1841 - Archer to James, et al - Chesterfield Co, VA
Manumission Item Data Item Type Metadata
Date
05/10/1841
Manumitter
Manumitted
Number of Persons
3
Text of Freedom Document
In the name of God Amen. I, Peter R. Archer, now of the County of Chesterfield in the State of Virginia, do hereby make my last will and testament, in manner and form following.
In the first place, I give and bequeath my two slaves Richard and Edwin to my sisters Fanny and Mary and my brother Bolivar Archer equally. And my desire is that the said slaves be not sold, but be hired out annually by the guardian of my said sisters and brother, or some trustee for them; and the annual hires be applied to their use and benefit equally, by such guardian or trustee, until the youngest of my said sisters & brother shall come of age.
Secondly, I give and bequeath to my step mother Mrs. Susan D. Archer the use of my man slave James for the term of five years, from the time of my death, upon condition that she pay into the hands of my executor hereafter named, one fifth of a reasonable hire for the said James annually: and provided further that if my said mother shall die or marry before the end of the said term of five years thereafter, her interest, and that of her representatives in the said slave James shall thereupon cease and determine. And I hereby direct that at the end of the said term of five years, or at the death or marriage of my said mother, within that period, the said slave James shall be emancipated and forever set free. And to enable him to remove from the Commonwealth that my executor pay into his hands the one fifth of the said James’ annual hires raised or deemed as aforesaid; or should that fund be, in his opinion, insufficient for the purpose that he hire out the said James for a term not exceeding one year, and pay into his hands such hire, also to enable him to remove as aforesaid.
If the said James should prefer it, I authorize and direct that the said Susan D. Archer shall have the use of his services for ten years, instead of five, upon the same terms and conditions above declared, at the expiration of which time, my executor is to pay to him one fifth part of his annual hires as aforesaid, for such increased term.
3rdly: I desire that my just debts be paid and thereto subject my whole estate, and should it be necessary to sell any part of it for that purpose, I direct that my man James be not taken until the residue of my estate be exhausted.
Should I die out of the Commonwealth of Virginia, I desire that my said slaves be brought back to the County of Chesterfield, to be administered and disposed of according to the provisions of this will.
It is further my will and desire that when the youngest of my sisters and brother before named shall attain the age of twenty one years, my two slaves Richard and Edwin shall also be emancipated and set free, anything herein conditioned to the contrary notwithstanding. And to raise a fund to defray the expense of their removal to another state, I direct that they be hired out for one year, and the hires be paid to them respectively for that purpose.
Lastly. I appoint Richard W. Flourney executor of this will. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal this seventh day of November, one thousand eight hundred and thirty seven.
Signed, sealed, published & declared Peter A. Archer (seal)
by the testator, as and for this
will and testament, in our presence
and we have attested the same in
his presence and at his request and
in the presence of each other.
Williamson Willis T. Cogbill
R.W. Flourney
In Chesterfield County Court May 10, 1841
The foregoing last will and testament of Peter R. Archer was proved by the oaths of Williamson Willis T. Cogbill and R.W. Flourney, subscribing witnesses thereto, and ordered to be recorded.
Teste, P. Poindexter C.
In the first place, I give and bequeath my two slaves Richard and Edwin to my sisters Fanny and Mary and my brother Bolivar Archer equally. And my desire is that the said slaves be not sold, but be hired out annually by the guardian of my said sisters and brother, or some trustee for them; and the annual hires be applied to their use and benefit equally, by such guardian or trustee, until the youngest of my said sisters & brother shall come of age.
Secondly, I give and bequeath to my step mother Mrs. Susan D. Archer the use of my man slave James for the term of five years, from the time of my death, upon condition that she pay into the hands of my executor hereafter named, one fifth of a reasonable hire for the said James annually: and provided further that if my said mother shall die or marry before the end of the said term of five years thereafter, her interest, and that of her representatives in the said slave James shall thereupon cease and determine. And I hereby direct that at the end of the said term of five years, or at the death or marriage of my said mother, within that period, the said slave James shall be emancipated and forever set free. And to enable him to remove from the Commonwealth that my executor pay into his hands the one fifth of the said James’ annual hires raised or deemed as aforesaid; or should that fund be, in his opinion, insufficient for the purpose that he hire out the said James for a term not exceeding one year, and pay into his hands such hire, also to enable him to remove as aforesaid.
If the said James should prefer it, I authorize and direct that the said Susan D. Archer shall have the use of his services for ten years, instead of five, upon the same terms and conditions above declared, at the expiration of which time, my executor is to pay to him one fifth part of his annual hires as aforesaid, for such increased term.
3rdly: I desire that my just debts be paid and thereto subject my whole estate, and should it be necessary to sell any part of it for that purpose, I direct that my man James be not taken until the residue of my estate be exhausted.
Should I die out of the Commonwealth of Virginia, I desire that my said slaves be brought back to the County of Chesterfield, to be administered and disposed of according to the provisions of this will.
It is further my will and desire that when the youngest of my sisters and brother before named shall attain the age of twenty one years, my two slaves Richard and Edwin shall also be emancipated and set free, anything herein conditioned to the contrary notwithstanding. And to raise a fund to defray the expense of their removal to another state, I direct that they be hired out for one year, and the hires be paid to them respectively for that purpose.
Lastly. I appoint Richard W. Flourney executor of this will. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal this seventh day of November, one thousand eight hundred and thirty seven.
Signed, sealed, published & declared Peter A. Archer (seal)
by the testator, as and for this
will and testament, in our presence
and we have attested the same in
his presence and at his request and
in the presence of each other.
Williamson Willis T. Cogbill
R.W. Flourney
In Chesterfield County Court May 10, 1841
The foregoing last will and testament of Peter R. Archer was proved by the oaths of Williamson Willis T. Cogbill and R.W. Flourney, subscribing witnesses thereto, and ordered to be recorded.
Teste, P. Poindexter C.
Record Location
WB 15:396
Document Type
Last Will & Testament
Files
Collection
Citation
“1841 - Archer to James, et al - Chesterfield Co, VA,” Manumission Project, accessed January 22, 2025, https://manumissionproject.omeka.net/items/show/2099.