1863 - Sneed to Richard, et al - Orange Co, VA
Manumission Item Data Item Type Metadata
Date
12/28/1863
Manumitter
Number of Persons
9
Text of Freedom Document
I, Henry A. Sneed of Orange Courthouse being sick and about leaving home, upon travel, with the hope of reinstating my health, tho’ at this time, in perfect mind and memory, deem it expedient that I should make such disposition of my worldly effects as seemeth to me right and proper. Therefore, I make and ordain this to be my last will and testament as follows.
1st My just debts and funeral expenses are to be paid.
2nd I emancipate and set free my servants, or slaves, namely Richard usually called Dick, William, Harriett, Lucy daughter of Grace, Mary and her four children named Amanda, Lucy, Sarah and Allen, as well as all others I may own or be entitled to at the time of my death, and such increase of the females thereof as may be between this time and the time hereafter mentioned when this emancipation is to take effect, which emancipation is to commence and take effect at the expiration of year in which may die; and I charge and require my executors hereinafter named as I desire that my said servants should enjoy the benefits herein designed and intended for them, to remove them at the expense of my estate, either to the State of Ohio or Pennsylvania, or some state or territory within the United States where slavery does not exist by law as they may deem best and most advantageous for the said servants. Upon the removal of the said servants so emancipated, I require and direct my executors to give or pay to the said William, Harriett, Dick, Mary & Lucy daughter of Grace, the sum of one hundred dollars each, and to the said Mary, the sum of fifty dollars for each of her before named children to be by her applied to the benefit of the said children respectively, that is, each child to receive the benefit of fifty dollars. Also my said executors shall give or pay to any of my female servants above named the sum of fifty dollars for each child which may be born to them, respectively, between this time and the time hereinbefore mentioned when the emancipation of the said servants is to take effect. If there be no mother, then the said sum of fifty dollars is to be so applied, as in the discretion of my executors, will best promote the interest of the one for whom it is intended.
3rd I give and devise to my sister Mary L. Sneed the sum of one thousand dollars.
4th I give and devise to my aunt Mary Lewis the sum of three hundred dollars.
5th I give and devise to my brother in law, Alfred Thomson the sum of six hundred dollars.
6th The rest and residue of my estate of what nature or kind the same may be, I direct my executors to convert into money (debts due me excepted) either by public or private sale as they may deem proper, that is debts due me to be collected, and other property to be sold as aforesaid, and the proceeds arising from such collections and sales is to be equally divided between my brother Littleton W. Sneed and my said brother in law Alfred Thomson to whom I give the same, respectively, and to their heirs forever.
Lastly I constitute and appoint my brother Littleton W. Sneed and my brother in law Alfred Thomson executors of this my last will and testament and desire the County Court of Orange when they qualify as such shall not require security of them.
In testimony whereof I hereto put my name and affix my seal this twenty third day of March eighteen hundred and fifty nine.
Acknowledged, published & declared Henry A. Sneed (seal)
as & for the last will and testament
of the testator in our presence, who
at his request & in his presence & in
the presence of each other, have
subscribed our names as witnesses hereto.
Philip S. Fry
Philip H. Fry
At a monthly court continued and held for the County of Orange, at the courthouse, on Tuesday the 29th day of April 1862. This last will and testament of Henry A. Sneed was this day proved by the oath of Philip H. Fry a witness thereto. Philip S. Fry, the other witness to the said will being dead, James S. Robinson and Philip H. Fry were sworn and severally deposed that they are well acquainted with the handwriting of the said Fry, and verily believe that the signature thereto is wholly in the handwriting of the said Fry. Whereupon the said writing is ordered to be recorded as the last will and testament of Henry A. Sneed, deceased. And on the motion of Alfred Thomson, one of the executors named therein, who made oath thereto according to law, and into and acknowledged a bond which is ordered to be recorded without security (the will directing that none should be required) in the penalty of forty thousand dollars conditioned as the law directs, certificate is granted him for obtaining a probate thereof in due form.
At a monthly court held for the County of Orange at the courthouse on Monday the 28th day of December 1863. On the motion of Littleton W. Sneed, one of the executors named in the last will and testament of Henry A. Sneed, dec’d, which was admitted to probate at April Court 1862, who made oath thereto, according to law, and entered into and acknowledged bond which is ordered to be recorded without security (the will directing that none should be required) in the penalty of forty thousand dollars conditioned as the law directs, certificate is granted him for obtaining a probate thereof in due form.
Teste
1st My just debts and funeral expenses are to be paid.
2nd I emancipate and set free my servants, or slaves, namely Richard usually called Dick, William, Harriett, Lucy daughter of Grace, Mary and her four children named Amanda, Lucy, Sarah and Allen, as well as all others I may own or be entitled to at the time of my death, and such increase of the females thereof as may be between this time and the time hereafter mentioned when this emancipation is to take effect, which emancipation is to commence and take effect at the expiration of year in which may die; and I charge and require my executors hereinafter named as I desire that my said servants should enjoy the benefits herein designed and intended for them, to remove them at the expense of my estate, either to the State of Ohio or Pennsylvania, or some state or territory within the United States where slavery does not exist by law as they may deem best and most advantageous for the said servants. Upon the removal of the said servants so emancipated, I require and direct my executors to give or pay to the said William, Harriett, Dick, Mary & Lucy daughter of Grace, the sum of one hundred dollars each, and to the said Mary, the sum of fifty dollars for each of her before named children to be by her applied to the benefit of the said children respectively, that is, each child to receive the benefit of fifty dollars. Also my said executors shall give or pay to any of my female servants above named the sum of fifty dollars for each child which may be born to them, respectively, between this time and the time hereinbefore mentioned when the emancipation of the said servants is to take effect. If there be no mother, then the said sum of fifty dollars is to be so applied, as in the discretion of my executors, will best promote the interest of the one for whom it is intended.
3rd I give and devise to my sister Mary L. Sneed the sum of one thousand dollars.
4th I give and devise to my aunt Mary Lewis the sum of three hundred dollars.
5th I give and devise to my brother in law, Alfred Thomson the sum of six hundred dollars.
6th The rest and residue of my estate of what nature or kind the same may be, I direct my executors to convert into money (debts due me excepted) either by public or private sale as they may deem proper, that is debts due me to be collected, and other property to be sold as aforesaid, and the proceeds arising from such collections and sales is to be equally divided between my brother Littleton W. Sneed and my said brother in law Alfred Thomson to whom I give the same, respectively, and to their heirs forever.
Lastly I constitute and appoint my brother Littleton W. Sneed and my brother in law Alfred Thomson executors of this my last will and testament and desire the County Court of Orange when they qualify as such shall not require security of them.
In testimony whereof I hereto put my name and affix my seal this twenty third day of March eighteen hundred and fifty nine.
Acknowledged, published & declared Henry A. Sneed (seal)
as & for the last will and testament
of the testator in our presence, who
at his request & in his presence & in
the presence of each other, have
subscribed our names as witnesses hereto.
Philip S. Fry
Philip H. Fry
At a monthly court continued and held for the County of Orange, at the courthouse, on Tuesday the 29th day of April 1862. This last will and testament of Henry A. Sneed was this day proved by the oath of Philip H. Fry a witness thereto. Philip S. Fry, the other witness to the said will being dead, James S. Robinson and Philip H. Fry were sworn and severally deposed that they are well acquainted with the handwriting of the said Fry, and verily believe that the signature thereto is wholly in the handwriting of the said Fry. Whereupon the said writing is ordered to be recorded as the last will and testament of Henry A. Sneed, deceased. And on the motion of Alfred Thomson, one of the executors named therein, who made oath thereto according to law, and into and acknowledged a bond which is ordered to be recorded without security (the will directing that none should be required) in the penalty of forty thousand dollars conditioned as the law directs, certificate is granted him for obtaining a probate thereof in due form.
At a monthly court held for the County of Orange at the courthouse on Monday the 28th day of December 1863. On the motion of Littleton W. Sneed, one of the executors named in the last will and testament of Henry A. Sneed, dec’d, which was admitted to probate at April Court 1862, who made oath thereto, according to law, and entered into and acknowledged bond which is ordered to be recorded without security (the will directing that none should be required) in the penalty of forty thousand dollars conditioned as the law directs, certificate is granted him for obtaining a probate thereof in due form.
Teste
Record Location
WB 12:452
Document Type
Last Will & Testament
Files
Collection
Citation
“1863 - Sneed to Richard, et al - Orange Co, VA,” Manumission Project, accessed June 16, 2026, https://manumissionproject.omeka.net/items/show/2774.