1824 - Norris to Frankey & Judith - Nelson Co, VA
Manumission Item Data Item Type Metadata
Date
12/27/1824
Manumitter
Manumitted
Text of Freedom Document
"I Daniel Norris of Nelson County and State of Virginia, do hereby make my last will and testament in manner and form following that is to say.
1st I desire that all the perishable part of my Estate be immediately sold after my decease and out of the monies arising therefrom all my just debts and funeral expenses be paid and should that be insufficient for the above purposes then I desire that my Executors hereafter named may sell some other property that is of the least value to answer that purpose.
2nd My wish and desire is that my wife Constance B Norris do keep Frankey and her child Judith with her until Judith arrives to the age of twenty one years old and in addition to that to be decently maintained during her life of widowhood and that she my wife keep Frankey at any rate her life during her life as her house servant.
3rd My wish and desire is that whenever Judith arrives to the age of twenty years old that she then be free from the control of any person whatsoever and enjoy all the privileges that any free person of color are entitled to by the laws of this Commonwealth, and that she Judith shall be removed if the laws are such to some state where she can be entitled to her freedom at the expense of my estate and immediately upon her removal she shall receive five hundred dollars in hand paid by my Executors.
4th My wish and desire is that my son Robert T. Norris shall have a very liberal education sufficient for any capacity that may best suit his talents and that to be judged of by my Executors or his Guardian and at his arriving to the full age he my son Robert T Norris shall be entitled to all my estate real or personal except the full maintenance of his mother and what has been disposed of in the foregoing part of this will.
5th My will and desire is that if my son Robert T Norris does not live to have a lawful heir or to become of full age so as to be capable of disposing of his estate then my wish is that it may be sold on twelve months credit bearing interest from the date if not punctually paid and so soon as the money is collected to be paid over one third part to my brother William Norris of Kentucky and two hundred dollars to Susanna Payne or her children so that it is not go arrives any other purpose than that. Also two hundred dollars to George Layne, and in case there is a remainder left my wish is that it shall be divided between the three last mentioned.
6th My wish and desire is that after the death of my wife Constance B Norris that Frankey be immediately free & be removed wherever her daughter Judith shall be removed to.
Lastly I do hereby appoint my friends, first my wife, Christopher T. Estes & Robert H. Anderson Executors of this my last will & testament in witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed my seal this twenty fourth day of November eighteen hundred and twenty four.
Witness Daniel Norris (seal)
Solomon Day
Charles M. May
Littleberry N. Ligon
At a Court held for Nelson County the 27th day of December 1824. This last will and testament of Daniel Norris deceased, was this day produced in court and proven by the oath of Solomon Day a subscribing witness thereto and ordered to lie for further proof. And at a court held for said county the 24th day of January 1825 the said will was again produced in court and further proved by the oath of Littleberry N. Ligon another subscribing witness thereto and the same is ordered to be recorded. And on the motion of Christopher T. Estes, one of the Executors named in the said last will, who personally appeared in court and made oath, and together with Jesse Jopling and Zachariah Nevil his security entered into and acknowledged bond in the penalty of eight thousand dollars, with the condition requiring by law, certificate is granted him for obtaining probate of said will in due form of law.
Teste, Spotswood Garland Ck."
1st I desire that all the perishable part of my Estate be immediately sold after my decease and out of the monies arising therefrom all my just debts and funeral expenses be paid and should that be insufficient for the above purposes then I desire that my Executors hereafter named may sell some other property that is of the least value to answer that purpose.
2nd My wish and desire is that my wife Constance B Norris do keep Frankey and her child Judith with her until Judith arrives to the age of twenty one years old and in addition to that to be decently maintained during her life of widowhood and that she my wife keep Frankey at any rate her life during her life as her house servant.
3rd My wish and desire is that whenever Judith arrives to the age of twenty years old that she then be free from the control of any person whatsoever and enjoy all the privileges that any free person of color are entitled to by the laws of this Commonwealth, and that she Judith shall be removed if the laws are such to some state where she can be entitled to her freedom at the expense of my estate and immediately upon her removal she shall receive five hundred dollars in hand paid by my Executors.
4th My wish and desire is that my son Robert T. Norris shall have a very liberal education sufficient for any capacity that may best suit his talents and that to be judged of by my Executors or his Guardian and at his arriving to the full age he my son Robert T Norris shall be entitled to all my estate real or personal except the full maintenance of his mother and what has been disposed of in the foregoing part of this will.
5th My will and desire is that if my son Robert T Norris does not live to have a lawful heir or to become of full age so as to be capable of disposing of his estate then my wish is that it may be sold on twelve months credit bearing interest from the date if not punctually paid and so soon as the money is collected to be paid over one third part to my brother William Norris of Kentucky and two hundred dollars to Susanna Payne or her children so that it is not go arrives any other purpose than that. Also two hundred dollars to George Layne, and in case there is a remainder left my wish is that it shall be divided between the three last mentioned.
6th My wish and desire is that after the death of my wife Constance B Norris that Frankey be immediately free & be removed wherever her daughter Judith shall be removed to.
Lastly I do hereby appoint my friends, first my wife, Christopher T. Estes & Robert H. Anderson Executors of this my last will & testament in witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed my seal this twenty fourth day of November eighteen hundred and twenty four.
Witness Daniel Norris (seal)
Solomon Day
Charles M. May
Littleberry N. Ligon
At a Court held for Nelson County the 27th day of December 1824. This last will and testament of Daniel Norris deceased, was this day produced in court and proven by the oath of Solomon Day a subscribing witness thereto and ordered to lie for further proof. And at a court held for said county the 24th day of January 1825 the said will was again produced in court and further proved by the oath of Littleberry N. Ligon another subscribing witness thereto and the same is ordered to be recorded. And on the motion of Christopher T. Estes, one of the Executors named in the said last will, who personally appeared in court and made oath, and together with Jesse Jopling and Zachariah Nevil his security entered into and acknowledged bond in the penalty of eight thousand dollars, with the condition requiring by law, certificate is granted him for obtaining probate of said will in due form of law.
Teste, Spotswood Garland Ck."
Record Location
WB C:214
Document Type
Last Will & Testament
Files
Collection
Citation
“1824 - Norris to Frankey & Judith - Nelson Co, VA,” Manumission Project, accessed December 10, 2025, https://manumissionproject.omeka.net/items/show/1731.