1800 - Davis to slaves - Fairfax Co, VA
Manumission Item Data Item Type Metadata
Date
01/20/1800
Manumitter
Manumitted
Text of Freedom Document
In the name of God Amen. I Nehemiah Davis of the County of Fairfax and Commonwealth of Virginia being advanced in age and weak in body but of sound mind and memory thanks be to Almighty God and calling to mind the uncertainty of this life, and that it is appointed for all men once to die do make, and appoint this to be my last will and testament which after recommending my soul into the hands of Almighty God, who gave it me and my body to the Earth from whence it came to be buried in such Christian like manner, as to my Executors hereafter mentioned shall seem proper.
I direct as touching my worldly estate which it hath pleased God to lend me, I direct in manner and form following.
Imprimis I give and bequeath unto my beloved wife Elizabeth Davis after my funeral expenses and just debts are paid all and singular my estate which at the time of my death I may be in possession of, or that I may be (or that my heirs may be) instituted to, both real & personal to be my said wife held used and possessed for and during the term of her natural life and after her decease my will and desire is that the same and every part and parcel thereof to pass and descend to my two sons Simon Davis and Benjamin Reeder Davis, and to their heirs equally to be divided between them forever.
Item I give and bequeath unto my two sons Simon Davis and Benjamin Reeder Davis (after the decease of my wife Elizabeth Davis) equally between them and their lawful heirs, to be divided all my estate both real and personal, and it is my will and desire and I do hereby order and direct that should either of my said sons die not leaving lawful heirs, that in that case the whole of said estate after the decease of my said wife goes and descends unto the survivor and to his heirs forever, and further it is my will and desire that if my two sons aforesaid should both die not leaving lawful heir or heirs by them not either of them truly begotten, that in that case I direct that all my slaves shall from thenceforward stand emancipated and fully released from all further bondage and that all the rest and residue of my estate and the increase thereof be equally divided and proportioned among and between all such of my said slaves and their increase as then may be living, both real & personal and that they all in such proportions enjoy the same together with their entire freedom and liberty thence forward & to their heirs forever. It is my desire that neither my wife nor my sons or either of hem dispose of any of my said slaves but that they be kept among them during their lives. And lastly I nominate and appoint my two sons Simon Davis and Benjamin Reeder Davis my sole Executors of this my last will & testament revoking and disannulling all other and former wills by me made either by word or writing and confirming this and this only to be my last will & testament. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this 12th day of August in the year of our Lord 1796.
Signed and acknowledged Nehemiah Davis (seal)
in presence of us
R’d Ratcliffe
John Ratcliffe Jun’r
Tho’s Palmer
At a court held for the county of Fairfax the 20th day of January 1800. This last will and testament of Nehemiah Davis deceased was presented in court by Benjamin Reeder Davis one of the Executors therein named who made oath thereto and the same being proved by the oaths of Richard Ratcliffe and John Ratcliffe Jun’r witnesses thereto, which is admitted to record and the said Executor having performed what the law requires in such cases a certificate is granted him for obtaining a probate thereof in due form.
Ex’d Teste, D. Deneale
I direct as touching my worldly estate which it hath pleased God to lend me, I direct in manner and form following.
Imprimis I give and bequeath unto my beloved wife Elizabeth Davis after my funeral expenses and just debts are paid all and singular my estate which at the time of my death I may be in possession of, or that I may be (or that my heirs may be) instituted to, both real & personal to be my said wife held used and possessed for and during the term of her natural life and after her decease my will and desire is that the same and every part and parcel thereof to pass and descend to my two sons Simon Davis and Benjamin Reeder Davis, and to their heirs equally to be divided between them forever.
Item I give and bequeath unto my two sons Simon Davis and Benjamin Reeder Davis (after the decease of my wife Elizabeth Davis) equally between them and their lawful heirs, to be divided all my estate both real and personal, and it is my will and desire and I do hereby order and direct that should either of my said sons die not leaving lawful heirs, that in that case the whole of said estate after the decease of my said wife goes and descends unto the survivor and to his heirs forever, and further it is my will and desire that if my two sons aforesaid should both die not leaving lawful heir or heirs by them not either of them truly begotten, that in that case I direct that all my slaves shall from thenceforward stand emancipated and fully released from all further bondage and that all the rest and residue of my estate and the increase thereof be equally divided and proportioned among and between all such of my said slaves and their increase as then may be living, both real & personal and that they all in such proportions enjoy the same together with their entire freedom and liberty thence forward & to their heirs forever. It is my desire that neither my wife nor my sons or either of hem dispose of any of my said slaves but that they be kept among them during their lives. And lastly I nominate and appoint my two sons Simon Davis and Benjamin Reeder Davis my sole Executors of this my last will & testament revoking and disannulling all other and former wills by me made either by word or writing and confirming this and this only to be my last will & testament. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this 12th day of August in the year of our Lord 1796.
Signed and acknowledged Nehemiah Davis (seal)
in presence of us
R’d Ratcliffe
John Ratcliffe Jun’r
Tho’s Palmer
At a court held for the county of Fairfax the 20th day of January 1800. This last will and testament of Nehemiah Davis deceased was presented in court by Benjamin Reeder Davis one of the Executors therein named who made oath thereto and the same being proved by the oaths of Richard Ratcliffe and John Ratcliffe Jun’r witnesses thereto, which is admitted to record and the said Executor having performed what the law requires in such cases a certificate is granted him for obtaining a probate thereof in due form.
Ex’d Teste, D. Deneale
Record Location
WB H:78
Document Type
Last Will & Testament
Notes
Additional research needed to ascertain if the conditional manumission resulted in any individuals freed
Files
Collection
Citation
“1800 - Davis to slaves - Fairfax Co, VA,” Manumission Project, accessed July 12, 2026, https://manumissionproject.omeka.net/items/show/3444.