1860 - Huyett to Mary - Clarke Co, VA
Manumission Item Data Item Type Metadata
Date
05/17/1860
Manumitter
Manumitted
Number of Persons
1
Text of Freedom Document
Samuel Huyett et al to Mary Deed of Emancipation
This deed made this 11 day of May 1860 by Samuel Huyett, John Gruber and Maria J. Gruber all of Clarke Co Virginia. Witnesseth that whereas Jos Pierce of Westmoreland County by his last will and testament dated Jan 1st 1794 and recorded in the Clerkâs Office of Westmoreland County Virginia did among other things devise and bequeath that a certain slave belonging to him named Nancy should be free at the end of 20 years and further that if she should have children while she continued in servitude, that the children should serve until they should become of the age of 31 years and no longer, and soon till they shall all become free, and whereas the said slave Nancy while she continued in servitude under the provisions of said will had born to her a child named Ann Davis who was liberated when she was thirty one years old, pursuant to the provisions of said will, and whereas Ann Davis while she continued in servitude and before she attained the age of thirty one years on the 26th day of May 1828 had born of her a child Mary and whereas said Mary has since had born of her many children, Ann born 17th 1847, Charles born August 1st 1849, Frances born November 4th 1851, Nelson born March 4th 1854, Nancy born August 25th 1856, and Henry born October 2nd 1858. And whereas the said John Gruber by title divided immediately under the will of said Pierce born the owner of the said Nancy, otherwise known as Nancy Mildreth and her oldest five children aforesaid, and being such owner did by deed made the 19th day of Oct 1857 convey them to said Samuel Huyett in trust for the said Maria Jane Gruber the wife of said Jhon Gruber and her children, and whereas the said Mary has instituted two round suits in the circuit court of Clarke County against the said John Gruber and Samuel Huyett, and whereas the Court of appeals in Virginia in the case of [illegible] Humphrey reported in the [illegible] that by the true construction of the said will, the grandchildren, great grandchildren and all other descendants of said negro Nancy are entitled to their freedom as they shall respectively attain the age of thirty one years, and whereas under this construction of said will said negro Nancy is now entitled to her freedom being over the age of thirty one years new therefore we the Samuel Huyett, John Gruber, and Maria J. Gruber do hereby emancipate and liberate the said Mary and do hereby forever release and relinquish all claim which or any of us may have to her or to her services forever as witness our hands and seals this 17 day of May 1860.
Teste Samuel Huyett (seal)
Wm. G Hardesty John Gruber (seal)
P. Williams Maria Jane Gruber (seal)
Clarke County Court
I Wm G. Hardesty a Justice of the Peace in the County aforesaid in the State of Virginia do hereby certify that Samuel Huyett, John and Maria J. Gruber his wife whose names are signed to the foregoing writing bearing date the 17 day of May 1860 have acknowledged the same before me in my county aforesaid.
Witness my hand this 17 day of May 1860
Wm G. Hardesty JP
Clarke County set
On the 17 day of May 1860 this deed was produced with certificate of acknowledgment and admitted to record.
Teste, J.H. McGuire CC
This deed made this 11 day of May 1860 by Samuel Huyett, John Gruber and Maria J. Gruber all of Clarke Co Virginia. Witnesseth that whereas Jos Pierce of Westmoreland County by his last will and testament dated Jan 1st 1794 and recorded in the Clerkâs Office of Westmoreland County Virginia did among other things devise and bequeath that a certain slave belonging to him named Nancy should be free at the end of 20 years and further that if she should have children while she continued in servitude, that the children should serve until they should become of the age of 31 years and no longer, and soon till they shall all become free, and whereas the said slave Nancy while she continued in servitude under the provisions of said will had born to her a child named Ann Davis who was liberated when she was thirty one years old, pursuant to the provisions of said will, and whereas Ann Davis while she continued in servitude and before she attained the age of thirty one years on the 26th day of May 1828 had born of her a child Mary and whereas said Mary has since had born of her many children, Ann born 17th 1847, Charles born August 1st 1849, Frances born November 4th 1851, Nelson born March 4th 1854, Nancy born August 25th 1856, and Henry born October 2nd 1858. And whereas the said John Gruber by title divided immediately under the will of said Pierce born the owner of the said Nancy, otherwise known as Nancy Mildreth and her oldest five children aforesaid, and being such owner did by deed made the 19th day of Oct 1857 convey them to said Samuel Huyett in trust for the said Maria Jane Gruber the wife of said Jhon Gruber and her children, and whereas the said Mary has instituted two round suits in the circuit court of Clarke County against the said John Gruber and Samuel Huyett, and whereas the Court of appeals in Virginia in the case of [illegible] Humphrey reported in the [illegible] that by the true construction of the said will, the grandchildren, great grandchildren and all other descendants of said negro Nancy are entitled to their freedom as they shall respectively attain the age of thirty one years, and whereas under this construction of said will said negro Nancy is now entitled to her freedom being over the age of thirty one years new therefore we the Samuel Huyett, John Gruber, and Maria J. Gruber do hereby emancipate and liberate the said Mary and do hereby forever release and relinquish all claim which or any of us may have to her or to her services forever as witness our hands and seals this 17 day of May 1860.
Teste Samuel Huyett (seal)
Wm. G Hardesty John Gruber (seal)
P. Williams Maria Jane Gruber (seal)
Clarke County Court
I Wm G. Hardesty a Justice of the Peace in the County aforesaid in the State of Virginia do hereby certify that Samuel Huyett, John and Maria J. Gruber his wife whose names are signed to the foregoing writing bearing date the 17 day of May 1860 have acknowledged the same before me in my county aforesaid.
Witness my hand this 17 day of May 1860
Wm G. Hardesty JP
Clarke County set
On the 17 day of May 1860 this deed was produced with certificate of acknowledgment and admitted to record.
Teste, J.H. McGuire CC
Record Location
DB G:122
Document Type
Deed
Files
Collection
Citation
“1860 - Huyett to Mary - Clarke Co, VA,” Manumission Project, accessed February 8, 2026, https://manumissionproject.omeka.net/items/show/2253.