1851 - Hoffman to slaves - Shenandoah Co, VA

1851 - Hoffman to slaves - Shenandoah Co, VA

03/10/1851

2

In the name of God, Amen. I Robert M.G. Hoffman of Woodstock Shenandoah County and State of Virginia, being of sound mind and disposing memory, thanks be to God for the same, but weak of body and knowing the uncertainty of this life, am desirous of disposing my earthly effects as follows.
First: I will and desire that all my just debts and funeral expenses be paid by my Executrix out of my estate.
Secondly. It is my will and I do hereby devise and bequeath unto my mother the services and hires of my two slaves, Milton and Ambrose as long as she may live, and at her death if said slaves or either of them shall have arrived at the age of twenty one, it is my will and I do hereby emancipate said slaves or slaves. But if my mother should die before they or either of them arrive at the age of twenty one, then I direct that Jacob R. Gaw or his Executors or his attorney constituted by him shall hire out said slaves until they arrive at the age of twenty one, and pay to them their respective hires when they arrive at the age of twenty one, after deducting a reasonable compensation for his trouble of hiring, and then when they respectively arrive at the age of twenty one, it is my will and I do hereby emancipate and manumit said slaves, and wish them to go to Liberia or some free state.
Thirdly, I also give and bequeath to my mother my house and lot of which I die possessed lying and being in the town of Wardensville in the County of Hardy and State of Virginia, and to dispose of as she thinks proper.
Fourthly, I do hereby constitute and appoint my mother, and it is my wish that she should act as my Executrix – hereby revoking all former wills by me heretofore made, ratifying and confirming this, and no other, as and for my last will and testament. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this 15th day of January in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred and fifty one (1851).
Signed, sealed, published, pronounced Robert M.G. Hoffman (seal)
and declared by the Testator to be his
last will & testament who at his request
and in his presence have subscribed
our names as witnesses thereto
witnesses
Wm Ott
Jn T. Hickman

I Robert M.G. Hoffman of Woodstock Shenandoah County Virginia do this 11th day of February 1851 make and publish this codicil to my last will and testament in manner following (that is to say) whereas in and by my last will and testament, I have given and bequeathed the hire and services of my two servant boys Milton and Ambrose to my beloved mother so long as she lives, but should she die before they arrive at the age of twenty one, they are as before stated in my will to be hired out every year until they arrive at that age, by my friend Jacob R. Gaw and the money arising from said hires to be appropriated toward the education of my sister Elizabeth Haas’s children that is after my friend Jacob R. Gaw is paid out of the same hire for his trouble, instead of giving them the (servants) of the hire, as I stated in my last will and testament, to carry them to Liberia, as the Colonization Society has made ample provisions for them. I do therefore order and direct and it is my wish that my said friend J.R. Gaw give each of them fifty dollars to help them to go to Liberia. And lastly it is my desire that this my present codicil be annexed to and made a part of my last will and testament to all intents and purposes. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 11th day of February 1851.
Signed, sealed, published and declared Robert M.G. Hoffman (seal)
By the above named Robert G. Hoffman
As a codicil to be annexed to his last will
And testament in the presence of us
William A. Crawford
Jacob R. Gaw

At a court held for the County of Shenandoah on Monday the 10th day of March 1851. The last will and testament of Robert M.G. Hoffman with a codicil thereto annexed was produced into court and the said will proven by the oaths of William Ott and Jn T. Hickman witnesses thereto and the codicil proven by the oaths of William A. Crawford and Jacob R. Gaw witnesses thereto and the said will and codicil ordered to be recorded as the last will and testament of said Robert M.G. Hoffman dec’d. On motion of Mary A. Hoffman the Executrix therein named who was sworn and with Israel P. Rinker and Jacob R. Gaw as her securities entered into and acknowledged a bond in the penalty of $3000 conditioned according to law, a certificate for obtaining a probate thereof in due form is granted her.
Teste, Sam’l Williams C.S.C.


Know all men by these presents that we Mary Hoffman, Israel P. Rinker & Jacob R. Gaw are held and firmly bound unto the Commonwealth of Virginia in the sum of three thousand dollars for the payment whereof well and truly to be made, we bind ourselves, our an each of our heirs, executors, administrators jointly and severally, firmly by these presents, sealed with our seals, and dated this 10th day of March A.D. 1851.
The condition of this obligation is that if the said Mary Hoffman Executrix of the last will and testament of Robert M.G. Hoffman deceased, admitted to probate before the County Court of Shenandoah, on the 10th day of March 1851, shall faithfully discharge the duties of her office of Executrix as aforesaid, then this obligation to be void, or else to remain in full force.
Signed, sealed, and delivered Mary A. Hoffman (seal)
in the presence of Israel P. Rinker (seal)
The Court Jacob R. Gaw (seal)

At a court held for the County of Shenandoah on Monday the 10th day of March 1851. The foregoing bond was acknowledged by the parties, approved by the court and ordered to be recorded.
Teste, Sam’l C. Williams C.S.C.

WB Z:450

Last Will & Testament

to be sent to Liberia