1822 - Towles to Cato - Lynchburg, VA

1822 - Towles to Cato - Lynchburg, VA

Deed

03/04/1822

1

Thomas Fowler, Hobson Johns

Whereas James Hopkins deceased by his last Will,
and Testament amongst other things devised, that
his male negro slaves should be emancipated,
and set free as they respectively attained the
age of forty four years to be determined, and
fixed by the County Court of Amherst in pursuance of
the powers vested in it by the will aforesaid did
at its September term in the year 1804 adjudge,
and determine that Cato one of the said male
Slaves of the said James Hopkins deceased was
born on the 23rd day of November 1782, and
would consequently be free under the said Will
on the 23rd day of November 1826. And whereas
I Oliver Towles senr. [Senior] of the town of Lynchburg
have heretofore purchased the said Cato from
a certain John H. Pleasants to whom he belonged.
and he is now my property subject to the
provisions of the Will aforesaid, to be free, and
discharged from service on the said 23rd day
of November 1826. Now therefore these presents
witness, that in consideration of the good character,
and industrious, and orderly deportment
of the said Cato, and for the further consideration
of the sum of four Hundred, and
fifty Dollars to me secured to be paid by William
B. Lynch, James Bullock, John Miller, and Joseph Echols
I have released, and do hereby release to the
said Cato the time yet to come during which
he might be held in servitude under the Will - aforesaid, and do hereby as far as I have power and
the laws of the State of Virginia will permit
emancipate, and set free the said Cato from all
manner of service whatsoever, and I do hereby
covenant for myself, my Heirs &c [etc.] to, and with
the said William B. Lynch, James Bullock, John
Miller, and Joseph Echols, that neither I, nor any
person claiming by, through, or under me shall
claim, or have any right to claim any service
from the said Cato, but that he henceforth
be free in like manner as if the said 23rd
day of November 1826 had allready [already] arrived.
In testimony whereof I have here
unto set my Hand & affixed my Seal this
31st day of January 1822.
O. Towles Senr. (Seal)
Teste
Hobson Johns
Thos G Fowler
Aat a Court of Hustings held for the corporation of Lynchburg
at the Court House on Monday the 4th day of March 1822.
This deed of emancipation from Oliver Towles to Cato was
proved in open Court by the oaths of Thomas G Fowler and
Hobson Johns and ordered to be recorded.
Teste. Wm. W. Norvell Clk - Towler Senr. [Senior] to Cato } Deed of Emancipation
Recorded page 460. F [and ?]
W. W. Norvell Clk

DB F:460

Deed of purchase with intent to free - funded by 4 parties