1859 - Dettor to all slaves - Nelson Co, VA
Manumission Item Data Item Type Metadata
Date
12/22/1859
Manumitter
Manumitted
Number of Persons
"all slaves"
Text of Freedom Document
"The last will and testament of Nicholas Dettor of Nelson County Virginia. I Nicholas Ditton considering the uncertainty of this mortal life, and being of sound mind and memory, do make and publish this my last will and testament in manner and form following, that is to say, First I give unto my dear wife Mary Dettor my plantation on which I now reside and also the place I bought of Wm Sobban dec’d during her natural life, together with all my slaves, horses, cows, hogs, and stock of every description, also all the plantation utensils, wagon, buggy, and all the household and kitchen furniture and all the corn, wheat, rye, oats, hay, fodder, & provender of every description to use for her separate support, and maintenance all the net profits arising there from annually, she may give to whom she may think proper, and all my Exors are required to see that no waste or unnecessary expenditures be indulged, it is my sold desire that my dear wife be amply provided for during her natural life, and besides this I give to my dear wife, the sum of four hundred dollars in cash.
Item second, I will that all my slaves after the death of my said wife, be set free, and hereby direct my Exors to take the necessary steps to send them to Liberia, and furnish money sufficient not only to send them to Liberia, but to support them after they get there for a reasonable time, and wish my Exors to ascertain what their necessities will be after they get there and send a plenty to make them comfortable.
Item Third, I will that after the death of my dear wife my Exors shall sell all of my real estate, viz. the place on which I now live and also the Sobban place on the following terms, one third in cash and the balance in two equal payments, the first in six and the balance in twelve months from the day of sale, also they shall sell all my perishable property, and the presents thereof they shall apply, or as much thereof as may be required to send my said slaves to Liberia, and if this shall be insufficient, they shall collect other monies for that purpose. I wish after the death of my wife that my said slaves be hired out where they will be well taken care of until the proper arrangements can be made to send them away as above directed.
Item fourth, I will that my Exors keep my money [illegible] as it now is, and collect the interest annually and lend that out, and keep all the debts well secured until after the death of my wife, and then I wish all my debts collected, and after taking what is necessary to send all my slaves away and all their future increase, and making provisions for them as above directed.
Fifthly, I give my niece Eliza Wright the sum of one hundred dollars. Sixthly I leave in trust in the hands of my Exors the sum of one hundred dollars, the interest of which as guarantee annually to the circuit preacher who may hereafter preach at Rodes church.
Item Seventh I will that after taking money enough to send my said slaves away and making ample and plentiful provisions for them after they get to Liberia, and after paying the three special legacies above named together with all my past debts, the balance of my estate if any I wish divided equally between my brothers and sisters.
Item eighth, I hereby constitute and appoint Wm H Turner and Rev John Hall sole executors of this my last will and testament. In witness whereof I hereunto set my hand and affix my seal this twenty eighth day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty eight.
Nicholas Dettor (seal)
The above instrument consisting of one sheet was now here subscribed by Nicholas Dettor the Testator in the presence of each of us, and was at the same time declared by him to be his last will and testament and we at his request signed our names hereto as attesting witnesses.
Chas P Rodes
Chas Rodes
Joseph Dettor
Cyrus McCaul
Whereas I Nicholas Dettor of Nelson County Virginia have made my last will and testament, writing bearing date on the 28th of October 1856, now I do by this writing, which I declare to be a codicil to my said will, to be taken as a part thereof will and direct that as soon after my death as may be convenient that my Exors shall sell all my real estate the place on which I now reside containing one hundred and sixty acres and the place I bought of Sobban containing ninety four acres and empower them to make a good & sufficient title thereto the terms of the sale to be as directed in the [illegible] of my will, also they shall sell all my perishable property of every subscription except my buggy and one horse named Morgan which I give to my dear wife, and one bed & furniture and what else she may need out of the house to make her comfortable, all the balance of my property to be sold (except my negroes) and it is understood and directed that my said wife shall live with Thomas Sobban who married her sister and my Exors are to see that all her necessities are supplied and paid out of my estate, and they or either of them are expected to act in the capacity of Guardian for my dear wife. The sale of the perishable property at mine [illegible]. The object of the codicil is to make arrangements to send my negroes away as soon after my death as practicable believing it would be better for them and also for my dear wife, and while they are detained here I want them hired out where they will be well taken care of, Maria to stay with my wife until the arrangements can be made to send them away. I want Thom’s Sobban to be well paid for keeping my wife, I will that my Exors pay fifteen dollars toward enclosing the grave of my father and mother, and the same amount toward enclosing the grave where my wife’s father & mother are buried. I want Fanny to stay with Eliza Wright until she is sent away free of hire. In witness whereof I hereunto set my hand and affix my seal this the fourth day of November eighteen hundred and fifty six.
Nicholas Dettor (seal)
The above instrument of one sheet was at the date thereof declared to us by the testator Nicholas Dettor to be a codicil to be annexed to his last will & testament & he acknowledges to each of us that he has subscribed the same and we at his request sign our names thereto as attesting witnesses.
Cyrus McCue
Cha’s P Rodes
John Shirly
I Nicholas Dettor of Nelson County Virginia do hereby make and constitute this additional codicil to my last will and testament viz. I will and hereby appoint Thomas Sobban (in the place of Rev. John Hall) to act with Wm H Turner as sole Exors of my last will & testament. In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand & affix my seal this twenty second of Nov eighteen hundred & fifty six.
Witness Nicholas Dettor (seal)
Tho’s Sobban
Cha’s P. Rodes
At a court held for Nelson County the 22nd day of December 1859. This instrument of writing purporting to be the last will and testament of Nicholas Dettor was this day presented in court and proven by the oaths of Chas Rodes and Chas P Rodes and also a codicil was proven by the oaths of John Shirley and Chas P Rodes and also a second codicil thereto was proven by the oaths of Chas P. Rodes and Thomas Sobban, the both subscribing witnesses thereto, and ordered to be recorded. And on the motion of William H. Turner and Thomas Sobban the Exors therein who made oath according to law and together with William Hayes, Hugh Foster, and Moses Fitzpatrick, Chas Rodes and Tho Davis, their securities entered into and acknowledged their bond in the penalty of twenty thousand dollars, conditioned according to law. Certificate is granted them for obtaining probate of said will, in due form of law.
Thos J Massie Clerk
CM Lansing DC"
Item second, I will that all my slaves after the death of my said wife, be set free, and hereby direct my Exors to take the necessary steps to send them to Liberia, and furnish money sufficient not only to send them to Liberia, but to support them after they get there for a reasonable time, and wish my Exors to ascertain what their necessities will be after they get there and send a plenty to make them comfortable.
Item Third, I will that after the death of my dear wife my Exors shall sell all of my real estate, viz. the place on which I now live and also the Sobban place on the following terms, one third in cash and the balance in two equal payments, the first in six and the balance in twelve months from the day of sale, also they shall sell all my perishable property, and the presents thereof they shall apply, or as much thereof as may be required to send my said slaves to Liberia, and if this shall be insufficient, they shall collect other monies for that purpose. I wish after the death of my wife that my said slaves be hired out where they will be well taken care of until the proper arrangements can be made to send them away as above directed.
Item fourth, I will that my Exors keep my money [illegible] as it now is, and collect the interest annually and lend that out, and keep all the debts well secured until after the death of my wife, and then I wish all my debts collected, and after taking what is necessary to send all my slaves away and all their future increase, and making provisions for them as above directed.
Fifthly, I give my niece Eliza Wright the sum of one hundred dollars. Sixthly I leave in trust in the hands of my Exors the sum of one hundred dollars, the interest of which as guarantee annually to the circuit preacher who may hereafter preach at Rodes church.
Item Seventh I will that after taking money enough to send my said slaves away and making ample and plentiful provisions for them after they get to Liberia, and after paying the three special legacies above named together with all my past debts, the balance of my estate if any I wish divided equally between my brothers and sisters.
Item eighth, I hereby constitute and appoint Wm H Turner and Rev John Hall sole executors of this my last will and testament. In witness whereof I hereunto set my hand and affix my seal this twenty eighth day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty eight.
Nicholas Dettor (seal)
The above instrument consisting of one sheet was now here subscribed by Nicholas Dettor the Testator in the presence of each of us, and was at the same time declared by him to be his last will and testament and we at his request signed our names hereto as attesting witnesses.
Chas P Rodes
Chas Rodes
Joseph Dettor
Cyrus McCaul
Whereas I Nicholas Dettor of Nelson County Virginia have made my last will and testament, writing bearing date on the 28th of October 1856, now I do by this writing, which I declare to be a codicil to my said will, to be taken as a part thereof will and direct that as soon after my death as may be convenient that my Exors shall sell all my real estate the place on which I now reside containing one hundred and sixty acres and the place I bought of Sobban containing ninety four acres and empower them to make a good & sufficient title thereto the terms of the sale to be as directed in the [illegible] of my will, also they shall sell all my perishable property of every subscription except my buggy and one horse named Morgan which I give to my dear wife, and one bed & furniture and what else she may need out of the house to make her comfortable, all the balance of my property to be sold (except my negroes) and it is understood and directed that my said wife shall live with Thomas Sobban who married her sister and my Exors are to see that all her necessities are supplied and paid out of my estate, and they or either of them are expected to act in the capacity of Guardian for my dear wife. The sale of the perishable property at mine [illegible]. The object of the codicil is to make arrangements to send my negroes away as soon after my death as practicable believing it would be better for them and also for my dear wife, and while they are detained here I want them hired out where they will be well taken care of, Maria to stay with my wife until the arrangements can be made to send them away. I want Thom’s Sobban to be well paid for keeping my wife, I will that my Exors pay fifteen dollars toward enclosing the grave of my father and mother, and the same amount toward enclosing the grave where my wife’s father & mother are buried. I want Fanny to stay with Eliza Wright until she is sent away free of hire. In witness whereof I hereunto set my hand and affix my seal this the fourth day of November eighteen hundred and fifty six.
Nicholas Dettor (seal)
The above instrument of one sheet was at the date thereof declared to us by the testator Nicholas Dettor to be a codicil to be annexed to his last will & testament & he acknowledges to each of us that he has subscribed the same and we at his request sign our names thereto as attesting witnesses.
Cyrus McCue
Cha’s P Rodes
John Shirly
I Nicholas Dettor of Nelson County Virginia do hereby make and constitute this additional codicil to my last will and testament viz. I will and hereby appoint Thomas Sobban (in the place of Rev. John Hall) to act with Wm H Turner as sole Exors of my last will & testament. In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand & affix my seal this twenty second of Nov eighteen hundred & fifty six.
Witness Nicholas Dettor (seal)
Tho’s Sobban
Cha’s P. Rodes
At a court held for Nelson County the 22nd day of December 1859. This instrument of writing purporting to be the last will and testament of Nicholas Dettor was this day presented in court and proven by the oaths of Chas Rodes and Chas P Rodes and also a codicil was proven by the oaths of John Shirley and Chas P Rodes and also a second codicil thereto was proven by the oaths of Chas P. Rodes and Thomas Sobban, the both subscribing witnesses thereto, and ordered to be recorded. And on the motion of William H. Turner and Thomas Sobban the Exors therein who made oath according to law and together with William Hayes, Hugh Foster, and Moses Fitzpatrick, Chas Rodes and Tho Davis, their securities entered into and acknowledged their bond in the penalty of twenty thousand dollars, conditioned according to law. Certificate is granted them for obtaining probate of said will, in due form of law.
Thos J Massie Clerk
CM Lansing DC"
Record Location
WB K:93
Document Type
Last Will & Testament
Notes
Need to reference account inventory info to ascertain names and ages of manumitted individuals
Files
Collection
Citation
“1859 - Dettor to all slaves - Nelson Co, VA,” Manumission Project, accessed January 15, 2025, https://manumissionproject.omeka.net/items/show/1734.