1782 - White, et al to Janey, et al - Sussex Co, VA
Manumission Item Data Item Type Metadata
Date
10/17/1782
Number of Persons
8
Text of Freedom Document
We John White, Mary Cornwell & Jacob Cornwell of Sussex & Thomas Ricks of Southampton County in Virginia being fully persuaded that freedom is the natural right of all mankind and that it is our duty to do unto others as we would desire to be done by in the like situation and having under our care five negroes whom we have heretofore held as slaves of the following names and ages, viz: Janey aged about sixty years, Dick about fifty five, Sarah about fifty, Indy about thirty five and Tom aged about twenty one years.
All whom we hereby emancipate and set free all and every of the above named slaves and we do for ourselves our heirs, Executors, and Administrators relinquish all our right, title, interest and claim or pretention of claim whatsoever either to their persons or to any estate they may hereafter acquire. And having also three negroes now in their minority of the following names and ages viz: Ned aged about sixteen, Sellah about seven, and Janey aged about one year, all whom we also hereby emancipate and set free yet we believe it right for us to act as guardians over them until the males arrive to the age of twenty one and the females to the age of eighteen years, and we do for ourselves our heirs, Executors and Administrators relinquish all our right, title, interest, claim or pretentions of claim whatsoever either to their persons or to any estate they may acquire after they shall attain to the ages above said which will be at the following times: Ned on the 31 day of the 12th month 1787, Sellah on the 31 day of the 12th month 1793, Janey on the 31 day of the 12th month 1799. All of the above said negroes and their posterity to enjoy their full freedom without any interruption from us or any person claiming for by from or under us. In witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands and seals this 13th day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty two.
Sealed & delivered Jacob Cornwell (seal)
in the presence of John White (seal)
James Watkins Thomas Ricks (seal)
John Cornwell Mary Cornwell (seal)
At a court held for a Sussex County the 17th day of October 1782
This deed of emancipation from Jacob Cornwell, Thomas Ricks, John White, and Mary Cornwell was proved to be their act & deed by the affirmations of James Watkins and John Cornwell, Quakers, the witnesses thereto and ordered to be recorded.
Teste, Jn. Cooke Cl Cur
All whom we hereby emancipate and set free all and every of the above named slaves and we do for ourselves our heirs, Executors, and Administrators relinquish all our right, title, interest and claim or pretention of claim whatsoever either to their persons or to any estate they may hereafter acquire. And having also three negroes now in their minority of the following names and ages viz: Ned aged about sixteen, Sellah about seven, and Janey aged about one year, all whom we also hereby emancipate and set free yet we believe it right for us to act as guardians over them until the males arrive to the age of twenty one and the females to the age of eighteen years, and we do for ourselves our heirs, Executors and Administrators relinquish all our right, title, interest, claim or pretentions of claim whatsoever either to their persons or to any estate they may acquire after they shall attain to the ages above said which will be at the following times: Ned on the 31 day of the 12th month 1787, Sellah on the 31 day of the 12th month 1793, Janey on the 31 day of the 12th month 1799. All of the above said negroes and their posterity to enjoy their full freedom without any interruption from us or any person claiming for by from or under us. In witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands and seals this 13th day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty two.
Sealed & delivered Jacob Cornwell (seal)
in the presence of John White (seal)
James Watkins Thomas Ricks (seal)
John Cornwell Mary Cornwell (seal)
At a court held for a Sussex County the 17th day of October 1782
This deed of emancipation from Jacob Cornwell, Thomas Ricks, John White, and Mary Cornwell was proved to be their act & deed by the affirmations of James Watkins and John Cornwell, Quakers, the witnesses thereto and ordered to be recorded.
Teste, Jn. Cooke Cl Cur
Record Location
DB F:138
Document Type
Deed
Notes
enslaved individuals willed to Quaker meeting by Glaister Hunnicutt in order to be manumitted
Files
Collection
Citation
“1782 - White, et al to Janey, et al - Sussex Co, VA,” Manumission Project, accessed December 10, 2025, https://manumissionproject.omeka.net/items/show/2293.