1854 - Howard to Easter - Clarke Co, VA
Manumission Item Data Item Type Metadata
Date
03/27/1854
Manumitter
Manumitted
Number of Persons
2
Text of Freedom Document
Last will and testament of Mary Howard dec’d
I Mary Howard of Clarke County Virginia do make and constitute this my last will and testament.
1st I direct that all my just debts shall be paid.
2nd I hereby manumit and set free from and after my decease my servants Easter Strother and Saupta Jane, and all the other slaves that I may have at my decease unless in the opinion of my Executor the rest of my property shall not be sufficient for the payment of all my debts, funeral expenses, and the expenses of administration in which event all my servants shall be hired out by my executors until the [illegible] hires of them shall account to a sum sufficient to pay off said debts and expenses, which my other property may not be sufficient to pay, in which event my said servant shall not be free until said debts and expenses shall be fully paid, so soon as my Executor shall be satisfied that the services of said servant are no longer necessary for the payment of said debts and expenses they shall then be free as aforesaid, and he shall then cause them to be furnished with their regular freedom papers at the expense of my estate.
3rd All the residue of my estate if any should remain after the foregoing provisions are fully satisfied. I direct to be divided into two equal parts, one of which parts being half of said residue of my estate I will and bequeath to my nephew Hiram Bowen and his heirs and assigus forever. The other half of said residue of my estate I will and bequeath to the four youngest daughters of my brother James Howard deceased namely Mary Frances, Margaret Elizabeth, and Lucy Howard to be equally divided between them, thereby giving to each one fourth part of said moiety, one half part of said residue of my estate, and her heirs and assigus forever.
Lastly I hereby constitute and appoint Richard E. Byrd Esq Executor of this my last will and testament.
Witness my hand and seal this nineth day of May 1850
Signed, sealed, published and declared Mary Howard (seal)
by the said Mary Howard as her last will
and testament in our presence, who
have hereto subscribed the same as witnesses
in her presence at her request and in
the presence of each other.
O. McCormick
Adam F. Thompson
James H. Gaston
Richard Bryarly
Clarke County Set
At a court held for the County aforesaid on Monday the 27th day of February 1854. The last will and testament of Mary Howard was produced in court and proved in part by the oaths of Richard Bryarly one of the subscribing witnesses thereto and ordered to be lie for further proof.
And on Monday the 27th day of March 1854 it was further proved by the oaths of Otway McCormick, Adam F Thompson, and James H. Carson the other subscribing witnesses thereto and ordered to be recorded.
Teste David H. McGuire CC
I Mary Howard of Clarke County Virginia do make and constitute this my last will and testament.
1st I direct that all my just debts shall be paid.
2nd I hereby manumit and set free from and after my decease my servants Easter Strother and Saupta Jane, and all the other slaves that I may have at my decease unless in the opinion of my Executor the rest of my property shall not be sufficient for the payment of all my debts, funeral expenses, and the expenses of administration in which event all my servants shall be hired out by my executors until the [illegible] hires of them shall account to a sum sufficient to pay off said debts and expenses, which my other property may not be sufficient to pay, in which event my said servant shall not be free until said debts and expenses shall be fully paid, so soon as my Executor shall be satisfied that the services of said servant are no longer necessary for the payment of said debts and expenses they shall then be free as aforesaid, and he shall then cause them to be furnished with their regular freedom papers at the expense of my estate.
3rd All the residue of my estate if any should remain after the foregoing provisions are fully satisfied. I direct to be divided into two equal parts, one of which parts being half of said residue of my estate I will and bequeath to my nephew Hiram Bowen and his heirs and assigus forever. The other half of said residue of my estate I will and bequeath to the four youngest daughters of my brother James Howard deceased namely Mary Frances, Margaret Elizabeth, and Lucy Howard to be equally divided between them, thereby giving to each one fourth part of said moiety, one half part of said residue of my estate, and her heirs and assigus forever.
Lastly I hereby constitute and appoint Richard E. Byrd Esq Executor of this my last will and testament.
Witness my hand and seal this nineth day of May 1850
Signed, sealed, published and declared Mary Howard (seal)
by the said Mary Howard as her last will
and testament in our presence, who
have hereto subscribed the same as witnesses
in her presence at her request and in
the presence of each other.
O. McCormick
Adam F. Thompson
James H. Gaston
Richard Bryarly
Clarke County Set
At a court held for the County aforesaid on Monday the 27th day of February 1854. The last will and testament of Mary Howard was produced in court and proved in part by the oaths of Richard Bryarly one of the subscribing witnesses thereto and ordered to be lie for further proof.
And on Monday the 27th day of March 1854 it was further proved by the oaths of Otway McCormick, Adam F Thompson, and James H. Carson the other subscribing witnesses thereto and ordered to be recorded.
Teste David H. McGuire CC
Record Location
WB C:232
Document Type
Last Will & Testament
Files
Collection
Citation
“1854 - Howard to Easter - Clarke Co, VA,” Manumission Project, accessed December 13, 2025, https://manumissionproject.omeka.net/items/show/2248.