1825 - Doggett to Reuben - Lancaster Co, VA
Manumission Item Data Item Type Metadata
Date
12/19/1825
Manumitter
Manumitted
Number of Persons
4
Text of Freedom Document
In the name of God Amen. I John Doggett of the County of Lancaster and State of Virginia enjoying good health and of sound mind and disposing memory but calling to mind the uncertainty of this life and the certainty of death, and with a strong hope of a glorious resurrection through the merits of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ do desire that my body be buried in a Christian like manner, and as for the worldly goods it hath pleased Almighty God, to bless me with I desire in the following manner. I give to my son Cyrus my home plantation to him and his heirs forever. I give to my son David S. my upper plantation to him and his heirs forever the dividing line between the lands given to my said sons to begin at a small spruce pine marked as a line tree at or near a large oak stump on the line between the lands of Spencer George and myself from thence as the petition fence runs across by my middle gate, continuing as the said fence now stands across the main swamp above the head of John Creek till it strikes the line between the lands of the estate of Dennis Doggett dec’d and myself.
It is my will and desire that the bed & bed stand with two pair of sheets two pair of pillow cases, two blankets, one best white and one checked cotton and one yarn fringed counterpans, and two best bed quilts and one small painted oval table that stand in the back chamber, or preachers room (so called) remain there for the accommodation of preachers of the Gospel, I give to my son Cyrus my negroes Charlie, Reubin, Suckey, and Beckey, with their increase and it is my desire that he trust them with humanity also one large looking glass in the hall, one large oval table, my desk, six choice Windsor chairs, bed, bed stand, curtains & furniture in the chamber all my light casks, half of my stock of cattle, sheep and hogs on half of my still and wheat fan almost my buffet, four volumes Fletcher Chicks, two vol. Woods Dictionary, Family Bible, one small square table in the hall and my clock.
I give to my daughter Sarah my negroes Venus, Eliza, & Lewis also one bed, bed stand, furniture in the middle room, one looking glass that she now has in her possession and three vol. of Westleys Sermon I give to my daughter Mary S. my negroes Rosanna Spencer and Dorcas also her choice bed, bed stand, and furniture upstairs, one looking glass now in her possession and the balance of Westley Sermons not devised to my daughter Sarah.
I give to my son David S. my negroes Henry, Miranda, Winney and Judith with their increase and it is my desire that he treat them with humanity, also my grey mare Diamond my large square table in the hall, six Windsor chairs, his choice of my beds, bed stands, and furniture that has not been heretofore willed half of my stock of cows, sheep, and hogs, half of my still and wheat fan, looking glass in the dining room, my cupboard, twelve vol. of Encyclopedia, two vol. Armenian Magazine all my law books including the revised Code of Virginia and two vol. of Haylands Epitome.
I give to Jane Sutton the sum of thirty dollars to raised out of my estate for her particular attention to my family affairs.
It is my will and desire that all the balance of my estate not heretofore disposed of after the payment of my just debts I give to be equally divided amongst my daughters Sarah and Mary S. and my son David S.
It is my will and desire that my executors hereinafter named shall hold in trust all the estate that I have devised to my daughter Sarah until she settle her administratix account on the estate of her dec’d husband and pay over whatever may be found due, from her to said estate, or my executors shall on her failure to do so sell so much of that estate that I have devised her as will pay off any claim that may come against my estate in consequence of my having been bound as security for her as administratix of her dec’d husband and then deliver over the balance to her or the whole as the case may be.
I hereby nominate and appoint my son Cyrus as guardian to my son David as it is my wish and desire that the court will not require bond or security of him for his guardianship.
Whereas under the existing laws of this state it is impracticable to emancipate slaves to remain herein it is my request of my sons that should the laws of our land permit slaves to be granted their freedom at any time during their lifetime that they set free and at full liberty the following slaves to wit Reubin at the age of forty years if practicable and the others Suckey, Becky and Judith as soon as practicable. I hereby nominate and appoint my friend John Chowning and my son Cyrus as Executors to this my last will and testament hereby revoking all other wills by me heretofore made. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal the 27th day of March in the year one thousand eight hundred and twenty four.
Signed & acknowledged John Doggett (seal)
in presence of
[?Bidrar?] George
Elizabeth T. Kirk
Frances Simmonds
Elizabeth C. Edwards
At a court held for the County of Lancaster on the 19th day of December 1825. This last will and testament of John Doggett dec’d was proven in open court by the oaths of Bidrar George & Frances Simmonds two of the witnesses thereto and ordered to be recorded.
Teste,
Benjamin M. Walker CC
It is my will and desire that the bed & bed stand with two pair of sheets two pair of pillow cases, two blankets, one best white and one checked cotton and one yarn fringed counterpans, and two best bed quilts and one small painted oval table that stand in the back chamber, or preachers room (so called) remain there for the accommodation of preachers of the Gospel, I give to my son Cyrus my negroes Charlie, Reubin, Suckey, and Beckey, with their increase and it is my desire that he trust them with humanity also one large looking glass in the hall, one large oval table, my desk, six choice Windsor chairs, bed, bed stand, curtains & furniture in the chamber all my light casks, half of my stock of cattle, sheep and hogs on half of my still and wheat fan almost my buffet, four volumes Fletcher Chicks, two vol. Woods Dictionary, Family Bible, one small square table in the hall and my clock.
I give to my daughter Sarah my negroes Venus, Eliza, & Lewis also one bed, bed stand, furniture in the middle room, one looking glass that she now has in her possession and three vol. of Westleys Sermon I give to my daughter Mary S. my negroes Rosanna Spencer and Dorcas also her choice bed, bed stand, and furniture upstairs, one looking glass now in her possession and the balance of Westley Sermons not devised to my daughter Sarah.
I give to my son David S. my negroes Henry, Miranda, Winney and Judith with their increase and it is my desire that he treat them with humanity, also my grey mare Diamond my large square table in the hall, six Windsor chairs, his choice of my beds, bed stands, and furniture that has not been heretofore willed half of my stock of cows, sheep, and hogs, half of my still and wheat fan, looking glass in the dining room, my cupboard, twelve vol. of Encyclopedia, two vol. Armenian Magazine all my law books including the revised Code of Virginia and two vol. of Haylands Epitome.
I give to Jane Sutton the sum of thirty dollars to raised out of my estate for her particular attention to my family affairs.
It is my will and desire that all the balance of my estate not heretofore disposed of after the payment of my just debts I give to be equally divided amongst my daughters Sarah and Mary S. and my son David S.
It is my will and desire that my executors hereinafter named shall hold in trust all the estate that I have devised to my daughter Sarah until she settle her administratix account on the estate of her dec’d husband and pay over whatever may be found due, from her to said estate, or my executors shall on her failure to do so sell so much of that estate that I have devised her as will pay off any claim that may come against my estate in consequence of my having been bound as security for her as administratix of her dec’d husband and then deliver over the balance to her or the whole as the case may be.
I hereby nominate and appoint my son Cyrus as guardian to my son David as it is my wish and desire that the court will not require bond or security of him for his guardianship.
Whereas under the existing laws of this state it is impracticable to emancipate slaves to remain herein it is my request of my sons that should the laws of our land permit slaves to be granted their freedom at any time during their lifetime that they set free and at full liberty the following slaves to wit Reubin at the age of forty years if practicable and the others Suckey, Becky and Judith as soon as practicable. I hereby nominate and appoint my friend John Chowning and my son Cyrus as Executors to this my last will and testament hereby revoking all other wills by me heretofore made. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal the 27th day of March in the year one thousand eight hundred and twenty four.
Signed & acknowledged John Doggett (seal)
in presence of
[?Bidrar?] George
Elizabeth T. Kirk
Frances Simmonds
Elizabeth C. Edwards
At a court held for the County of Lancaster on the 19th day of December 1825. This last will and testament of John Doggett dec’d was proven in open court by the oaths of Bidrar George & Frances Simmonds two of the witnesses thereto and ordered to be recorded.
Teste,
Benjamin M. Walker CC
Record Location
WB 28:258
Document Type
Last Will & Testament
Files
Collection
Citation
“1825 - Doggett to Reuben - Lancaster Co, VA,” Manumission Project, accessed July 11, 2025, https://manumissionproject.omeka.net/items/show/2598.