1854 - Clapp to Lucy & Sarah - Washington Co, VA
Manumission Item Data Item Type Metadata
Date
10/23/1854
Manumitter
Manumitted
Number of Persons
2
Text of Freedom Document
Believing it to be proper that I should dispose of my estate in a manner different from that, in which by law it would descend were I to depart this life intestate, I Earl Bourne Clapp, do make and publish this my last will and testament in manner and form following to wit:
First, I devise to my son Theophilus P. Clapp all the real estate that I may be possessed of at my death, to him and his heirs forever, except that portion of my real estate which I call my Lower Factory, and which is bounded as follows viz:
Beginning at a white oak tree, corner to the lands of James Vance and James H. Duma, and running with the said Vance’s line and with the fence as it now stands, to a cross fence adjoining said Vance and with said cross fence by a small parcel of meadow land to a corner of the fence thence with said fence as it now stands to the creek, and with the creek with its meanderings to a dogwood and white oak grub, corner to Clark’s land, and from said dogwood and white oak grub, to a stone set up, a corner to Dunn’s land and from said stone to the beginning.
Second, I direct my executors to sell my Lower Factory property as herein above described upon such credit as they may think best, taking bond and security for the payment of the purchase money, and the proceeds of said sale I devise as follows to wit. To my granddaughter Ann Louisa Vandyke, formerly Ann Louisa Bronaugh, daughter of my daughter Elizabeth C. Bronaugh, five hundred dollars. To my negro girl Sarah, hereinafter mentioned five hundred dollars and the balance of the proceeds of said sale I devise to my grandchildren, the children of my son Theophilus P. Clapp.
Third, to my granddaughter Ann Louisa Vandyke I bequeath my negro girl Elizabeth, heretofore conveyed to her and now in her possession.
Fourth, to my grandson Earl B.C. Bronaugh, I give my negro man Tom, now in his possession.
Fifth, to my grandson William P. Bronaugh, I give my negro man Washington now in his possession.
Sixth, to my son Jeremiah W. Clapp, I give my boy Sandy and my negro girl Charlotte, now in his possession. These negroes together with a bequest hereinafter made are all that I give to my son Jeremiah W. Clapp in consideration of the fact that I expended a considerable sum of money upon his education.
Seventh, to my granddaughter Elizabeth W. Clapp, the daughter of my son Theophilus P. Clapp, I give my negro girl Amchia.
Eighth To my grandson Earl Bourne Clapp, the son of Theophilus P. Clapp, I give my negro boy Henry.
Ninth To my granddaughter Ellen W. Clapp, the daughter of my son Theophilus P. Clapp, I give my negro girl Jane.
Tenth To my grandson Theophilus P. Clapp, the son of my son Theophilus P. Clapp, I give my negro boy Joseph.
Eleventh To my granddaughter Mary Louisa Clapp, the daughter of my son Theophilus P. Clapp, I give my negro girl Caroline.
Twelfth To my grandson Jeremiah W. Clapp the son of my son Theophilus P. Clapp, I give my negro boy Mitchell.
Thirteenth To my granddaughter Agnes W. Clapp, the daughter of my son Theophilus P. Clapp, I give my boy Fletcher.
Fourteenth To my grandson John M. Clapp, the son of my son Theophilus P. Clapp, I give my negro boy Sam.
Fifteenth To my daughter in law Eliza, the wife of my son Theophilus P. Clapp, I give my negro girl Eliza, who is not of much value, and also all my household and kitchen furniture.
Sixteenth To my son Theophilus P. Clapp, I give my negro girl Rachel and request that he shall treat her kindly and permit her to enjoy all the liberty which the laws of the state will allow. I also give to my son Theophilus P. Clapp the debt due me from him and Nathaniel E. Sherman.
I hereby manumit and set free my negro woman Lucy and direct that she shall have a house, a garden spot, a cow, and her firewood I [?wired?] to her.
I hereby manumit and set free my negro girl Sarah, the child of Lucy, and give to her five hundred dollars for the payment of which I have herein before made provision. I direct my executors to loan this said five hundred dollars and apply the interest to her support and to pay the principal to her when she shall become of age.
I direct my executors, after my death, to sell my “Cotton Machinery” upon such credit as they shall deem proper, taking bond and security for the payment of the purchase money and the proceeds of the sale of said “Cotton Machinery” alone, I direct to be equally divided between my sons Theophilus P. and Jeremiah W. Clapp and the children of my deceased daughter Elizabeth C. Bronaugh, that is to say, I direct my executors to give to my son Theophilus one third of the proceeds of said sale, to my son Jeremiah W. Clapp one third of the proceeds of said sale, and to the children of my deceased daughter Elizabeth C. Bronaugh one third of the proceeds of said sale.
All of my personal property not otherwise specifically dispose of, I bequeath to my son Theophilus P. Clapp. I do hereby constitute and appoint my son Theophilus P. Clapp and my friend Jacob Lynch the executors of this my last will and testament, hereby revoking all former wills and codicils heretofore made by me.
In testimony whereof I Earl Bourne Clapp of the County of Washington and State of Virginia have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this 22nd day of July one thousand eight hundred and fifty three.
Signed, sealed, published and Earl B. Clapp (seal)
acknowledged by the testator
Earl Bourne Clapp as his last
will and testament in our presence
and at his request and have hereunto
subscribed our names as witnesses
James Vance
C.S. Bokem
Whereas I Earl B. Clapp of the County of Washington and State of Virginia have made and published my last will and testament in writing, bearing date the 22nd day of July (1853) eight hundred and fifty three. Now I Earl B. Clapp do make this present writing as a codicil to my said will and do hereby direct it to be annexed thereto and considered as and for a codicil to my said will.
First, I hereby direct that my son Theophilus P. Clapp is to have the sole use and exclusive control of the several slaves, by my said will bequeathed to the children of said Theophilus P. until the children arrive at the age of 21 years, that is to say the said Theophilus P. Clapp is to have the sole use and control of the negro given to each child until that child shall attain the age of (21) twenty one years.
Second, I hereby correct a mistake which occurs in my said will, as to the name of my granddaughter Ann Louisa, daughter of my daughter Elizabeth C. Bronaugh dec’d. The name should have been written Ann Louisa Poindexter and not Ann Louisa Vandyke as it appears in my said will.
I do hereby revoke all former codicils heretofore made by me at any time.
In witness to this writing, which I do hereby declare to be made as and for a codicil to my said last will and testament bearing date the 22nd day of July one thousand eight hundred and fifty three, and which said writing I do hereby direct to be annexed to my said will and testament and considered as and for a part thereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this 30th day of August 1854.
Signed, sealed, published and Earl B. Clapp (seal)
declared by the said Earl B.
Clapp, whose name is signed
to the above codicil to be his
codicil to his last will and
testament of date 22nd July 1853
in our presence, we being present
and attesting at the same time
John P. Clark
John A. Campbell
At a court held for Washington County the 23rd day of October 1854
The last will and testament of Earl B. Clapp deceased was exhibited in court and proved by the oath of James Vance and Charles S. Bokem, the subscribing witnesses thereto, and a codicil thereto annexed was proved in court by the oath of John P. Clark and John A. Campbell, the subscribing witnesses thereto, and the said will and codicil ordered to be recorded. And on the motion of Theophilus P. Clapp and Jacob Lynch, the executors therein named, who took oath of an executor prescribed by law and entered into and acknowledged their bond in the sum of ten thousand dollars with Abram Mongle, John P. Clark, and James Vance, their securities conditioned as the law directs, a certificate is therefore granted them for the probate of the said will in due form.
Teste,
John G. Kroger D.C.
First, I devise to my son Theophilus P. Clapp all the real estate that I may be possessed of at my death, to him and his heirs forever, except that portion of my real estate which I call my Lower Factory, and which is bounded as follows viz:
Beginning at a white oak tree, corner to the lands of James Vance and James H. Duma, and running with the said Vance’s line and with the fence as it now stands, to a cross fence adjoining said Vance and with said cross fence by a small parcel of meadow land to a corner of the fence thence with said fence as it now stands to the creek, and with the creek with its meanderings to a dogwood and white oak grub, corner to Clark’s land, and from said dogwood and white oak grub, to a stone set up, a corner to Dunn’s land and from said stone to the beginning.
Second, I direct my executors to sell my Lower Factory property as herein above described upon such credit as they may think best, taking bond and security for the payment of the purchase money, and the proceeds of said sale I devise as follows to wit. To my granddaughter Ann Louisa Vandyke, formerly Ann Louisa Bronaugh, daughter of my daughter Elizabeth C. Bronaugh, five hundred dollars. To my negro girl Sarah, hereinafter mentioned five hundred dollars and the balance of the proceeds of said sale I devise to my grandchildren, the children of my son Theophilus P. Clapp.
Third, to my granddaughter Ann Louisa Vandyke I bequeath my negro girl Elizabeth, heretofore conveyed to her and now in her possession.
Fourth, to my grandson Earl B.C. Bronaugh, I give my negro man Tom, now in his possession.
Fifth, to my grandson William P. Bronaugh, I give my negro man Washington now in his possession.
Sixth, to my son Jeremiah W. Clapp, I give my boy Sandy and my negro girl Charlotte, now in his possession. These negroes together with a bequest hereinafter made are all that I give to my son Jeremiah W. Clapp in consideration of the fact that I expended a considerable sum of money upon his education.
Seventh, to my granddaughter Elizabeth W. Clapp, the daughter of my son Theophilus P. Clapp, I give my negro girl Amchia.
Eighth To my grandson Earl Bourne Clapp, the son of Theophilus P. Clapp, I give my negro boy Henry.
Ninth To my granddaughter Ellen W. Clapp, the daughter of my son Theophilus P. Clapp, I give my negro girl Jane.
Tenth To my grandson Theophilus P. Clapp, the son of my son Theophilus P. Clapp, I give my negro boy Joseph.
Eleventh To my granddaughter Mary Louisa Clapp, the daughter of my son Theophilus P. Clapp, I give my negro girl Caroline.
Twelfth To my grandson Jeremiah W. Clapp the son of my son Theophilus P. Clapp, I give my negro boy Mitchell.
Thirteenth To my granddaughter Agnes W. Clapp, the daughter of my son Theophilus P. Clapp, I give my boy Fletcher.
Fourteenth To my grandson John M. Clapp, the son of my son Theophilus P. Clapp, I give my negro boy Sam.
Fifteenth To my daughter in law Eliza, the wife of my son Theophilus P. Clapp, I give my negro girl Eliza, who is not of much value, and also all my household and kitchen furniture.
Sixteenth To my son Theophilus P. Clapp, I give my negro girl Rachel and request that he shall treat her kindly and permit her to enjoy all the liberty which the laws of the state will allow. I also give to my son Theophilus P. Clapp the debt due me from him and Nathaniel E. Sherman.
I hereby manumit and set free my negro woman Lucy and direct that she shall have a house, a garden spot, a cow, and her firewood I [?wired?] to her.
I hereby manumit and set free my negro girl Sarah, the child of Lucy, and give to her five hundred dollars for the payment of which I have herein before made provision. I direct my executors to loan this said five hundred dollars and apply the interest to her support and to pay the principal to her when she shall become of age.
I direct my executors, after my death, to sell my “Cotton Machinery” upon such credit as they shall deem proper, taking bond and security for the payment of the purchase money and the proceeds of the sale of said “Cotton Machinery” alone, I direct to be equally divided between my sons Theophilus P. and Jeremiah W. Clapp and the children of my deceased daughter Elizabeth C. Bronaugh, that is to say, I direct my executors to give to my son Theophilus one third of the proceeds of said sale, to my son Jeremiah W. Clapp one third of the proceeds of said sale, and to the children of my deceased daughter Elizabeth C. Bronaugh one third of the proceeds of said sale.
All of my personal property not otherwise specifically dispose of, I bequeath to my son Theophilus P. Clapp. I do hereby constitute and appoint my son Theophilus P. Clapp and my friend Jacob Lynch the executors of this my last will and testament, hereby revoking all former wills and codicils heretofore made by me.
In testimony whereof I Earl Bourne Clapp of the County of Washington and State of Virginia have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this 22nd day of July one thousand eight hundred and fifty three.
Signed, sealed, published and Earl B. Clapp (seal)
acknowledged by the testator
Earl Bourne Clapp as his last
will and testament in our presence
and at his request and have hereunto
subscribed our names as witnesses
James Vance
C.S. Bokem
Whereas I Earl B. Clapp of the County of Washington and State of Virginia have made and published my last will and testament in writing, bearing date the 22nd day of July (1853) eight hundred and fifty three. Now I Earl B. Clapp do make this present writing as a codicil to my said will and do hereby direct it to be annexed thereto and considered as and for a codicil to my said will.
First, I hereby direct that my son Theophilus P. Clapp is to have the sole use and exclusive control of the several slaves, by my said will bequeathed to the children of said Theophilus P. until the children arrive at the age of 21 years, that is to say the said Theophilus P. Clapp is to have the sole use and control of the negro given to each child until that child shall attain the age of (21) twenty one years.
Second, I hereby correct a mistake which occurs in my said will, as to the name of my granddaughter Ann Louisa, daughter of my daughter Elizabeth C. Bronaugh dec’d. The name should have been written Ann Louisa Poindexter and not Ann Louisa Vandyke as it appears in my said will.
I do hereby revoke all former codicils heretofore made by me at any time.
In witness to this writing, which I do hereby declare to be made as and for a codicil to my said last will and testament bearing date the 22nd day of July one thousand eight hundred and fifty three, and which said writing I do hereby direct to be annexed to my said will and testament and considered as and for a part thereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this 30th day of August 1854.
Signed, sealed, published and Earl B. Clapp (seal)
declared by the said Earl B.
Clapp, whose name is signed
to the above codicil to be his
codicil to his last will and
testament of date 22nd July 1853
in our presence, we being present
and attesting at the same time
John P. Clark
John A. Campbell
At a court held for Washington County the 23rd day of October 1854
The last will and testament of Earl B. Clapp deceased was exhibited in court and proved by the oath of James Vance and Charles S. Bokem, the subscribing witnesses thereto, and a codicil thereto annexed was proved in court by the oath of John P. Clark and John A. Campbell, the subscribing witnesses thereto, and the said will and codicil ordered to be recorded. And on the motion of Theophilus P. Clapp and Jacob Lynch, the executors therein named, who took oath of an executor prescribed by law and entered into and acknowledged their bond in the sum of ten thousand dollars with Abram Mongle, John P. Clark, and James Vance, their securities conditioned as the law directs, a certificate is therefore granted them for the probate of the said will in due form.
Teste,
John G. Kroger D.C.
Record Location
WB 13:253
Document Type
Last Will & Testament
Notes
Will states that Rachel to be given to T. Clapp, and permitted "all the liberty which laws of the state will allow" - unclear if this is intended as a manumission, as it is worded differently from Lucy & Sarah who are clearly to be manumitted and receive an inheritance
Files
Collection
Citation
“1854 - Clapp to Lucy & Sarah - Washington Co, VA,” Manumission Project, accessed February 9, 2026, https://manumissionproject.omeka.net/items/show/2788.