1818 - Betts to Peter, et al - Sussex Co, VA
Manumission Item Data Item Type Metadata
Date
04/02/1818
Manumitter
Manumitted
Number of Persons
6
Text of Freedom Document
In the name of God Amen. I Drury Betts of Sussex County being of perfect mind and memory do make & ordain this to be my last will & testament and as touching such worldly estate as it hath pleased God to bless me with in this life, I do give & dispose of the same in manner & form following viz.
Imprimis It is my will & desire after my just debts are paid that my beloved wife Martha Betts have the use of the whole of my estate both real & personal during her natural life, but that my executor hereafter herein named shall have full power & authority to sell & dispose of any part of my land at his discretion to raise money to pay off my debts that my estate may owe that cannot conveniently be paid out of my estate without depriving my family of more of the necessaries of life that an conveniently be spared & that none of my slaves be sold by any means. Item I give unto my friend John W. Watkins the sum of one hundred dollars to be raised out of my estate after the death of my wife. Item It is my will & desire believing freedom to be the natural right of all mankind that after the death of my wife all my slaves namely Peter, Will, Nicholas, Judah, Tempy & Silky & the other two fifths to be equally divided among all the rest of my slaves that may at that time be found in my estate. And lastly I constitute & appoint my friend John W. Watkins my whole & sole executor to this my last will & testament thereby utterly disallow, revoke & disannul all & every other will legacy or bequest by me heretofore made ratifying & confirming this & no other to be my last will & testament. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal this fourth day of January eighteen hundred & sixteen.
Signed, sealed & acknowledged Drury Betts (seal)
in the presence of
Anthony Evans
Jesse Hargrave
Robt Hargrave
At a court held for Sussex County the 2nd day of April 1818. The last will and testament of Drury Betts was presented into court by John W. Watkins the executor therein named the same was produced by the oaths of Anthony Evans and Jesse Hargrave, two of the subscribing witnesses thereto and ordered to be recorded. And on the motion of said executor who made affirmation and gave bond with security agreeably to law, certificate is granted him for obtaining a probate thereof in due form.
Teste, J.C. Bailey Clk
Imprimis It is my will & desire after my just debts are paid that my beloved wife Martha Betts have the use of the whole of my estate both real & personal during her natural life, but that my executor hereafter herein named shall have full power & authority to sell & dispose of any part of my land at his discretion to raise money to pay off my debts that my estate may owe that cannot conveniently be paid out of my estate without depriving my family of more of the necessaries of life that an conveniently be spared & that none of my slaves be sold by any means. Item I give unto my friend John W. Watkins the sum of one hundred dollars to be raised out of my estate after the death of my wife. Item It is my will & desire believing freedom to be the natural right of all mankind that after the death of my wife all my slaves namely Peter, Will, Nicholas, Judah, Tempy & Silky & the other two fifths to be equally divided among all the rest of my slaves that may at that time be found in my estate. And lastly I constitute & appoint my friend John W. Watkins my whole & sole executor to this my last will & testament thereby utterly disallow, revoke & disannul all & every other will legacy or bequest by me heretofore made ratifying & confirming this & no other to be my last will & testament. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal this fourth day of January eighteen hundred & sixteen.
Signed, sealed & acknowledged Drury Betts (seal)
in the presence of
Anthony Evans
Jesse Hargrave
Robt Hargrave
At a court held for Sussex County the 2nd day of April 1818. The last will and testament of Drury Betts was presented into court by John W. Watkins the executor therein named the same was produced by the oaths of Anthony Evans and Jesse Hargrave, two of the subscribing witnesses thereto and ordered to be recorded. And on the motion of said executor who made affirmation and gave bond with security agreeably to law, certificate is granted him for obtaining a probate thereof in due form.
Teste, J.C. Bailey Clk
Record Location
WB H:441
Document Type
Last Will & Testament
Files
Collection
Citation
“1818 - Betts to Peter, et al - Sussex Co, VA,” Manumission Project, accessed March 11, 2026, https://manumissionproject.omeka.net/items/show/2358.