1841 - Ross to Maria - Dinwiddie Co, VA
Manumission Item Data Item Type Metadata
Date
04/19/1841
Manumitter
Manumitted
Number of Persons
1
Text of Freedom Document
In the name of God Amen. I William Ross of the County of Dinwiddie do hereby make, constitute and ordain this to be my last will & testament in manner and form following to wit:
1st My will and desire is that all my just debts be first paid.
2ndly I hereby emancipate, liberate, set free and forever release from slavery a negro woman named Maria, formerly of the estate of Armistead Capels deceased, which I purchased from Amelia Pritchell, and I do furthermore give unto the said negro woman Maria the sum of one hundred dollars for the purpose of removing to a free state. My reason for this act is that Sally and Rebecca Capels at the time they made their last wills requested that I should purchase the said slave from whoever she should fall into the hands of, and at my death set her free and bequeath to use certain property to intending use for that purpose, which was provided on my part.
3rdly I give unto my brother in law William H. Cousins my watch and sleeve buttons, also my gig and Charles mare to him & his heirs forever.
4thly I give and bequeath to my niece Caroline Hardaway the following slave to wit. Luke and his wife [?Courala?] and their child Henry with the future increase of the said [?Courala?], to her and her heirs forever.
5thly I give and bequeath to my niece Pamelia A. Hardaway a negro woman by the name of Alsey and her two children also a negro boy by the name of Jesse now at Butterwood plantation, to her and her heirs forever.
6thly I give and bequeath to my wife Mary S Ross all my lands wherever the same may be situated, and also all the residue and remainder or balance of my negroes I give and bequeath unto my said wife, to her and her heirs forever. And I also give and bequeath unto my said wife Mary S Ross all the residue or balance of my estate of every description and denomination whatsoever to her and her heirs forever.
And lastly I do hereby nominate and appoint my wife Mary S. Ross Executrix and my brother in law William H. Cousins executor to this my last will and testament, requesting that the court will permit them to qualify as such without requiring security of either of them.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal to this my last will and testament, the whole of which is written in my own proper hand writing this 15th day of October one thousand eight hundred and thirty nine.
W Ross (seal)
At a court held for Dinwiddie County on the 15th day of March 1841.
This writing purporting to be the last will and testament of Wiliam Ross deceased, was produced in court and there being no subscribing witness thereto, Edward L. Pegram, David May, Alfred J. Vaughan and Francis Meredith were sworn and severally deposed, that they are well acquainted with the testator hand writing, and verily believe the said writing and the name thereto subscribed, to be wholly written by the testator’s own hand. Whereupon the said writing is ordered to be recorded as the true last will and testament of the said William Ross deceased.
And at another court held for the said County on the 19th day of April 1841 on the motion of Mary S. Ross Executrix named in the will, who made oath thereto according to law, and entered into bond in the penalty of one hundred thousand dollars conditioned as the law directs, certificate is granted her for obtaining a probate of the said will in due form.
Teste,
Jn P. Crump CC
1st My will and desire is that all my just debts be first paid.
2ndly I hereby emancipate, liberate, set free and forever release from slavery a negro woman named Maria, formerly of the estate of Armistead Capels deceased, which I purchased from Amelia Pritchell, and I do furthermore give unto the said negro woman Maria the sum of one hundred dollars for the purpose of removing to a free state. My reason for this act is that Sally and Rebecca Capels at the time they made their last wills requested that I should purchase the said slave from whoever she should fall into the hands of, and at my death set her free and bequeath to use certain property to intending use for that purpose, which was provided on my part.
3rdly I give unto my brother in law William H. Cousins my watch and sleeve buttons, also my gig and Charles mare to him & his heirs forever.
4thly I give and bequeath to my niece Caroline Hardaway the following slave to wit. Luke and his wife [?Courala?] and their child Henry with the future increase of the said [?Courala?], to her and her heirs forever.
5thly I give and bequeath to my niece Pamelia A. Hardaway a negro woman by the name of Alsey and her two children also a negro boy by the name of Jesse now at Butterwood plantation, to her and her heirs forever.
6thly I give and bequeath to my wife Mary S Ross all my lands wherever the same may be situated, and also all the residue and remainder or balance of my negroes I give and bequeath unto my said wife, to her and her heirs forever. And I also give and bequeath unto my said wife Mary S Ross all the residue or balance of my estate of every description and denomination whatsoever to her and her heirs forever.
And lastly I do hereby nominate and appoint my wife Mary S. Ross Executrix and my brother in law William H. Cousins executor to this my last will and testament, requesting that the court will permit them to qualify as such without requiring security of either of them.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal to this my last will and testament, the whole of which is written in my own proper hand writing this 15th day of October one thousand eight hundred and thirty nine.
W Ross (seal)
At a court held for Dinwiddie County on the 15th day of March 1841.
This writing purporting to be the last will and testament of Wiliam Ross deceased, was produced in court and there being no subscribing witness thereto, Edward L. Pegram, David May, Alfred J. Vaughan and Francis Meredith were sworn and severally deposed, that they are well acquainted with the testator hand writing, and verily believe the said writing and the name thereto subscribed, to be wholly written by the testator’s own hand. Whereupon the said writing is ordered to be recorded as the true last will and testament of the said William Ross deceased.
And at another court held for the said County on the 19th day of April 1841 on the motion of Mary S. Ross Executrix named in the will, who made oath thereto according to law, and entered into bond in the penalty of one hundred thousand dollars conditioned as the law directs, certificate is granted her for obtaining a probate of the said will in due form.
Teste,
Jn P. Crump CC
Record Location
WB 3:77
Document Type
Last Will & Testament
Files
Collection
Citation
“1841 - Ross to Maria - Dinwiddie Co, VA,” Manumission Project, accessed January 15, 2025, https://manumissionproject.omeka.net/items/show/1751.