1833 - Smith to Wilson Bates - Powhatan Co, VA

1833 - Smith to Wilson Bates - Powhatan Co, VA

03/22/1833

1

Know all men by these presents that I Judith M Smith of the County of Powhatan in the State of Virginia have emancipated and set free, and do by these presents emancipate and set free a negro man slave named Wilson Bates of light complexion and about 28 years of age. And I do hereby publish to all whom it may concern that the said Wilson is henceforth to be fully and absolutely discharged from slavery and placed upon a footing with other free people of color as fully and completely as the Laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia will permit. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this 21st day of March in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred & thirty three.
Signed sealed and del’d Judith M Smith (seal)
in presence of
Joseph E Curtis, John H Saunders
Josiah Smith

At a court continued and held for Powhatan county at the Courthouse thereof on Friday the 22nd day of March 1833. The foregoing indenture of emancipation was presented in court and proved to be the act and deed of Judith M Smith a party to the same by the oaths of Joseph E Curtis, John H Saunders and Josiah Smith subscribing witnesses thereto and ordered to be recorded.
Teste, RF Graves D.C.

DB 12:303

Deed