1858 - Chapman to Thornton, et al - Orange Co, VA
Manumission Item Data Item Type Metadata
Date
09/27/1858
Manumitter
Number of Persons
7
Text of Freedom Document
In the name of God Amen. I Richard M. Chapman of the County of Orange and State of Virginia, being of sound mind and disposing memory do make and ordain this to be my last will and testament hereby revoking all the other wills heretofore made by me.
Item 1st I hereby subject all my estate both real and personal to the payment of my debts, and I authorize and empower my executors hereinafter named to sell at private of public sale, all or any part of my real estate, the property at the village, in such parts or portions as they may deem best and on such terms as they may deem best, to sell my plantation on the plant road called The Mountain, and any other real estate I may have in the County of Orange, or anywhere else, the sales to be made on such terms and at such times as my executors may deem best for the interest of my estate.
Item 2nd I hereby emancipate and set free the following slaves namely: Thornton, his wife Fanny, and Fanny’s five youngest children, namely: Betty, Jimmy, Joe Thompson, Matilda & Philip & any other child said Fanny may have. And I hereby emancipate and set free Mary Susan, usually called Jady and her children Molly, John, and Paul, and any other child she may have.
Item 3rd I give and devise to my woman Fanny, and her family, the sum of five hundred dollars, and to my woman Jady before named & her family, the sum of three hundred dollars, the said sums of five hundred dollars and three hundred dollars to be paid to said Fanny & Jady, respectively, as soon after my death as it may be convenient to do so, and my said executors are required to assist said slaves on removing them to some non-slave holding state by paying their passage thereto.
Item 4th After payment of legacies, expenses & debts, my wish is that the proceeds of my property, perishable and land, may be divided into four equal parts, save the village property: one fourth to James Chapmen, one fourth to Susan Read, one fourth to William H. Chapman, and one fourth to Maria Read.
Item 5th From the proceeds of the village property, I will and direct that the proceeds may be divided into five parts, and equally divided between my five children, Johnson Chapman among them.
Item 6th I direct and hope that my executors will afford to my old slaves Ben and his wife Nancy a good support during their lives out of my estate.
Item 7th I emancipate and set free my two boys, John & Lewis, when they respectively attain the age of thirty years, assuming John’s age to be fifteen years and Lewis’ age to be thirteen years. I hope my children will be satisfied with what I done, as I shall leave them a good deal, but if complaint be made on the part of any child, I will and direct that the complaining one shall be deprived of any part or portion of my estate.
Item 8th I enjoin and require my executors to pay the legacies to the slaves as soon after my death as they can, and aid them in getting a home, as they may all reside together, being as it were on family.
Item 9th I hereby appoint James Chapman and William H. Chapman executors of this my last will and testament, hoping that the Court of Orange will not require them in any manner or form as my executors to give security, leaving full confidence in them. This will being written with my own hand, every word and letter of it. I shall not have it witnessed, my handwriting being too well known to make witnesses necessary.
In testimony whereof I have hereto put my hand and seal this 13th day of July 1855.
Richd M. Chapman. (seal)
I Richard M. Chapman having changed my mind in relation to some of my slaves emancipated in the body of this will, do by this codicil to my will, revoke those clauses emancipating the slaves therein named, and the legacy to Mary Susan, commonly called Jady and her family. And I do by this codicil only emancipate Thornton and his wife Fanny and her five youngest children, namely: Betty, Jimmy, Joe Thompson, Matilda and Philip, and any other child or children which may be hereafter born to the said Fanny. Witness my hand and seal this 4th day of September 1855.
Richd M. Chapmen (seal)
At a monthly court held for the County of Orange at the courthouse on Monday the 27th of September 1858. These two writings purporting to be the last will and testament of Richard M. Chapman deceased were produced into court by James Chapman, one of the executors therein named, and there being no subscribing witnesses thereto, Lewis B. Williams and Philip S. Fry were sworn and severally deposed that they are well acquainted with the handwriting of the said Richard M. Chapman, and verily believe that the said writings and the name thereto subscribed are wholly in the handwriting of the said deceased. Whereupon the said writings are ordered to be recorded as the true last will and testament of the said Richard M. Chapman. And on the motion of James Chapman, one of the executors therein named, who made oath thereto according to law, and entered into and acknowledged a bond without security (the will directing that none should be required) in the penalty of forty four thousand dollars, conditioned as the law directs. Certificate is granted him for obtaining a probate thereof in due form.
Teste
Item 1st I hereby subject all my estate both real and personal to the payment of my debts, and I authorize and empower my executors hereinafter named to sell at private of public sale, all or any part of my real estate, the property at the village, in such parts or portions as they may deem best and on such terms as they may deem best, to sell my plantation on the plant road called The Mountain, and any other real estate I may have in the County of Orange, or anywhere else, the sales to be made on such terms and at such times as my executors may deem best for the interest of my estate.
Item 2nd I hereby emancipate and set free the following slaves namely: Thornton, his wife Fanny, and Fanny’s five youngest children, namely: Betty, Jimmy, Joe Thompson, Matilda & Philip & any other child said Fanny may have. And I hereby emancipate and set free Mary Susan, usually called Jady and her children Molly, John, and Paul, and any other child she may have.
Item 3rd I give and devise to my woman Fanny, and her family, the sum of five hundred dollars, and to my woman Jady before named & her family, the sum of three hundred dollars, the said sums of five hundred dollars and three hundred dollars to be paid to said Fanny & Jady, respectively, as soon after my death as it may be convenient to do so, and my said executors are required to assist said slaves on removing them to some non-slave holding state by paying their passage thereto.
Item 4th After payment of legacies, expenses & debts, my wish is that the proceeds of my property, perishable and land, may be divided into four equal parts, save the village property: one fourth to James Chapmen, one fourth to Susan Read, one fourth to William H. Chapman, and one fourth to Maria Read.
Item 5th From the proceeds of the village property, I will and direct that the proceeds may be divided into five parts, and equally divided between my five children, Johnson Chapman among them.
Item 6th I direct and hope that my executors will afford to my old slaves Ben and his wife Nancy a good support during their lives out of my estate.
Item 7th I emancipate and set free my two boys, John & Lewis, when they respectively attain the age of thirty years, assuming John’s age to be fifteen years and Lewis’ age to be thirteen years. I hope my children will be satisfied with what I done, as I shall leave them a good deal, but if complaint be made on the part of any child, I will and direct that the complaining one shall be deprived of any part or portion of my estate.
Item 8th I enjoin and require my executors to pay the legacies to the slaves as soon after my death as they can, and aid them in getting a home, as they may all reside together, being as it were on family.
Item 9th I hereby appoint James Chapman and William H. Chapman executors of this my last will and testament, hoping that the Court of Orange will not require them in any manner or form as my executors to give security, leaving full confidence in them. This will being written with my own hand, every word and letter of it. I shall not have it witnessed, my handwriting being too well known to make witnesses necessary.
In testimony whereof I have hereto put my hand and seal this 13th day of July 1855.
Richd M. Chapman. (seal)
I Richard M. Chapman having changed my mind in relation to some of my slaves emancipated in the body of this will, do by this codicil to my will, revoke those clauses emancipating the slaves therein named, and the legacy to Mary Susan, commonly called Jady and her family. And I do by this codicil only emancipate Thornton and his wife Fanny and her five youngest children, namely: Betty, Jimmy, Joe Thompson, Matilda and Philip, and any other child or children which may be hereafter born to the said Fanny. Witness my hand and seal this 4th day of September 1855.
Richd M. Chapmen (seal)
At a monthly court held for the County of Orange at the courthouse on Monday the 27th of September 1858. These two writings purporting to be the last will and testament of Richard M. Chapman deceased were produced into court by James Chapman, one of the executors therein named, and there being no subscribing witnesses thereto, Lewis B. Williams and Philip S. Fry were sworn and severally deposed that they are well acquainted with the handwriting of the said Richard M. Chapman, and verily believe that the said writings and the name thereto subscribed are wholly in the handwriting of the said deceased. Whereupon the said writings are ordered to be recorded as the true last will and testament of the said Richard M. Chapman. And on the motion of James Chapman, one of the executors therein named, who made oath thereto according to law, and entered into and acknowledged a bond without security (the will directing that none should be required) in the penalty of forty four thousand dollars, conditioned as the law directs. Certificate is granted him for obtaining a probate thereof in due form.
Teste
Record Location
WB 12:325
Document Type
Last Will & Testament
Files
Collection
Citation
“1858 - Chapman to Thornton, et al - Orange Co, VA,” Manumission Project, accessed June 11, 2026, https://manumissionproject.omeka.net/items/show/2772.