1844 - to Crutchfield to Janney - Spotsylvania Co, VA
Manumission Item Data Item Type Metadata
Date
10/07/1844
Manumitter
Manumitted
Number of Persons
2
Text of Freedom Document
In the name of God Amen. I Robert Crutchfield of the County of Spotsylvania and State of Virginia, do make this my last will and testament as follows.
Imprimis. It is my will and desire that my servant Janney whom I purchased of Charles R. Corr of Caroline, in consequence of and as a reward for her faithful services be hired out by my Executor hereinafter named, from year to year to any person whom she may make choice of to hire her, and that seven eighth part of her hire be returned to her for her own use and benefit. But if she prefers it, she is to be at liberty to leave this state and in that case, it is my will and desire that she be free, and I do hereby manumit her and any child or children she may have at the time of my death is to be subject to the same rule and condition as their freedom. It is also my will and desire that in either case that she retain to her own use and benefit the bed, bedstead & bed clothes, and a number of other articles which she has procured by her own unsampled industry, and of which articles she has a list in my own handwriting. Should she determine to leave the state, it is my will and desire that my Executor give her the sum of five hundred dollars to be raised from any part of my estate, not otherwise disposed of which I give to her forever.
Imprimis. It is my will and desire that my servant, young Charlotte be hired out from year to year by my Executor hereinafter named, to any person she may make choice of to hire her and seven eighths of her hire to be returned to her for her own use and benefit. But it is my will & desire that if she desires it she is to be at liberty to leave state and in that case, it is my will and desire that she be free, and I do hereby manumit her and any children she may have previous to my death is to be subject to the same rule and condition. Should she determine to leave the state or not it is my will and desire that my Executor give her the sum of two hundred dollars, and all her bed & furniture together with her clothes (in good faith) which I give to her forever.
Item. It is my will and desire that my Executor do raise from any part of my estate not otherwise disposed of the sum of three thousand dollars and lay it out in bank stock or other stock bearing interest, the interest of which said stock I give to Lavinia Waring now in the State of Pennsylvania for the support of herself and family forever. But in case my Executor shall at any time think it to the advantage of the said Lavinia Waring & family by a bill & answer in the County Court of Spotsylvania in chancery, if upon a fair representation of the case the court shall concur, in opinion with my said Executor, the stock so purchased shall be sold and the money arising therefrom, as to my Executor shall seem best laid out in this or any other state, which shall be subject to the same condition as to the interest above directed, and at the death of the said Lavinia Waring, the property, or interest of the [illegible last two lines p227] heirs and assigns forever.
Item It is my will and desire that the sum of three thousand dollars be raised by my Executor from any part of my estate, not otherwise disposed of, which sum of three thousand shall be laid out in lands in some of the western or northwestern states, for the benefit of William, who calls himself William Crutchfield (and whom I have adopted) and his family, and at his death, to be equally divided between his children, which I give to them and their heirs & assigns forever.
Item I give and bequeath to my nephew Oscar M. Crutchfield the house and plantation where I now live (including the land called Arnolds) together with the Mill and its appurtenances, when I speak of the land, I entered all the land at my home house which lies on the north side of the river called Chat, which I give to him in full of all compensation for his services as my Executor, whom I do hereby appoint as such, with a hope and it is my will and desire and do hereby request that security may not be required of him by the Court, when he qualifies as my Executor feeling confident that my estate will be more than sufficient to pay all my debts having too the most implicit confidence in his correctness and integrity which I give to him and his heirs and assigns forever.
Item I give and bequeath to my two nieces Frances Ann Todd and Margaret L. Miller, two slaves to each them under the age of twenty years, those to Frances Ann Todd I only loan to her and at her death to be equally divided between her children, which I give to them and their heirs & assigns forever. And I also give those to Margaret L. Miller to her and her heirs and assigns forever.
Item I give and bequeath to each of my nieces, Mary, Melvina, Martha and Adalaide, daughters of my nephew Alfred Noel of Tennessee, one thousand dollars each in negro property at valuation which I give to them & their heirs and assigns forever.
Item I give to two nieces Ann Moore & Melvina Crutchfield and the daughter of Sarah Ann [?Choneworth?], daughters and grand daughter of my brother Thomas Crutchfield of Kentucky, each of one thousand dollars in money or negroes as to my Executor may seem most convenient, which I give to them and their heirs and assigns forever.
Item I give and bequeath to my two nieces Maria H. Noel and Mary Stapleton Noel each one thousand dollars in money or negroes as to my Executor may seem most convenient, which I give to them and their heirs and assigns forever.
Item I give & bequeath to my niece Lucy L. Cropp one thousand dollars in money or negroes as to my Executor shall seem most convenient, which I give to her and her heirs and assigns forever.
Item. I give and bequeath all the remainder of my estate, both real, personal & mixed, to my nephews Oscar M. & Stapleton Crutchfield & my nieces Melvinia Minor, Martha A. Nalle, Sarah E. Young and Betty Stapleton & Melvinia daughter of Ellen L. Price, deceased, to be divided unto six equal parts to Betty Stapleton, and Melvinia Price I give one six part to be divided between them, which I give to them and each of them their heirs & assigns forever. But in case Melvinia Minor thinks proper, it is my will & desire that Mary the yellow girl whom I loaned her as a nurse together with her increase be included in her share or lot of my slaves, and in like manner that if my niece Martha A. Nalle chooses it is my will and desire that Sally whom I loaned her as a nurse be included in her lot or share of my slaves. And also in like manner if my niece Sarah E. Young thinks proper, it is my will and desire that Jane or Janney the woman whom I loaned her as a nurse be included in her share or division of my slaves. And it is also my will and desire if Betty S. & Melvinia Price or their father or guardian desire it, that Kitty the woman that I loaned Ellen L. Price their mother as a nurse together with her increase be included in their share or division of my slaves, also the girl Maria which I loaned her as a nurse, also all of which I give to them and their heirs and assigns forever.
And lastly, it is my will and desire & I do hereby direct that my Executor herein before named do create a fund out of any part of my estate not specifically disposed of that shall be put to interest upon security upon real property, which shall be sufficient to raise the sum of one hundred dollars annually, which shall be collected half yearly & which interest is to be collected. I direct that it be paid to the officiating minister of Christ Church near Spotsylvania Court House, provided he be of the Protestant Episcopal denomination, which I give to the said minister officiating to him & his successors forever. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed my seal this tenth day of May in the year of our Lord Anno Domini 1843.
Ro. Crutchfield (seal)
Memo: The word “state” on the 2nd page interlined before signed, as also the words “laid out” on 3rd page, and the words “by the Court” on 4th page & the words “of Kentucky” on 5th page & the word “annually” on 5th page all interlined before signed.
Ro. Crutchfield
In Spotsylvania County Court October 7th 1844
This writing purporting to be the last will and testament of Robert Crutchfield deceased was produced in court by Oscar M. Crutchfield, the Executor therein named and there being no subscribing witnesses thereto, Thomas B. Barton, John J. Chew, Benjamin Rawlings, Gabriel Long, Lewis A. Boggs, John [illegible bottom of pg 229] that they are well acquainted with the hand writing of the said Robert Crutchfield deceased, that they had frequently seen him write and verily believe the said writing and the name thereto subscribed to be wholly in the hand writing of the said Robert Crutchfield deceased. Whereupon the said writing is ordered to be recorded, as the true last will and testament of the said Robert Crutchfield deceased. And then on the motion of Oscar M. Crutchfield, the Executor therein named, who made oath thereto and entered into and acknowledged a bond in the penalty of two hundred thousand dollars, conditioned as the law directs (the will requiring no security) certificate is granted him the said Oscar M. Crutchfield for obtaining a probate of said will in due form.
Teste, Sta. Crutchfield C.C.
Imprimis. It is my will and desire that my servant Janney whom I purchased of Charles R. Corr of Caroline, in consequence of and as a reward for her faithful services be hired out by my Executor hereinafter named, from year to year to any person whom she may make choice of to hire her, and that seven eighth part of her hire be returned to her for her own use and benefit. But if she prefers it, she is to be at liberty to leave this state and in that case, it is my will and desire that she be free, and I do hereby manumit her and any child or children she may have at the time of my death is to be subject to the same rule and condition as their freedom. It is also my will and desire that in either case that she retain to her own use and benefit the bed, bedstead & bed clothes, and a number of other articles which she has procured by her own unsampled industry, and of which articles she has a list in my own handwriting. Should she determine to leave the state, it is my will and desire that my Executor give her the sum of five hundred dollars to be raised from any part of my estate, not otherwise disposed of which I give to her forever.
Imprimis. It is my will and desire that my servant, young Charlotte be hired out from year to year by my Executor hereinafter named, to any person she may make choice of to hire her and seven eighths of her hire to be returned to her for her own use and benefit. But it is my will & desire that if she desires it she is to be at liberty to leave state and in that case, it is my will and desire that she be free, and I do hereby manumit her and any children she may have previous to my death is to be subject to the same rule and condition. Should she determine to leave the state or not it is my will and desire that my Executor give her the sum of two hundred dollars, and all her bed & furniture together with her clothes (in good faith) which I give to her forever.
Item. It is my will and desire that my Executor do raise from any part of my estate not otherwise disposed of the sum of three thousand dollars and lay it out in bank stock or other stock bearing interest, the interest of which said stock I give to Lavinia Waring now in the State of Pennsylvania for the support of herself and family forever. But in case my Executor shall at any time think it to the advantage of the said Lavinia Waring & family by a bill & answer in the County Court of Spotsylvania in chancery, if upon a fair representation of the case the court shall concur, in opinion with my said Executor, the stock so purchased shall be sold and the money arising therefrom, as to my Executor shall seem best laid out in this or any other state, which shall be subject to the same condition as to the interest above directed, and at the death of the said Lavinia Waring, the property, or interest of the [illegible last two lines p227] heirs and assigns forever.
Item It is my will and desire that the sum of three thousand dollars be raised by my Executor from any part of my estate, not otherwise disposed of, which sum of three thousand shall be laid out in lands in some of the western or northwestern states, for the benefit of William, who calls himself William Crutchfield (and whom I have adopted) and his family, and at his death, to be equally divided between his children, which I give to them and their heirs & assigns forever.
Item I give and bequeath to my nephew Oscar M. Crutchfield the house and plantation where I now live (including the land called Arnolds) together with the Mill and its appurtenances, when I speak of the land, I entered all the land at my home house which lies on the north side of the river called Chat, which I give to him in full of all compensation for his services as my Executor, whom I do hereby appoint as such, with a hope and it is my will and desire and do hereby request that security may not be required of him by the Court, when he qualifies as my Executor feeling confident that my estate will be more than sufficient to pay all my debts having too the most implicit confidence in his correctness and integrity which I give to him and his heirs and assigns forever.
Item I give and bequeath to my two nieces Frances Ann Todd and Margaret L. Miller, two slaves to each them under the age of twenty years, those to Frances Ann Todd I only loan to her and at her death to be equally divided between her children, which I give to them and their heirs & assigns forever. And I also give those to Margaret L. Miller to her and her heirs and assigns forever.
Item I give and bequeath to each of my nieces, Mary, Melvina, Martha and Adalaide, daughters of my nephew Alfred Noel of Tennessee, one thousand dollars each in negro property at valuation which I give to them & their heirs and assigns forever.
Item I give to two nieces Ann Moore & Melvina Crutchfield and the daughter of Sarah Ann [?Choneworth?], daughters and grand daughter of my brother Thomas Crutchfield of Kentucky, each of one thousand dollars in money or negroes as to my Executor may seem most convenient, which I give to them and their heirs and assigns forever.
Item I give and bequeath to my two nieces Maria H. Noel and Mary Stapleton Noel each one thousand dollars in money or negroes as to my Executor may seem most convenient, which I give to them and their heirs and assigns forever.
Item I give & bequeath to my niece Lucy L. Cropp one thousand dollars in money or negroes as to my Executor shall seem most convenient, which I give to her and her heirs and assigns forever.
Item. I give and bequeath all the remainder of my estate, both real, personal & mixed, to my nephews Oscar M. & Stapleton Crutchfield & my nieces Melvinia Minor, Martha A. Nalle, Sarah E. Young and Betty Stapleton & Melvinia daughter of Ellen L. Price, deceased, to be divided unto six equal parts to Betty Stapleton, and Melvinia Price I give one six part to be divided between them, which I give to them and each of them their heirs & assigns forever. But in case Melvinia Minor thinks proper, it is my will & desire that Mary the yellow girl whom I loaned her as a nurse together with her increase be included in her share or lot of my slaves, and in like manner that if my niece Martha A. Nalle chooses it is my will and desire that Sally whom I loaned her as a nurse be included in her lot or share of my slaves. And also in like manner if my niece Sarah E. Young thinks proper, it is my will and desire that Jane or Janney the woman whom I loaned her as a nurse be included in her share or division of my slaves. And it is also my will and desire if Betty S. & Melvinia Price or their father or guardian desire it, that Kitty the woman that I loaned Ellen L. Price their mother as a nurse together with her increase be included in their share or division of my slaves, also the girl Maria which I loaned her as a nurse, also all of which I give to them and their heirs and assigns forever.
And lastly, it is my will and desire & I do hereby direct that my Executor herein before named do create a fund out of any part of my estate not specifically disposed of that shall be put to interest upon security upon real property, which shall be sufficient to raise the sum of one hundred dollars annually, which shall be collected half yearly & which interest is to be collected. I direct that it be paid to the officiating minister of Christ Church near Spotsylvania Court House, provided he be of the Protestant Episcopal denomination, which I give to the said minister officiating to him & his successors forever. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed my seal this tenth day of May in the year of our Lord Anno Domini 1843.
Ro. Crutchfield (seal)
Memo: The word “state” on the 2nd page interlined before signed, as also the words “laid out” on 3rd page, and the words “by the Court” on 4th page & the words “of Kentucky” on 5th page & the word “annually” on 5th page all interlined before signed.
Ro. Crutchfield
In Spotsylvania County Court October 7th 1844
This writing purporting to be the last will and testament of Robert Crutchfield deceased was produced in court by Oscar M. Crutchfield, the Executor therein named and there being no subscribing witnesses thereto, Thomas B. Barton, John J. Chew, Benjamin Rawlings, Gabriel Long, Lewis A. Boggs, John [illegible bottom of pg 229] that they are well acquainted with the hand writing of the said Robert Crutchfield deceased, that they had frequently seen him write and verily believe the said writing and the name thereto subscribed to be wholly in the hand writing of the said Robert Crutchfield deceased. Whereupon the said writing is ordered to be recorded, as the true last will and testament of the said Robert Crutchfield deceased. And then on the motion of Oscar M. Crutchfield, the Executor therein named, who made oath thereto and entered into and acknowledged a bond in the penalty of two hundred thousand dollars, conditioned as the law directs (the will requiring no security) certificate is granted him the said Oscar M. Crutchfield for obtaining a probate of said will in due form.
Teste, Sta. Crutchfield C.C.
Record Location
WB R:227
Document Type
Last Will & Testament
Files
Collection
Citation
“1844 - to Crutchfield to Janney - Spotsylvania Co, VA,” Manumission Project, accessed November 14, 2025, https://manumissionproject.omeka.net/items/show/2412.