1799 - Campbell to Caesar - Wythe Co, VA
Manumission Item Data Item Type Metadata
Date
10/09/1799
Manumitter
Manumitted
Number of Persons
1
Text of Freedom Document
In the name of God Amen.
I James Campbell of Wythe County think proper to make my will. I submit my soul in hopes of mercy, set my body be bury, & according to the discretion of my Executors. All my estate real & personal I devise to my dear wife, Mary, and my friends Francis Preston, Arthur Campbell, and Stephen Sanders Gentlemen; In trust for the purposes following, I order that my just debts be paid. The remaining part of my estate is to remain in the hands of my wife while she continues solely for the purpose of maintaining and educating my children out of the profits and least essential parts thereof.
And wherever any one of my children shall come to full age, or shall marry, which ever shall first happen, it is my will that my Executors shall make an estimate of my personal estate, and give to that child a part, that is allowing one part for each child, and one for my wife, and the child so advanced shall have no further claim to any share of my personal estate. In the like manner whenever any other child shall come to full age or marry, a share of the residue of my personal estate, in kind shall be laid off for such child, estimating a part for my wife and for each remaining child, within age and unmarried. And if my wife should think proper to marry, a like share shall be laid off for her as is provided for a child marrying, or attaining full age; and upon such marriage of my wife taking effect, her power and authority under this my will as trustee, executrix, and testamentary guardian, shall cease and wholly determine; and she shall not thereof have the authority and care of any of my children, and the powers given her hereby shall remain in my other executors, in like manner as if she was naturally dead and the said powers had survived to them. And I further order that upon the death, or marriage of my wife, my real estate (whereon I now reside and contiguous) shall be sold by my remaining Executors, and the proceeds distributed equally to all my children then surviving. All other real estate belonging to me (except the lands whereon I now reside and contiguous) shall be immediately sold & the proceeds thereof apply, & in aid of my personal estate to payment of debts; and shall be liable to the same distribution as in the proceeding part of this my last will and testament is directed. It is my will that the powers hereby committed to my dear wife Mary & Francis Preston, Arthur Campbell, and Stephen Sanders, Gentlemen, shall vest only in such of them as shall take upon them the burden of the execution of this my last will & testament, of which I constitute and appoint them Executors and to whom as guardians I commit the custody and tuition of my children while within age and unmarried. I also authorize my Executors at the death of my dear wife, to emancipate my servant Caesar if in their opinion he has behaved towards her dutifully and with fidelity. I most earnestly entreat Executors that they will extend their friendship and protection to my infant family; and that they will attend to the education of my sons, according to their capacities, and inclinations. It is to them my children must look up when I am no more for the care and love of a father. In testimony that this and this only is my last will & testament, I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 30th day of March 1799.
Signed, sealed and published by James Campbell (seal)
the Testator in my presence who
have attended the same at his request
in his presence and in the presence of each other
Alexander Amy
William Glover
Hezakiah Cheney
At a court continued and held for the county of Wythe the 9th day of October 1799. This last will and testament of James Campbell deceased was proven in court by the oaths of William Glover and Hezekiah Cheney witnesses thereto and ordered to be recorded.
Teste,
R. Crockett Clk
I James Campbell of Wythe County think proper to make my will. I submit my soul in hopes of mercy, set my body be bury, & according to the discretion of my Executors. All my estate real & personal I devise to my dear wife, Mary, and my friends Francis Preston, Arthur Campbell, and Stephen Sanders Gentlemen; In trust for the purposes following, I order that my just debts be paid. The remaining part of my estate is to remain in the hands of my wife while she continues solely for the purpose of maintaining and educating my children out of the profits and least essential parts thereof.
And wherever any one of my children shall come to full age, or shall marry, which ever shall first happen, it is my will that my Executors shall make an estimate of my personal estate, and give to that child a part, that is allowing one part for each child, and one for my wife, and the child so advanced shall have no further claim to any share of my personal estate. In the like manner whenever any other child shall come to full age or marry, a share of the residue of my personal estate, in kind shall be laid off for such child, estimating a part for my wife and for each remaining child, within age and unmarried. And if my wife should think proper to marry, a like share shall be laid off for her as is provided for a child marrying, or attaining full age; and upon such marriage of my wife taking effect, her power and authority under this my will as trustee, executrix, and testamentary guardian, shall cease and wholly determine; and she shall not thereof have the authority and care of any of my children, and the powers given her hereby shall remain in my other executors, in like manner as if she was naturally dead and the said powers had survived to them. And I further order that upon the death, or marriage of my wife, my real estate (whereon I now reside and contiguous) shall be sold by my remaining Executors, and the proceeds distributed equally to all my children then surviving. All other real estate belonging to me (except the lands whereon I now reside and contiguous) shall be immediately sold & the proceeds thereof apply, & in aid of my personal estate to payment of debts; and shall be liable to the same distribution as in the proceeding part of this my last will and testament is directed. It is my will that the powers hereby committed to my dear wife Mary & Francis Preston, Arthur Campbell, and Stephen Sanders, Gentlemen, shall vest only in such of them as shall take upon them the burden of the execution of this my last will & testament, of which I constitute and appoint them Executors and to whom as guardians I commit the custody and tuition of my children while within age and unmarried. I also authorize my Executors at the death of my dear wife, to emancipate my servant Caesar if in their opinion he has behaved towards her dutifully and with fidelity. I most earnestly entreat Executors that they will extend their friendship and protection to my infant family; and that they will attend to the education of my sons, according to their capacities, and inclinations. It is to them my children must look up when I am no more for the care and love of a father. In testimony that this and this only is my last will & testament, I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 30th day of March 1799.
Signed, sealed and published by James Campbell (seal)
the Testator in my presence who
have attended the same at his request
in his presence and in the presence of each other
Alexander Amy
William Glover
Hezakiah Cheney
At a court continued and held for the county of Wythe the 9th day of October 1799. This last will and testament of James Campbell deceased was proven in court by the oaths of William Glover and Hezekiah Cheney witnesses thereto and ordered to be recorded.
Teste,
R. Crockett Clk
Record Location
WB 1:125
Document Type
Last Will & Testament
Files
Collection
Citation
“1799 - Campbell to Caesar - Wythe Co, VA,” Manumission Project, accessed November 13, 2025, https://manumissionproject.omeka.net/items/show/1969.