1815 - Gray to Nancey Tempy, et al - Goochland Co, VA

1815 - Gray to Nancey Tempy, et al - Goochland Co, VA

03/20/1815

2

Dear Brother William it appears from my feeling at this and for several day past that it will please my maker to take me out of this world in a few days. I leave this to let you know after I am gone that I am perfectly reconciled to my fate and that I have good reason to hope that I shall be happier that is my pore sole [sic] will be happier after it is separated from this pore frale [sic] body, than it ever has or ever can be if it had pleased my lord and savior to of let me lived to fifty years longer. It gives me great pleasure to think that I leave this world fully convinced of never wronging or any person in anyway, in order that no person shall suffer by me after I am gone I have to ask the favor of you to see that my two servants Nancey and her daughter Tempy to have their freedom as soon as the arrangement can be made after my death. If there should be any that dislike this part of my conduct I can only inform them that it has been my opinion for several years that our maker never intended any of his people to be slaves; by giving these two their freedom it may be the means of giving two thousand there [sic] freedom as there increase forever will be free and by keeping them in slavery there might be that quantity kept in slavery and as there will be no person injured much by it, it is my last wish will and desire that the before named negroes, Nancy & Tempy be free and they are hereby declared to be free after my death. It is also my wish that after my debts are paid which are very trifling that my brother William retain in his hand two hundred dollars for the support & education of the above mentioned Tempy for to satisfy my brother William for seeing the [illegible] into effect. I give him my gray horse as his property forever. The balance of my title estate I wish equally divided among my brothers & sisters except my watch & two guns. My watch I leave to my sister Lucy Gray, my long gun I leave to my brother William’s son John Gray, my short gun I leave to my brother William’s son William Gray; neither of the above article do I wish ever to go out of the family. The foregoing request was written and assigned by me laying on my bed at Camp Carter on the 17th day of Feb and in the year of our lord one thousand eight hundred and fifteen.
Tho’s Gray
Hoping that none of my brothers or sisters will be dissatisfied with the manner in which I have directed my little estate to be disposed of I have concluded not to have my last will witnessed.
Tho’s Gray

At a quarterly sessions court held for Goochland County at the courthouse on Monday the 20th day of March 1815. This writing was presented in court and proved by the oaths of Benjamin P. Watkins & Levi Baxley to be wholly written by Thomas Gray dec’d and ordered to be recorded as and for his last will & testament. Then on the motion of William Gray who made oath according to law and gave bond with Thomas B. Watkins & Hezekiah Puryear securities in penalty of three thousand dollars conditioned according to law, administration was granted him in due form with said will annexed.
Teste,
W. Miller CGC

DB 21:705

Deed