1858 - Mills to Neaty, et al - Henry Co, VA
Manumission Item Data Item Type Metadata
Date
09/12/1858
Manumitter
Number of Persons
7
Text of Freedom Document
In the name of God Amen. I William F Mills of the County of Henry and State of Virginia being advanced in life and of sound mind and disposing memory, do make and ordain this last will and testament in manner and form following to wit:
1st I desire that all my just debts, if there should be any outstanding against me at the time of my death, may be paid as speedily by my executors hereafter named as circumstances will permit.
2nd At my death I emancipate and forever set free all my slaves together with the future increase of the females thereof, to wit: Neaty a woman, Cynthia a woman, James a young man, John Quincy a young man, Green a boy, Nat Henry a boy, and Sallie a girl. And desire my Executors to conduct them to Liberia in Africa the first opportunity. In order that this portion of my will may be carried into full effect, I direct my Executors out of the first monies that may come into their hands to apply the sum of six hundred dollars towards employing some suitable person to take charge of and conduct said slaves to some post in the United States from whence they might sail to Liberia in Africa, and should any surplus money remain in his hands after paying all the expenses of their removal, I desire that the same may be equally divided among all my said slaves.
3rd It is my will and desire that all the estate both real and personal, slaves excepted, of which I may be possessed may be sold by my executors either for cash or on such credit as they may think most likely to insure a fair price and the real estate to be sold, to convey in fee simple to the purchaser or purchasers.
4th After the payment of all my just debts and the advancement divided to be made for the purpose of defraying the expense of my negroes removal to Liberia in Africa, I desire that all the residue of monies that may remain in the hands of my executors arising from sale of land or from sales of perishable estate or from any other source may be equally divided and a moiety thereof paid over to the children of Pines Allen of Missouri by his second wife formerly Nancy Hughes share and share alike.
5th Out of the other moiety of my estate it is my will and desire that the sum of three hundred and fifty dollars be loaned out by my Executors to some responsible person to insure the repayment of the same when called for and the interest arising there from to pay over annually to my beloved sister Anstis Oakley during her life.
6th The residue of said moiety I give to the children of said sister Anstis Oakley to be equally divided between them according to the course prescribed by the statutes for the distribution the personal estates of interstates.
7th At the death of my sister Anstis Oakley it is my will and desire that the sum of three hundred and fifty dollars here before divided to be loaned out for her use and benefit during her life may in like manner be equally divided among her children according to the requirements of the said statute.
8th I do hereby constitute and appoint my friend William M Schoolfield and John Prenty Executors of this my last will and testament, hereby revoking all other or former wills by me heretofore made. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this 10th day of June 1853.
Signed sealed published & delivered in presence of Wm F Mills (seal)
Teste- E. Williams
Wm A. Dandridge
Alexander Reynolds
At a court held for Henry County 11th July 1858. The foregoing writing purporting to be the last will and testament of William F Mills dec’d was produced in court by William M Schoolfield and John Prenty the executors named in said will and offered for probate. Whereupon the motion of Francis Mills, Robert B Mills, William Mills, James Mills and Aaron Mills, they are made party defendants and this motion is continued till September court next at the said defendants cost.
And afterwards to wit at a court held for said county on the 12 day of September 1858 this day came the parties by their attorneys, and the court having heard the testimony of Elam Williams, William A Dandridge and Alexander Reynolds the subscribing witnesses to said will, as well as the testimony of various witnesses introduced by the defendants, it is considered by the court that the said testator William F Mills was at the time of executing the said will of sound mind and disposing memory, and that he was under no undue influence, and that the said will was executed according to the statutes of Va. It is therefore ordered that the said writing be record as and for the true last will and testament of the said William F. Mills dec’d.
And thereupon the motion of John Prenty and William M. Schoolfield the executors named in said will who made oath on such and together with Wm. A Dandridge, David Hedgpeth, and Elam Williams their securities entered into and acknowledged a bond the penalty of $8000 conditioned according to law. Certificate is granted them to obtain letters testamentary on the estate of said William F. Mills dec’d in due form.
Teste J Griggs Clk
1st I desire that all my just debts, if there should be any outstanding against me at the time of my death, may be paid as speedily by my executors hereafter named as circumstances will permit.
2nd At my death I emancipate and forever set free all my slaves together with the future increase of the females thereof, to wit: Neaty a woman, Cynthia a woman, James a young man, John Quincy a young man, Green a boy, Nat Henry a boy, and Sallie a girl. And desire my Executors to conduct them to Liberia in Africa the first opportunity. In order that this portion of my will may be carried into full effect, I direct my Executors out of the first monies that may come into their hands to apply the sum of six hundred dollars towards employing some suitable person to take charge of and conduct said slaves to some post in the United States from whence they might sail to Liberia in Africa, and should any surplus money remain in his hands after paying all the expenses of their removal, I desire that the same may be equally divided among all my said slaves.
3rd It is my will and desire that all the estate both real and personal, slaves excepted, of which I may be possessed may be sold by my executors either for cash or on such credit as they may think most likely to insure a fair price and the real estate to be sold, to convey in fee simple to the purchaser or purchasers.
4th After the payment of all my just debts and the advancement divided to be made for the purpose of defraying the expense of my negroes removal to Liberia in Africa, I desire that all the residue of monies that may remain in the hands of my executors arising from sale of land or from sales of perishable estate or from any other source may be equally divided and a moiety thereof paid over to the children of Pines Allen of Missouri by his second wife formerly Nancy Hughes share and share alike.
5th Out of the other moiety of my estate it is my will and desire that the sum of three hundred and fifty dollars be loaned out by my Executors to some responsible person to insure the repayment of the same when called for and the interest arising there from to pay over annually to my beloved sister Anstis Oakley during her life.
6th The residue of said moiety I give to the children of said sister Anstis Oakley to be equally divided between them according to the course prescribed by the statutes for the distribution the personal estates of interstates.
7th At the death of my sister Anstis Oakley it is my will and desire that the sum of three hundred and fifty dollars here before divided to be loaned out for her use and benefit during her life may in like manner be equally divided among her children according to the requirements of the said statute.
8th I do hereby constitute and appoint my friend William M Schoolfield and John Prenty Executors of this my last will and testament, hereby revoking all other or former wills by me heretofore made. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this 10th day of June 1853.
Signed sealed published & delivered in presence of Wm F Mills (seal)
Teste- E. Williams
Wm A. Dandridge
Alexander Reynolds
At a court held for Henry County 11th July 1858. The foregoing writing purporting to be the last will and testament of William F Mills dec’d was produced in court by William M Schoolfield and John Prenty the executors named in said will and offered for probate. Whereupon the motion of Francis Mills, Robert B Mills, William Mills, James Mills and Aaron Mills, they are made party defendants and this motion is continued till September court next at the said defendants cost.
And afterwards to wit at a court held for said county on the 12 day of September 1858 this day came the parties by their attorneys, and the court having heard the testimony of Elam Williams, William A Dandridge and Alexander Reynolds the subscribing witnesses to said will, as well as the testimony of various witnesses introduced by the defendants, it is considered by the court that the said testator William F Mills was at the time of executing the said will of sound mind and disposing memory, and that he was under no undue influence, and that the said will was executed according to the statutes of Va. It is therefore ordered that the said writing be record as and for the true last will and testament of the said William F. Mills dec’d.
And thereupon the motion of John Prenty and William M. Schoolfield the executors named in said will who made oath on such and together with Wm. A Dandridge, David Hedgpeth, and Elam Williams their securities entered into and acknowledged a bond the penalty of $8000 conditioned according to law. Certificate is granted them to obtain letters testamentary on the estate of said William F. Mills dec’d in due form.
Teste J Griggs Clk
Record Location
WB 5:252
Document Type
Last Will & Testament
Notes
Estate to pay for transportation to Liberia
Files
Collection
Citation
“1858 - Mills to Neaty, et al - Henry Co, VA,” Manumission Project, accessed October 15, 2024, https://manumissionproject.omeka.net/items/show/1886.