1843 - Epes to unnamed slaves - Dinwiddie Co, VA
Manumission Item Data Item Type Metadata
Date
10/21/1844
Manumitter
Manumitted
Number of Persons
unclear
Text of Freedom Document
I Jas. Epes of Dinwiddie County to make & ordain this my last will & testament in manner and form following viz.
1st I give unto Albert Dabney the Cat-tail tract of land.
2nd I give unto William H. Brown grandson of Peter Epes the tract of land on gravelly Run together with the mill and its appurtenances and in consideration of the above gift of land and mill the said Wm H Brown is to pay the bond which I owe to William David and likewise to take care of and support clothe and keep them at home with him the three following old negroes Jac, Kepey, Chloe.
3rd The residue of my negroes with the exception of the three mentioned in the 2nd clause of this my last will I emancipate liberate and set free and I particularly request Setty’s children to take care of and support & clothe her and after the payment of my just debts if there should be balance enough to bear the expenses & send the negroes away either to a free state or Liberia (to which I would advise all of them to go) I direct my executor hereafter named to appropriate to that purpose the said balance & while he is settling up and collecting the debts I say that he must hire them all out to the best advantage privately or publicly so that they have good homes and the money arising from the hire to be applied to the benefit of their removal. This clause I request my executor hereafter named religiously to observe.
4th I give unto Albert Dabney my books and all accounts due by him to me & watch.
5th I give unto Mary Bott a sorrel horse called Rock.
6th I give unto Wm H Brown my grey horse named Prince.
Lastly I nominate & appoint Albert Dabney executor to this my last will and testament and request the County Court of Dinwiddie not to require security of him for his administration and I likewise leave it discretionary with him to sell the property not dispose of, either publicly or privately to the best advantage.
Written with my own hand & without the advice or consultation of any human being and signed with my seal this 5th day of August 1844.
Jas. Epes (seal)
At a court held for Dinwiddie County on the 21st day of October 1844. This writing purporting to be the last will and testament of James Epes dec’d was produced in court, in order to be proved and there being no subscribing witness thereto, John P. Crump and George W. Crump were sworn, and severally deposed that they are well acquainted with the testators hand writing and verily believe the same and the name thereto subscribed to be wholly written by the testators own hand. Whereupon, it is ordered that the said writing be recorded as the true last will and testament of the said James Epes deceased. And on the motion of Albert Dabney Executor therein named who made oath thereto, and entered into bond in the penalty of twenty thousand dollars conditioned as the law directs, certificate is granted him for obtaining a probate of the said will in due form.
Teste,
Jn. P. Crump CC
1st I give unto Albert Dabney the Cat-tail tract of land.
2nd I give unto William H. Brown grandson of Peter Epes the tract of land on gravelly Run together with the mill and its appurtenances and in consideration of the above gift of land and mill the said Wm H Brown is to pay the bond which I owe to William David and likewise to take care of and support clothe and keep them at home with him the three following old negroes Jac, Kepey, Chloe.
3rd The residue of my negroes with the exception of the three mentioned in the 2nd clause of this my last will I emancipate liberate and set free and I particularly request Setty’s children to take care of and support & clothe her and after the payment of my just debts if there should be balance enough to bear the expenses & send the negroes away either to a free state or Liberia (to which I would advise all of them to go) I direct my executor hereafter named to appropriate to that purpose the said balance & while he is settling up and collecting the debts I say that he must hire them all out to the best advantage privately or publicly so that they have good homes and the money arising from the hire to be applied to the benefit of their removal. This clause I request my executor hereafter named religiously to observe.
4th I give unto Albert Dabney my books and all accounts due by him to me & watch.
5th I give unto Mary Bott a sorrel horse called Rock.
6th I give unto Wm H Brown my grey horse named Prince.
Lastly I nominate & appoint Albert Dabney executor to this my last will and testament and request the County Court of Dinwiddie not to require security of him for his administration and I likewise leave it discretionary with him to sell the property not dispose of, either publicly or privately to the best advantage.
Written with my own hand & without the advice or consultation of any human being and signed with my seal this 5th day of August 1844.
Jas. Epes (seal)
At a court held for Dinwiddie County on the 21st day of October 1844. This writing purporting to be the last will and testament of James Epes dec’d was produced in court, in order to be proved and there being no subscribing witness thereto, John P. Crump and George W. Crump were sworn, and severally deposed that they are well acquainted with the testators hand writing and verily believe the same and the name thereto subscribed to be wholly written by the testators own hand. Whereupon, it is ordered that the said writing be recorded as the true last will and testament of the said James Epes deceased. And on the motion of Albert Dabney Executor therein named who made oath thereto, and entered into bond in the penalty of twenty thousand dollars conditioned as the law directs, certificate is granted him for obtaining a probate of the said will in due form.
Teste,
Jn. P. Crump CC
Record Location
WB 3:615
Document Type
Last Will & Testament
Files
Collection
Citation
“1843 - Epes to unnamed slaves - Dinwiddie Co, VA,” Manumission Project, accessed January 15, 2025, https://manumissionproject.omeka.net/items/show/1752.