1795 - Harding to Suckey - Shenandoah Co, VA
Manumission Item Data Item Type Metadata
Date
12/08/1795
Manumitter
Manumitted
Number of Persons
1
Text of Freedom Document
In the name of God Amen, the fourteenth day of December in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety four. I Willmouth Harding in the County of Shenandoah and State of Virginia being sick and very weak in body, but of perfect sound mind and memory thanks be given unto god for the same and calling to mind the mortality of my body, knowing it is appointed for all men once to die do make and ordain this my last will and testament that is to say principally and first of all I give and recommend my soul into the hands of god as he gave it and for my body I recommend it to the Earth to be buried in the place already appointed in a Christian like and decent manner, nothing doubting but at the general resurrection I shall receive the same again by the mighty power of god and as touching such worldly estate wherewith it hath pleased god to less me in this life, I give, devise and dispose of the same in manner and form following viz.
And first my will and desire is that my just debts and funeral expenses be first paid and satisfied by my Executors hereafter named. In the first place I give and bequeath to my two beloved daughters to wit, Nancey Combs & Willmouth Smith all my part that I now possess and may leave behind at my decease, everything that I now own except one girl named Suckey all to be equally divided as near as possible between these two daughters to be divided by their own selves, if they can possibly come. But if they decline coming then to be divided according to the judgment, wisdom and discretion of my executors.
Item My will and pleasure and desire is that the above mentioned girl Suckey is to be a free woman exactly at the end of eight years from this date above and till that time to be in the service care and protection of James Matthews Sen’r and that the Executors if convenient see that she is well used and freed at the time appointed. I hereby nominate and appoint my beloved and trusty friends John Currl and Robert McKay to be my sole Executors of this my last will and testament, hereby revoking and disallowing all other will or wills by me at any time heretofore by me made. In witness whereof I have the said Wilmouth Harding have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this sixteenth day of December one thousand seven hundred and ninety four.
Signed, sealed, published & declared by Wilmouth Harding (seal)
the testator Wilmouth Harding to be
her last will and testament in the
presence of us who subscribed our names
as witnesses in the presence of the testator.
James Mathews Senior, Thomas G. Martin, Henry Harding
At a court held for the county of Shenandoah on Tuesday the 8th day of December 1795. This last will and testament of Wilmouth Harding dec’d was exhibited into court and proved by James Mathews Sen’r which is ordered to be recorded and on the motion of Henry Harding administration of the said will is granted him (the Executors therein named refusing to take upon themselves the burden of execution there) whereupon the said Henry Harding made oath and entered into bond with security according to law.
Teste, P. Williams C.S.C.
And first my will and desire is that my just debts and funeral expenses be first paid and satisfied by my Executors hereafter named. In the first place I give and bequeath to my two beloved daughters to wit, Nancey Combs & Willmouth Smith all my part that I now possess and may leave behind at my decease, everything that I now own except one girl named Suckey all to be equally divided as near as possible between these two daughters to be divided by their own selves, if they can possibly come. But if they decline coming then to be divided according to the judgment, wisdom and discretion of my executors.
Item My will and pleasure and desire is that the above mentioned girl Suckey is to be a free woman exactly at the end of eight years from this date above and till that time to be in the service care and protection of James Matthews Sen’r and that the Executors if convenient see that she is well used and freed at the time appointed. I hereby nominate and appoint my beloved and trusty friends John Currl and Robert McKay to be my sole Executors of this my last will and testament, hereby revoking and disallowing all other will or wills by me at any time heretofore by me made. In witness whereof I have the said Wilmouth Harding have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this sixteenth day of December one thousand seven hundred and ninety four.
Signed, sealed, published & declared by Wilmouth Harding (seal)
the testator Wilmouth Harding to be
her last will and testament in the
presence of us who subscribed our names
as witnesses in the presence of the testator.
James Mathews Senior, Thomas G. Martin, Henry Harding
At a court held for the county of Shenandoah on Tuesday the 8th day of December 1795. This last will and testament of Wilmouth Harding dec’d was exhibited into court and proved by James Mathews Sen’r which is ordered to be recorded and on the motion of Henry Harding administration of the said will is granted him (the Executors therein named refusing to take upon themselves the burden of execution there) whereupon the said Henry Harding made oath and entered into bond with security according to law.
Teste, P. Williams C.S.C.
Record Location
WB D:474
Document Type
Last Will & Testament
Files
Collection
Citation
“1795 - Harding to Suckey - Shenandoah Co, VA,” Manumission Project, accessed May 22, 2025, https://manumissionproject.omeka.net/items/show/2258.