1851 - Davenport to Eliza - Bedford Co, VA

Dublin Core

Title

1851 - Davenport to Eliza - Bedford Co, VA

Date

Manumission Item Data Item Type Metadata

Location

Date

05/28/1851

Manumitter

Manumitted

Number of Persons

~

Witnesses

John R. Steptoe, John M. Reese

Executor

Moseley Phillips

Text of Freedom Document

Wills Book 14, Pgs 123-124
I William Davenport of the county of Bedford do make this my last will and testament. In the first
place I direct all my personal property be sold in the debts due me collected and out of the money
arising from such sale and collections, all my just debts and funeral expenses paid. And the balance is
equally divided among my children. I give until my daughter Elizabeth Parnell my dwelling house
and a lot of ground around said house to contain at least seventeen acres and the lines laying off said
lot to be so run as to embrace the spring and graveyard, to her and her heirs forever. I also give her
the use of the balance of my land as long as she lives and at her death I direct that the same that is all
but the seventeen acres of aforesaid be sold upon such terms as my executor may think best and the
proceeds of such sale equally divided between my daughter, Nancy Davenport, Polly Mills and
Cecilia Bondurant I further will that my negro woman Eliza at my death be emancipated and from
slavery set free. And lastly I hereby appoint my friend Moseley Phillips executor of this my last will
and testament. Given under my hand this 4 March 1851.
William Davenport
His x Mark
Witnesses
Jno R. Steptoe
Jas. L. Campbell
Jno M. Reese
At a court held for Bedford County April 28 1851.
This writing purporting to be the last will and testament of William Davenport deceased was
produced in court by Elizabeth Purnell and Wesley Phillips in order to be proved, and thereupon
Christopher Davenport, Edmund J Mills and James Bondurant enter themselves parties defendants to
this motion, and it was ordered that the said will be contested at the next May term of this court. And
thereafter to wit at a court held for said county 28 May 1851 said writing was again produced in
court. And thereafter to wit the defendant Christopher Davenport, Edward J Mills and James
Bondurant appeared and offered the proof of said writing- Whereupon sundry witnesses were sworn
and examined and the parties aforesaid by their counsel fully heard. On consideration whereof it is
the opinion of the court that the said William Davenport deceased at the time of executing the writing
aforesaid was of sound and disposing mind and memory and capable of making said will. And John
R Steptoe and John M Reese two of the subscribing witnesses to said will being sworn state that the
said testator acknowledged the said writing as and for his.
Last will and testament when the said witnesses were both present at the same time that they in the
presence of the said testator at his request subscribed their names as witnesses thereto and that the
testator at the time of their witnessing the same was capable of making said will and thereupon the
said will was ordered to be recorded.
Teste
Jno. R Steptoe CBC

Record Location

B14, P123-124

Document Type

LW&T

Files

1851_Davenport_Wills_14_123.pdf
1851_Davenport_Wills_14_124.pdf

Citation

“1851 - Davenport to Eliza - Bedford Co, VA,” Manumission Project, accessed February 16, 2025, https://manumissionproject.omeka.net/items/show/820.