1814 - Shearman to Billy - Lancaster Co, VA
Manumission Item Data Item Type Metadata
Date
06/20/1814
Manumitter
Number of Persons
4
Text of Freedom Document
In the name of God, I Martin Shearman of Lancaster County and State of Virginia being of my perfect senses do make and publish this my last will and testament in manner and form as followeth.
Item I give unto my brother Ezekiel G. Shearman my land and plantation whereon I now live with all that appurtenances thereto and also the following negroes to wit: Joseph, Billy (the cartman), Samuel, Daniel (the carpenter), Dinah, Apphias, Mahaly and Fanny and one half of my household and kitchen furniture.
Item I give unto my nephew Ellis LB Tapscott and John MS Tapscott my land and plantation lying and being at or near the mouth Mosquito Creek to be divided between them provided that they secure to my executors hereafter to be named the payment of one half of such legacies as may be hereafter by me given.
Item I give the remainder part of my negroes and the personal estate of every nature and kind whatsoever after my debts are paid and satisfied except the negroes hereafter to be named to be equally divided between my brothers Ezkiel G. Shearman and my two nephews Ellis LB Tapscott and John MS Tapscott.
Item My will is that my following negroes to wit: Billy (who is called Billy Tapscott), Thomas Spriggs, Arignas and Margon shall have and enjoy their freedom in as full a manner as if they had been born free, and I hereby give unto Arignas the sum of twenty dollars per year to be paid out of my estate by my Executors hereafter to be named for and during the term of twenty years from and after my death should she live so long.
Item I hereby constitute and appoint my brother Ezkiel G. Shearman and my old and valuable friend Master Wm Kirk Executor of this my last will and testament, and desire that they may not be called on to give bond and security for the execution thereof. In witness whereof I hereunto set my hand and affix my seal this 18th day of September in the year of our Lord 1811.
Teste Martin Shearman (seal)
Samuel M. Shearman
James Gibson
Codicil to the written will
Item It is my will and desire that my dear and valuable relation Polly Tapscott in consequence of her particular care and attention to my domestic concerns since the death of my loving wife, her sister, shall have and enjoy the use of a part of my land and plantation within by me given to my brother. The part of which is for the use of my relation Polly Tapscott is bounded as followeth: beginning at a beach about two or three hundred yards above my windmill thence running through the middle of a marsh up its different courses to the main road along the ferry road from thence by my line which is a ditch to the river from thence along the river short to the beginning, which bounds will include my dwelling house and orchard & I also desire that she may have fire wood and rail [?shiff?] sufficient to keep up the fences around the orchard yard and garden from any part of my said plantation that may be most convenient. I also lend to her my said relation the use of my negro man Joseph and my negro woman Dinah, and also desire and will that my Executors or Administrators shall pay out of my estate unto my said relation Polly Tapscott one hundred and fifty dollars per year, and that she shall have my riding gig and her choice of two of my horses, and one half of my household and kitchen furniture, all of which land and property above mentioned it is my will that she my said relation Polly Tapscott shall have and enjoy the use for and during her life or so long as she shall remain unmarried, and at such time as she may depart this life or marry then it is my will and desire that the land and property herein set apart for her use shall go and pass as within before me given. In witness whereof I hereunto set my hand and affix my seal this 30th day of December in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirteen.
Teste, Martin Shearman (seal)
Sam M. Shearman
James Gibson
At a court held for Lancaster County on the 20th day of June 1814
This last will and testament and codicil of Martin Shearman dec’d were proved according to law by the oath of Samuel M. Shearman and James Gibson the witnesses thereto and ordered to be recorded.
Teste,
James Towles CC
Item I give unto my brother Ezekiel G. Shearman my land and plantation whereon I now live with all that appurtenances thereto and also the following negroes to wit: Joseph, Billy (the cartman), Samuel, Daniel (the carpenter), Dinah, Apphias, Mahaly and Fanny and one half of my household and kitchen furniture.
Item I give unto my nephew Ellis LB Tapscott and John MS Tapscott my land and plantation lying and being at or near the mouth Mosquito Creek to be divided between them provided that they secure to my executors hereafter to be named the payment of one half of such legacies as may be hereafter by me given.
Item I give the remainder part of my negroes and the personal estate of every nature and kind whatsoever after my debts are paid and satisfied except the negroes hereafter to be named to be equally divided between my brothers Ezkiel G. Shearman and my two nephews Ellis LB Tapscott and John MS Tapscott.
Item My will is that my following negroes to wit: Billy (who is called Billy Tapscott), Thomas Spriggs, Arignas and Margon shall have and enjoy their freedom in as full a manner as if they had been born free, and I hereby give unto Arignas the sum of twenty dollars per year to be paid out of my estate by my Executors hereafter to be named for and during the term of twenty years from and after my death should she live so long.
Item I hereby constitute and appoint my brother Ezkiel G. Shearman and my old and valuable friend Master Wm Kirk Executor of this my last will and testament, and desire that they may not be called on to give bond and security for the execution thereof. In witness whereof I hereunto set my hand and affix my seal this 18th day of September in the year of our Lord 1811.
Teste Martin Shearman (seal)
Samuel M. Shearman
James Gibson
Codicil to the written will
Item It is my will and desire that my dear and valuable relation Polly Tapscott in consequence of her particular care and attention to my domestic concerns since the death of my loving wife, her sister, shall have and enjoy the use of a part of my land and plantation within by me given to my brother. The part of which is for the use of my relation Polly Tapscott is bounded as followeth: beginning at a beach about two or three hundred yards above my windmill thence running through the middle of a marsh up its different courses to the main road along the ferry road from thence by my line which is a ditch to the river from thence along the river short to the beginning, which bounds will include my dwelling house and orchard & I also desire that she may have fire wood and rail [?shiff?] sufficient to keep up the fences around the orchard yard and garden from any part of my said plantation that may be most convenient. I also lend to her my said relation the use of my negro man Joseph and my negro woman Dinah, and also desire and will that my Executors or Administrators shall pay out of my estate unto my said relation Polly Tapscott one hundred and fifty dollars per year, and that she shall have my riding gig and her choice of two of my horses, and one half of my household and kitchen furniture, all of which land and property above mentioned it is my will that she my said relation Polly Tapscott shall have and enjoy the use for and during her life or so long as she shall remain unmarried, and at such time as she may depart this life or marry then it is my will and desire that the land and property herein set apart for her use shall go and pass as within before me given. In witness whereof I hereunto set my hand and affix my seal this 30th day of December in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirteen.
Teste, Martin Shearman (seal)
Sam M. Shearman
James Gibson
At a court held for Lancaster County on the 20th day of June 1814
This last will and testament and codicil of Martin Shearman dec’d were proved according to law by the oath of Samuel M. Shearman and James Gibson the witnesses thereto and ordered to be recorded.
Teste,
James Towles CC
Record Location
WB 28:148
Document Type
Last Will & Testament
Files
Collection
Citation
“1814 - Shearman to Billy - Lancaster Co, VA,” Manumission Project, accessed February 12, 2026, https://manumissionproject.omeka.net/items/show/2595.