1856 - Watson to unnamed individuals - Prince Edward Co, VA
Manumission Item Data Item Type Metadata
Date
08/13/1856
Manumitter
Manumitted
Number of Persons
unknown
Text of Freedom Document
I John Watson of Prince Edward County, State of Virginia, being of sound mind and memory, do make and ordain this my last will and testament, revoking all other will made by me, in manner and form following, to wit: Item 1st, I will and direct that my Executors hereinafter named pay all my just debts out of any money which I may have on hand at the time of my death.
Item 2nd. I give and bequeath to John Bondurant, John Watson son of Littleberry Watson, and John Watson, son of Allen Watson, all of my household and table furniture, to be equally divided amongst them. Also my two shot guns, and the one who does not get a gun, to have twenty dollars in the place of one.
Item 3rd. I give and bequeath to my sister Martha Love the whole of the debt due to me from her late husband Chappell Love.
Item 4th I give and bequeath to my sister Sally Bondurant all the monies I paid for or interest I have in the land on which she now lives, being the land purchased of [blank] Scott by Allen Watson and myself, the title of the said land was made to Allen Watson.
Item 5th I do hereby give to all my slaves their freedom, to take place as soon after my death as suitable arrangements can be made by my executors, for their removal to the Colony of Liberia, as herein after directed, and my said slaves to be subject to the management and control of my executors until placed on board of a vessel for Liberia.
Item 6th I will and direct that all of my lands in the counties of Charlotte and Prince Edward be divided into six equal parts, and one part thereof I give to my brother Littleberry Watson, and one part to be brother Allen Watson, and one part to my sister, Sally Bondurant and one part to my sister Nancy Allen and one part to my sister Martha Love, and the remaining sixth part I give to four of my brothers Benjamin Watson’s children to wit: Louisiana, Samuel, Elizabeth, and James, and if either of the children of my said Brother Benjamin should die without an heir, the portion falling to each child, shall be equally divided between their brothers and sisters as above named. And I direct that my lands shall not be given up to my brothers and sisters nor their children until my slaves shall be removed off as directed in this will.
Item 7th I will and direct that my executors sell as soon after my death as they may think it advisable, all of my crop, stock, plantation tools and all other property which I may own at the time of my death, and which has not been specifically given away in the foregoing part of this will, and the money arising from such sale together with all money which may be due me by bonds or otherwise be used by my executors in paying the expenses of my slaves to the Colony of Liberia, and the balance of said money to be paid to my slaves for their comfort after reaching Liberia in the following manner; all my slaves over the age of fifteen years to receive their equal portion of said fund at the time of leaving the United States, and all under the age of fifteen years shall have their portion paid to their nearest relations who will most likely take care of it for their benefit.
Item 8th. I will that my executors be allowed ten percent commissions for winding up my estate and sending my slaves off to Liberia, and that they shall not be required to give security for the faithful performance of their duties.
Item 9th. I do hereby constitute and appoint my friends Robert . Smith and Joseph Dupry executors of this my last will and testament. As witness my hand and seal this twenty second day of September in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty four.
John Watson (seal)
Witness
Wm. D. Nowell
Wm. W. Watkins
James M. Jackson
I John Watson of Prince Edward County, State of Virginia being of sound mind do hereby annex this codicil and desire the same to be taken as a part of my will made and executed the 22nd of September in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred and fifty four. I direct that William F. Scott be added as one of my Executors. Given under my hand and seal this 24th October eighteen hundred and fifty four.
Witness John Watson (seal)
Edward F. Booker
James M. Booker
At a circuit court held for Prince Edward County the 13th day of August 1856. This writing purporting to be the last will and testament of John Watson dec’d offered for probate by Robert J. Smith was presented in court for proof, and same as well the said Robert J. Smith as Littleberry Watson, Sally J. Bondurant, Martha Love, Nancy Allen, David Lee, and Elizabeth his wife, Louisiana Watson, Robert Shackleton and Mary Ann his wife, who opposed the probate of said writing by their attornies, and came also a jury to wit: Francis H. Scott, Thomas H. Almand, Robert M. Owen, Stephen Farrar, William H. Anderson, Pleasant Hubbard, Charles A. Price, James Venable, A.D. Chockley, Edward Scott, Edward H. Bass, and Samuel S. Baker, who being sworn well and truly to inquire whether the paper offered for proof by Robert J. Smith is the true last will of John Watson dec’d and having fully heard the testimony, upon their oath returned a verdict in these words: “We of the jury find that the paper offered for proof by Robert J. Smith is the true last will of John Watson dec’d”. Whereupon the court upon the verdict of the jury, and upon the testimony, and examination of William D. Nowell and William W. Watkins two witnesses to said will, who proved that John Watson the testator acknowledged the said will before them, both being present at the same time, and that they subscribed their names as witnesses in his presence, and upon the examination of Edward F. Booker and James M. Booker two witnesses to the codicil annexed to said will, who proved that John Watson the testator acknowledged said codicil before them both being present at the same time, and that they subscribed their names as witnesses in his presence; doth order that the said will and codicil being the paper offered for proof by Robert J. Smith be recorded as the true last will of John Watson dec’d. William F. Scott named in the said codicil as an executor, in court, refuses to take upon himself the burden of the execution of said will and relinquishes his right to qualify; and on the motion of Robert J. Smith and Joseph Dupry executors in said will named, no security being required by the said will they entered into and acknowledged their bond for the purpose in the penalty of eighty thousand dollars, conditioned according to law, and took the oath required by law, certificate for obtaining a probate thereof in due form is granted them.
Teste,
B.J. Worsham C.C.
Item 2nd. I give and bequeath to John Bondurant, John Watson son of Littleberry Watson, and John Watson, son of Allen Watson, all of my household and table furniture, to be equally divided amongst them. Also my two shot guns, and the one who does not get a gun, to have twenty dollars in the place of one.
Item 3rd. I give and bequeath to my sister Martha Love the whole of the debt due to me from her late husband Chappell Love.
Item 4th I give and bequeath to my sister Sally Bondurant all the monies I paid for or interest I have in the land on which she now lives, being the land purchased of [blank] Scott by Allen Watson and myself, the title of the said land was made to Allen Watson.
Item 5th I do hereby give to all my slaves their freedom, to take place as soon after my death as suitable arrangements can be made by my executors, for their removal to the Colony of Liberia, as herein after directed, and my said slaves to be subject to the management and control of my executors until placed on board of a vessel for Liberia.
Item 6th I will and direct that all of my lands in the counties of Charlotte and Prince Edward be divided into six equal parts, and one part thereof I give to my brother Littleberry Watson, and one part to be brother Allen Watson, and one part to my sister, Sally Bondurant and one part to my sister Nancy Allen and one part to my sister Martha Love, and the remaining sixth part I give to four of my brothers Benjamin Watson’s children to wit: Louisiana, Samuel, Elizabeth, and James, and if either of the children of my said Brother Benjamin should die without an heir, the portion falling to each child, shall be equally divided between their brothers and sisters as above named. And I direct that my lands shall not be given up to my brothers and sisters nor their children until my slaves shall be removed off as directed in this will.
Item 7th I will and direct that my executors sell as soon after my death as they may think it advisable, all of my crop, stock, plantation tools and all other property which I may own at the time of my death, and which has not been specifically given away in the foregoing part of this will, and the money arising from such sale together with all money which may be due me by bonds or otherwise be used by my executors in paying the expenses of my slaves to the Colony of Liberia, and the balance of said money to be paid to my slaves for their comfort after reaching Liberia in the following manner; all my slaves over the age of fifteen years to receive their equal portion of said fund at the time of leaving the United States, and all under the age of fifteen years shall have their portion paid to their nearest relations who will most likely take care of it for their benefit.
Item 8th. I will that my executors be allowed ten percent commissions for winding up my estate and sending my slaves off to Liberia, and that they shall not be required to give security for the faithful performance of their duties.
Item 9th. I do hereby constitute and appoint my friends Robert . Smith and Joseph Dupry executors of this my last will and testament. As witness my hand and seal this twenty second day of September in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty four.
John Watson (seal)
Witness
Wm. D. Nowell
Wm. W. Watkins
James M. Jackson
I John Watson of Prince Edward County, State of Virginia being of sound mind do hereby annex this codicil and desire the same to be taken as a part of my will made and executed the 22nd of September in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred and fifty four. I direct that William F. Scott be added as one of my Executors. Given under my hand and seal this 24th October eighteen hundred and fifty four.
Witness John Watson (seal)
Edward F. Booker
James M. Booker
At a circuit court held for Prince Edward County the 13th day of August 1856. This writing purporting to be the last will and testament of John Watson dec’d offered for probate by Robert J. Smith was presented in court for proof, and same as well the said Robert J. Smith as Littleberry Watson, Sally J. Bondurant, Martha Love, Nancy Allen, David Lee, and Elizabeth his wife, Louisiana Watson, Robert Shackleton and Mary Ann his wife, who opposed the probate of said writing by their attornies, and came also a jury to wit: Francis H. Scott, Thomas H. Almand, Robert M. Owen, Stephen Farrar, William H. Anderson, Pleasant Hubbard, Charles A. Price, James Venable, A.D. Chockley, Edward Scott, Edward H. Bass, and Samuel S. Baker, who being sworn well and truly to inquire whether the paper offered for proof by Robert J. Smith is the true last will of John Watson dec’d and having fully heard the testimony, upon their oath returned a verdict in these words: “We of the jury find that the paper offered for proof by Robert J. Smith is the true last will of John Watson dec’d”. Whereupon the court upon the verdict of the jury, and upon the testimony, and examination of William D. Nowell and William W. Watkins two witnesses to said will, who proved that John Watson the testator acknowledged the said will before them, both being present at the same time, and that they subscribed their names as witnesses in his presence, and upon the examination of Edward F. Booker and James M. Booker two witnesses to the codicil annexed to said will, who proved that John Watson the testator acknowledged said codicil before them both being present at the same time, and that they subscribed their names as witnesses in his presence; doth order that the said will and codicil being the paper offered for proof by Robert J. Smith be recorded as the true last will of John Watson dec’d. William F. Scott named in the said codicil as an executor, in court, refuses to take upon himself the burden of the execution of said will and relinquishes his right to qualify; and on the motion of Robert J. Smith and Joseph Dupry executors in said will named, no security being required by the said will they entered into and acknowledged their bond for the purpose in the penalty of eighty thousand dollars, conditioned according to law, and took the oath required by law, certificate for obtaining a probate thereof in due form is granted them.
Teste,
B.J. Worsham C.C.
Record Location
District Court WB:67
Document Type
Last Will & Testament
Notes
to be relocated to Liberia
Files
Collection
Citation
“1856 - Watson to unnamed individuals - Prince Edward Co, VA,” Manumission Project, accessed January 15, 2025, https://manumissionproject.omeka.net/items/show/1873.