1843 - Downman to Dominick - Lancaster Co, VA
Manumission Item Data Item Type Metadata
Date
03/20/1843
Manumitter
Manumitted
Number of Persons
4
Text of Freedom Document
I Rawleigh W. Downman of Norwood in the County of Lancaster do make and publish this my last will and testament, revoking all other wills heretofore made by me.
First I give to my negro man servant Dominick his absolute personal freedom and with his freedom I also give him five hundred dollars to be paid out of my estate.
Second I give to my negro woman servant Felicia and to her two children Edwin & Milley their absolute personal freedom. I also give to the said woman Felicia the sum of five hundred dollars, and to the said boy Edwin & to the said girl Milley the sum of five hundred dollars each: with the request & direction to my executor hereinafter named to apprentice the said boy Edwin & the said girl Milley to some useful trade or occupation & to pay them the money herein devised to them in such proportions and at such times as he may think best, so that the whole sum be paid to each at or before they reach the age of twenty one years.
Third I give to my nephew Rawleigh William, son of my brother John B. Downman, the sum of one thousand dollars.
Fourth I give to my nephew William Yates Downman, son of my deceased brother Joseph H. Downman, the sum of six hundred dollars.
Fifth I give to my cousin John S. Chinn the sum of six hundred dollars.
Sixth I leave in the hands of my executor hereinafter named the sum of five hundred dollars with the request and direction that he will pay it over in such manner as he may think best to those individuals who may be acting as vestrymen or trustees for White Chapel Church in the County of Lancaster & to be by them used for any purpose connected with the interests of the said church.
Seventh. All the rest of my estate whether real or personal I give to my brother John B. Downman & his heirs forever.
Eight I hereby constitute and appoint my brother John B. Downman the executor of this will & request that he may be permitted to qualify without giving security.
Signed & sealed this 2nd day of July 1840.
Rawleigh Downman (seal)
Signed for him at his request
by me J.W. Chinn
Teste This will was signed by Jos. W. Chinn for Raw. W. Downman at his request: it was also wholly, fully & correctly read to the said Downman by each of us and he acknowledged it to be his last will & testament & requested us to witness it, which we have done in his presence.
Jos. W. Chinn
Wm T. Jesse
Dan’l P. Mitchell
At a court held for the County of Lancaster on the 20th day of March 1843. This last will and testament of Raw. W. Downman dec’d was proved in open court by the oaths of William T. Jesse and Dan’l P. Mitchell two of the witnesses thereto & ordered to be recorded.
Teste,
Ro. Dunaway CC
First I give to my negro man servant Dominick his absolute personal freedom and with his freedom I also give him five hundred dollars to be paid out of my estate.
Second I give to my negro woman servant Felicia and to her two children Edwin & Milley their absolute personal freedom. I also give to the said woman Felicia the sum of five hundred dollars, and to the said boy Edwin & to the said girl Milley the sum of five hundred dollars each: with the request & direction to my executor hereinafter named to apprentice the said boy Edwin & the said girl Milley to some useful trade or occupation & to pay them the money herein devised to them in such proportions and at such times as he may think best, so that the whole sum be paid to each at or before they reach the age of twenty one years.
Third I give to my nephew Rawleigh William, son of my brother John B. Downman, the sum of one thousand dollars.
Fourth I give to my nephew William Yates Downman, son of my deceased brother Joseph H. Downman, the sum of six hundred dollars.
Fifth I give to my cousin John S. Chinn the sum of six hundred dollars.
Sixth I leave in the hands of my executor hereinafter named the sum of five hundred dollars with the request and direction that he will pay it over in such manner as he may think best to those individuals who may be acting as vestrymen or trustees for White Chapel Church in the County of Lancaster & to be by them used for any purpose connected with the interests of the said church.
Seventh. All the rest of my estate whether real or personal I give to my brother John B. Downman & his heirs forever.
Eight I hereby constitute and appoint my brother John B. Downman the executor of this will & request that he may be permitted to qualify without giving security.
Signed & sealed this 2nd day of July 1840.
Rawleigh Downman (seal)
Signed for him at his request
by me J.W. Chinn
Teste This will was signed by Jos. W. Chinn for Raw. W. Downman at his request: it was also wholly, fully & correctly read to the said Downman by each of us and he acknowledged it to be his last will & testament & requested us to witness it, which we have done in his presence.
Jos. W. Chinn
Wm T. Jesse
Dan’l P. Mitchell
At a court held for the County of Lancaster on the 20th day of March 1843. This last will and testament of Raw. W. Downman dec’d was proved in open court by the oaths of William T. Jesse and Dan’l P. Mitchell two of the witnesses thereto & ordered to be recorded.
Teste,
Ro. Dunaway CC
Record Location
WB 29:29
Document Type
Last Will & Testament
Files
Collection
Citation
“1843 - Downman to Dominick - Lancaster Co, VA,” Manumission Project, accessed January 19, 2026, https://manumissionproject.omeka.net/items/show/2602.