1851 - Mozingo to Washington - Rappahannock Co, VA
Manumission Item Data Item Type Metadata
Date
04/21/1851
Manumitter
Manumitted
Number of Persons
1+
Text of Freedom Document
In the name of God Amen I Benjamin Mozingo of the County of Rappahannock and State of Virginia being of sound mind and disposing memory do hereby declare this to be my last will and testament. In the first place it is my desire that my funeral expenses and all my just debts shall be first paid after my death.
Secondly It is my wish after my death that the land I own shall be farmed as it is now by my wife during her natural life and that all the negroes that can be done without on the farm shall be hired out, out of which together with the proceeds arising from the farm that she is to have an ample support during her natural life at her death I give to John Utz (my nephew who is now living with me) the whole of the land I own together with all the other personal property that may be on hand except my negroes which I shall hereinafter dispose of the legacy I leave John Utz. I do not wish him to be possessed of until he is twenty one years old but to remain in the management of my executor until that time unless in the view of my executors he may consider it necessary to advance him something to aid him in getting in business.
3rd My negro man Washington I wish liberate at my death or so soon as it may be practicable to furnish him with the sum of twenty dollars to pay the expenses in part of getting him to a free state which I wish my Executor to attend to for me, if I should die in the winter season I prefer Washington should not be started until spring.
Fourthly, I give to my sisters Margarette & Suzy Williamson during their natural lives a negro girl slave named Frances at the death I give a life estate to my brother Linus in said slaves to be held in trust by Jos. Reed for the benefit of my brother Linus’ children together with all the increase of the said girl Frances to have forever.
Fifthly, I give to my brother Linus Williamson the sum of one hundred dollars fifty dollars to be paid at my death & the residue at the death of my wife.
Sixthly, the balance of my negroes I wish to free them & want them sent to a free state & wish my Executors at the death of my wife to hire the negroes out until a fund sufficient can be raised to equip them and pay their expenses to a free state.
Seventhly, I do hereby constitute and appoint my friend Joseph Reid my Executor and in consideration of the troubles he may be at in executing this will I want three disinterested persons to say what shall be allowed said Reid for his services and that sum to be paid him from the hire of my negroes. As witness my hand & seal this the 17th day of September 1849.
Atteste Benjamin Mozingo (seal)
Elijah Setila
James M Woodard
Jos. Reid
In Rappahannock Circuit Court 21st of April 1851
This last will and testament of Benjmain Mozingo dec’d was this day produced to the court proved according to law by the oaths of Joseph Reid and James M Woodard two of the subscribing witnesses thereto and ordered to be recorded. And on the motion of Joseph Reid the Executor therein named who made oath thereto and together with William Walden his security (who justified on oath as to his sufficiency) entered into and acknowledged a bond in the penalty of $10000 conditioned as the law directs certificate is granted him for obtaining a probate of the said will in due form.
Teste, W J Menefee CC
Secondly It is my wish after my death that the land I own shall be farmed as it is now by my wife during her natural life and that all the negroes that can be done without on the farm shall be hired out, out of which together with the proceeds arising from the farm that she is to have an ample support during her natural life at her death I give to John Utz (my nephew who is now living with me) the whole of the land I own together with all the other personal property that may be on hand except my negroes which I shall hereinafter dispose of the legacy I leave John Utz. I do not wish him to be possessed of until he is twenty one years old but to remain in the management of my executor until that time unless in the view of my executors he may consider it necessary to advance him something to aid him in getting in business.
3rd My negro man Washington I wish liberate at my death or so soon as it may be practicable to furnish him with the sum of twenty dollars to pay the expenses in part of getting him to a free state which I wish my Executor to attend to for me, if I should die in the winter season I prefer Washington should not be started until spring.
Fourthly, I give to my sisters Margarette & Suzy Williamson during their natural lives a negro girl slave named Frances at the death I give a life estate to my brother Linus in said slaves to be held in trust by Jos. Reed for the benefit of my brother Linus’ children together with all the increase of the said girl Frances to have forever.
Fifthly, I give to my brother Linus Williamson the sum of one hundred dollars fifty dollars to be paid at my death & the residue at the death of my wife.
Sixthly, the balance of my negroes I wish to free them & want them sent to a free state & wish my Executors at the death of my wife to hire the negroes out until a fund sufficient can be raised to equip them and pay their expenses to a free state.
Seventhly, I do hereby constitute and appoint my friend Joseph Reid my Executor and in consideration of the troubles he may be at in executing this will I want three disinterested persons to say what shall be allowed said Reid for his services and that sum to be paid him from the hire of my negroes. As witness my hand & seal this the 17th day of September 1849.
Atteste Benjamin Mozingo (seal)
Elijah Setila
James M Woodard
Jos. Reid
In Rappahannock Circuit Court 21st of April 1851
This last will and testament of Benjmain Mozingo dec’d was this day produced to the court proved according to law by the oaths of Joseph Reid and James M Woodard two of the subscribing witnesses thereto and ordered to be recorded. And on the motion of Joseph Reid the Executor therein named who made oath thereto and together with William Walden his security (who justified on oath as to his sufficiency) entered into and acknowledged a bond in the penalty of $10000 conditioned as the law directs certificate is granted him for obtaining a probate of the said will in due form.
Teste, W J Menefee CC
Record Location
WB H:44
Document Type
Last Will & Testament
Notes
must examine account & estate inventory to ascertain names and number of individuals to be free
Files
Collection
Citation
“1851 - Mozingo to Washington - Rappahannock Co, VA,” Manumission Project, accessed January 15, 2025, https://manumissionproject.omeka.net/items/show/2005.