1798 - Bailey to Charles & Isham - Sussex Co, VA
Manumission Item Data Item Type Metadata
Date
10/04/1798
Manumitter
Manumitted
Number of Persons
2
Text of Freedom Document
I Michael Bailey of Sussex County do make this my last will and testament as followeth.
I give to my son Robert such balance as shall be due from him to me and to M Bailey & Co at the time of my death.
I give to my son James Carter the land and plantation whereon I live with this exception that my fishing places shall be rented out for the benefit of my daughters as long as any of them shall remain single. I also give my said son James C the following negroes Tom that I bought of B Loftin and his wife Judah and child Frank and their increase from this day to him and his heirs forever also two beds and furniture, four cows and calves, ten sheep, three sows and pigs, one dozen best walnut chairs, my new desk and bookcase.
I give unto my daughter Ann my negro woman Patt and her child Charlotte with their increase from this day also two beds and furniture to her & her heirs forever.
I give unto my daughter Polly my negro woman Celia & her child Hannah with their increase from this day also two beds and furniture to her and her heirs forever.
I give unto my daughter Elizabeth my negroes Tom (I purchased of Whitehead) my boy Billey to her and her heirs forever, also two good beds and furniture.
I give my water grist mill and its appurtenances to my son James C Bailey and his heirs forever.
And whereas I have let my son James have one thousand pounds to put in trade with the firm of Michael W. Hancock and Company of Petersburg upon the following terms that he is not to pay any interest for the money during the term of the partnership in consideration of his not paying interest. I am to have one half of the profits or gain that he shall draw out of or from that partnership aforesaid the principal aforesaid is to be paid me or into my estate.
It is my will and desire that the remainder of my estate including the above said one thousand pounds shall be equally divided between my four following children James C, Ann, Polly & Elizaeth or their legal representatives and having in possession two negro men Charles & Isham it is my will and desire that Charles shall enjoy his freedom and that he have ten pounds cash given him per year as long as he is kept in bondage by me, that is from the date of this will till it take effect and gives him his freedom. It is my will that Isham shall be obliged to keep the mill and do Cooper’s work as long as my son James keeps the mill in his possession and repair, but shall pay him ten dollars a year for ten years for his services and then shall maintain him if unable to labor or my son may emancipate him after my death if he then sees proper.
And having in my possession several negroes that I have heretofore emancipated in their nonage it is my will and desire that they remain and work on the plantation for the joint benefit of my last mentioned four children until they shall respectively arrive of age.
It is my will and desire that my share of the profits arising from the trade of M.W. Hancock & Co. as aforesaid which it is one half of what may be gained by my son James in that concern may be equally divided between my three daughters and my grandson Micajah (son of Robert). Lastly I appoint my son James C Bailey & my friend Benjamin Wiche Exors of this my last will. Witness my hand at this tenth day of May 1798.
Mich Bailey
At a court held for Sussex County the 4th day of October 1798 a writing purporting to be the last will and testament of Michael Bailey deceased was exhibited into court by Benjamin Wyche and James C Bailey the executors therein named there not being any subscribing witnesses to the said writing but the court being satisfied that the whole of said will was written by the testator John Chappell Jr & Benj W Johnston being sworn deposed that they believe the whole of said writing was written by said testator the court do therefore admit the same to record as the last will & testament of said Mich’l Bailey dec’d. On motion of said executors who made oath and gave bond and security conditioned as the law directs certificate is granted them for obtaining a probate thereof in due form.
Teste, J.C. Bailey CSC
I give to my son Robert such balance as shall be due from him to me and to M Bailey & Co at the time of my death.
I give to my son James Carter the land and plantation whereon I live with this exception that my fishing places shall be rented out for the benefit of my daughters as long as any of them shall remain single. I also give my said son James C the following negroes Tom that I bought of B Loftin and his wife Judah and child Frank and their increase from this day to him and his heirs forever also two beds and furniture, four cows and calves, ten sheep, three sows and pigs, one dozen best walnut chairs, my new desk and bookcase.
I give unto my daughter Ann my negro woman Patt and her child Charlotte with their increase from this day also two beds and furniture to her & her heirs forever.
I give unto my daughter Polly my negro woman Celia & her child Hannah with their increase from this day also two beds and furniture to her and her heirs forever.
I give unto my daughter Elizabeth my negroes Tom (I purchased of Whitehead) my boy Billey to her and her heirs forever, also two good beds and furniture.
I give my water grist mill and its appurtenances to my son James C Bailey and his heirs forever.
And whereas I have let my son James have one thousand pounds to put in trade with the firm of Michael W. Hancock and Company of Petersburg upon the following terms that he is not to pay any interest for the money during the term of the partnership in consideration of his not paying interest. I am to have one half of the profits or gain that he shall draw out of or from that partnership aforesaid the principal aforesaid is to be paid me or into my estate.
It is my will and desire that the remainder of my estate including the above said one thousand pounds shall be equally divided between my four following children James C, Ann, Polly & Elizaeth or their legal representatives and having in possession two negro men Charles & Isham it is my will and desire that Charles shall enjoy his freedom and that he have ten pounds cash given him per year as long as he is kept in bondage by me, that is from the date of this will till it take effect and gives him his freedom. It is my will that Isham shall be obliged to keep the mill and do Cooper’s work as long as my son James keeps the mill in his possession and repair, but shall pay him ten dollars a year for ten years for his services and then shall maintain him if unable to labor or my son may emancipate him after my death if he then sees proper.
And having in my possession several negroes that I have heretofore emancipated in their nonage it is my will and desire that they remain and work on the plantation for the joint benefit of my last mentioned four children until they shall respectively arrive of age.
It is my will and desire that my share of the profits arising from the trade of M.W. Hancock & Co. as aforesaid which it is one half of what may be gained by my son James in that concern may be equally divided between my three daughters and my grandson Micajah (son of Robert). Lastly I appoint my son James C Bailey & my friend Benjamin Wiche Exors of this my last will. Witness my hand at this tenth day of May 1798.
Mich Bailey
At a court held for Sussex County the 4th day of October 1798 a writing purporting to be the last will and testament of Michael Bailey deceased was exhibited into court by Benjamin Wyche and James C Bailey the executors therein named there not being any subscribing witnesses to the said writing but the court being satisfied that the whole of said will was written by the testator John Chappell Jr & Benj W Johnston being sworn deposed that they believe the whole of said writing was written by said testator the court do therefore admit the same to record as the last will & testament of said Mich’l Bailey dec’d. On motion of said executors who made oath and gave bond and security conditioned as the law directs certificate is granted them for obtaining a probate thereof in due form.
Teste, J.C. Bailey CSC
Record Location
WB F:120
Document Type
Last Will & Testament
Files
Collection
Citation
“1798 - Bailey to Charles & Isham - Sussex Co, VA,” Manumission Project, accessed January 14, 2026, https://manumissionproject.omeka.net/items/show/2348.