1858 - Spratley to John - Surry Co, VA
Manumission Item Data Item Type Metadata
Date
12/27/1858
Manumitter
Manumitted
Number of Persons
1
Self Purchase Amount
$572.58
Text of Freedom Document
In the name of God Amen. I James W. Spratley of the County of Surry do make the following writing as my last will and testament hereby revoking all other wills heretofore made by me.
Item 1st I wish my executor hereinafter to be named to pay all my just debts, as soon after my death as possible
Item 2nd I wish all the money due me, and that which may be on hand at my death, together with the sales of my chattel property and the balance to be paid by my servant John may be collected with as little delay as possible, and placed in some savings institution in the City of Richmond paying 6p cert interest.
Item 3rd I give to my dear wife Lucy all the slaves now held by me derived from her father to her and her heirs forever.
Item 4th I give my dear wife Lucy so much of my household and kitchen furniture as she may desire to take, to her and her heirs forever, and I also wish her to take such of the fowls as she may wish or all of them.
Item 5th I give to my dear wife during her widowhood all or so much of the interest on monies deposited in the savings institution as aforesaid directed, as she may require for her support and the support and education of my son William to be paid her semi-annually, but this bequest so far as my wife Lucy is concerned shall cease upon her second marriage.
Item 6th My servant John placed in my hands on the 7th January 1858 in part purchased for himself the sum of $572.50 now if the said servant John, will make up and pay to my executor a sum sufficient when added to the sum of $572.58 already paid with interest on the same, from 7th January 1858 to make up the sum of nine hundred dollars, there I emancipate and set free the said John and direct my exor to furnish him with the evidence of his freedom, but if my servant John cannot at once raise a sum sufficient to make with that already paid the sum of $900 then he shall have the benefit of his annual hire until the same shall have been paid to my estate when he shall be paid, and emancipated as before directed.
Item 7th At the death of our stepmother Mrs. Rebecca Spratley, my dear brother A.G. Spratley will be entitled to slaves sufficient to work his farm until that event occur, my dear brother has not the means of supporting his numerous family without help from me. I therefore loan my said brother during the life of our stepmother Mrs. R. Spratley the following slaves to wit: Janie, William, Mary and Fanny with the increase of the females thereof at the death of Mrs. R. Spratley, the said slaves will return to my estate and will pass as hereinafter directed to my son William E.R. Should my brother A.G. Spratley desire to purchase any of the slaves loaned him as aforesaid it is my will and desire that he may do so by paying my estate a valuation as may be fixed by any three disinterested persons.
Item 8th All the rest and residue of my estate including the money placed at interest during the life or widowhood of my wife, the slaves loaned my brother during the life of Mrs. R. Spratley, with my interest in the dower property now held by Mrs. R. Spratley my stepmother, I give to my dear son William Edwards Ruffin Spratley, to him and his heirs forever, but if my son William should die under the age of twenty one years and without lawful issue surviving him, then I direct all the property given him may be equally divided among the surviving children of my brother A.G. Spratley, the descendants of such as may be dead to take the same share as their ancestor would have taken had he, or she, been alive to them and their heirs forever.
Item 9 I nominate and appoint my brother A.G. Spratley executor of this my last will and testament. Given under my hand and seal this the 24th day of November 1858.
Signed & attested & acknowledged Jas W. Spratley (seal)
in the presence of the testator
and in the presence of each other
James S. Clarke
Lewis M. Spratley
In Surry County Court 27th December 1858
This last will and testament of James W. Spratley deceased was this day presented in court, and proved according to laws by the oaths of James S. Clarke and Lewis M. Spratley, the subscribing witnesses thereto, and thereupon ordered to be recorded. And on motion of Albert G. Spratley, the only executor in said will named who made oath thereto, and with Charles F. Wrenn and Lewis M. Spratley his securities (who justified on oath as to their sufficiency) entered into and acknowledged a bond in the penal sum of twelve thousand dollars conditioned as the law directs. Certificate is granted him for obtaining a probate of said will in due form.
Teste, Wm P. Underwood C.C.
Item 1st I wish my executor hereinafter to be named to pay all my just debts, as soon after my death as possible
Item 2nd I wish all the money due me, and that which may be on hand at my death, together with the sales of my chattel property and the balance to be paid by my servant John may be collected with as little delay as possible, and placed in some savings institution in the City of Richmond paying 6p cert interest.
Item 3rd I give to my dear wife Lucy all the slaves now held by me derived from her father to her and her heirs forever.
Item 4th I give my dear wife Lucy so much of my household and kitchen furniture as she may desire to take, to her and her heirs forever, and I also wish her to take such of the fowls as she may wish or all of them.
Item 5th I give to my dear wife during her widowhood all or so much of the interest on monies deposited in the savings institution as aforesaid directed, as she may require for her support and the support and education of my son William to be paid her semi-annually, but this bequest so far as my wife Lucy is concerned shall cease upon her second marriage.
Item 6th My servant John placed in my hands on the 7th January 1858 in part purchased for himself the sum of $572.50 now if the said servant John, will make up and pay to my executor a sum sufficient when added to the sum of $572.58 already paid with interest on the same, from 7th January 1858 to make up the sum of nine hundred dollars, there I emancipate and set free the said John and direct my exor to furnish him with the evidence of his freedom, but if my servant John cannot at once raise a sum sufficient to make with that already paid the sum of $900 then he shall have the benefit of his annual hire until the same shall have been paid to my estate when he shall be paid, and emancipated as before directed.
Item 7th At the death of our stepmother Mrs. Rebecca Spratley, my dear brother A.G. Spratley will be entitled to slaves sufficient to work his farm until that event occur, my dear brother has not the means of supporting his numerous family without help from me. I therefore loan my said brother during the life of our stepmother Mrs. R. Spratley the following slaves to wit: Janie, William, Mary and Fanny with the increase of the females thereof at the death of Mrs. R. Spratley, the said slaves will return to my estate and will pass as hereinafter directed to my son William E.R. Should my brother A.G. Spratley desire to purchase any of the slaves loaned him as aforesaid it is my will and desire that he may do so by paying my estate a valuation as may be fixed by any three disinterested persons.
Item 8th All the rest and residue of my estate including the money placed at interest during the life or widowhood of my wife, the slaves loaned my brother during the life of Mrs. R. Spratley, with my interest in the dower property now held by Mrs. R. Spratley my stepmother, I give to my dear son William Edwards Ruffin Spratley, to him and his heirs forever, but if my son William should die under the age of twenty one years and without lawful issue surviving him, then I direct all the property given him may be equally divided among the surviving children of my brother A.G. Spratley, the descendants of such as may be dead to take the same share as their ancestor would have taken had he, or she, been alive to them and their heirs forever.
Item 9 I nominate and appoint my brother A.G. Spratley executor of this my last will and testament. Given under my hand and seal this the 24th day of November 1858.
Signed & attested & acknowledged Jas W. Spratley (seal)
in the presence of the testator
and in the presence of each other
James S. Clarke
Lewis M. Spratley
In Surry County Court 27th December 1858
This last will and testament of James W. Spratley deceased was this day presented in court, and proved according to laws by the oaths of James S. Clarke and Lewis M. Spratley, the subscribing witnesses thereto, and thereupon ordered to be recorded. And on motion of Albert G. Spratley, the only executor in said will named who made oath thereto, and with Charles F. Wrenn and Lewis M. Spratley his securities (who justified on oath as to their sufficiency) entered into and acknowledged a bond in the penal sum of twelve thousand dollars conditioned as the law directs. Certificate is granted him for obtaining a probate of said will in due form.
Teste, Wm P. Underwood C.C.
Record Location
WB 10:339
Document Type
Last Will & Testament
Notes
conditional on John raising the listed amount to cover the cost of his self-purchase, further research required to verify the outcome of this situation
Files
Collection
Citation
“1858 - Spratley to John - Surry Co, VA,” Manumission Project, accessed December 16, 2025, https://manumissionproject.omeka.net/items/show/2502.