Signed, sealed and acknowledged in the
Presence of us: Anne Hughes (seal)
Walter Ford
Dudley Seay
Rachal Seay
At a court held for Amelia County on Thursday the 23rd of February 1809
This paper purporting to be the last will and testament of Anne Hughes with the codicil annexed being contested by John Hughes, Sundry witnesses were sworn and examined, Parham Booker and Walter Ford two of the Exors therein named, first relinquishing their right to qualify as such, and arguments of council being heard the court after mature consideration are of opinion that the said will and codicil are valid and that the same be admitted to record; whereupon Joshua Chaffin one of the Executors named in the said codicil came into court and made oath thereto and certificate is granted him for obtaining a probate of the said will in due form without giving bond and security it being so directed by the testator.
Examined Teste, James Townes Clk
Record Location
Will Book 7 pg. 432
Document Type
Last Will & Testament
Files
Collection
Citation
“1809 - Hughes to Joicy, et al - Amelia County, VA,” Manumission Project, accessed February 6, 2026, https://manumissionproject.omeka.net/items/show/1506.