1799 - Harris to Hannibal, et al. - Pittsylvania Co, VA
Manumission Item Data Item Type Metadata
Date
10/21/1799
Manumitter
Manumitted
Number of Persons
5
Text of Freedom Document
In the name of God amen I Samuel Harris of Pittsylvania County and state of Virginia being sound in mind do this thirteenth day of January in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety nine make, constitute and ordain this my last will and testament, revoking all others previously made whatsoever in manner form and substance following to insist.
1st My body to be interred in a decent and Christian like manner and every Brother Minister by whom I am regarded be requested to deliver a solemn discourse on the occasion at such time and such place as they may think proper from the 2nd Timothy Chap. 4 Verses the 7th & 8th.
2nd All my just and lawful debts (should there be any) to be punctually paid. Previous to the distribution of any legacies out of my personal estate so that no creditor may have just cause for misnomer.
3rd My lands, including the plantation lately occupied by my son Samuel and that at present occupied by my son Benjamin as also all the lands and houses I possess whatsoever to be divided at such time such manner as my executors may think most proper and advantageous into three parts, each equal in value. One third I will and bequeath to my son Nathaniel and his heirs for ever, one third to my son Benjamin and his heirs for ever and the other third to my executors for the benefit of my son Samuel and his heirs, the profits whereof to be bestowed by my executors on the said Samuel as there is actual occasion but the right to remain in my said executors until they may have just cause to believe the said Samuel will make a proper and desirable use of it and not till then is my said Executors to give up the said one third of my lands to the said Samuel and his Heirs for ever; nevertheless I give the preference of choice to either of my sons that has occupied any part of my land to have the plantation so occupied on their said one third.
4th Five of my negroes, Hannibal, Pompey, old Bobb, Jenny, and York having hitherto faithfully served me to be immediately set free should they or any of them choose it.
5th all my other negroes, as also all my personal estate whatsoever including the negroes and other property I leave from time to time delivered to any of my children which is to be considered only as Loans, except the increase of a negro girl lent my daughter Mary Buckley which will be mentioned hereafter, after paying my just debts and twenty dollars worth of clothing to my daughter Mary Buckley to be divided by my executors at such time and in such manner as they may think most proper and advantageous into five parts, each equal in Value. One fifth I will and bequeath to my son Nathaniel, one fifth my son Benjamin and one fifth to my daughter Elizabeth Parkins and their heirs for ever; One fifth to my Executors for the same purpose as the last third of my lands before mentioned and to be at the discretion of my said executors to retain the said one fifth and not to give it up to my son Samuel until they may have just cause to believe a proper and desirable use may be made of it but the profits thereof to be for his benefit. The other and last fifth with the increase of a negro girl named Dilley lent my daughter Mary Buckley before mentioned to my executors for the benefit of, or the profits rising there from to be bestowed on my daughter Mary Buckley so long as she may stand in need at the discretion of my said executors in whom the right is to remain also at their discretion and not till my said executors may have just cause to believe the said Mary is in circumstances to live free from want all her days are they to give up the some to the children of the said Mary Buckley (after being of lawful age) all to shear alike and I do earnestly enjoin on my said executors not to let my said daughter Mary suffer for want of any of the necessities of life upon any consideration whatever.
6th Should any of my children die without [???] or without lawful consent then their portion to dissolve to the survivors to be equally divided agreeable to the nature and meaning of the foregone. Reserving nevertheless the right to such as may so die to will their portion to whom they please of their Brothers and Sisters best to no other.
7th And lastly I do hereby make and constitute my two sons Nathaniel and Benjamin executors of this my last will to see the same performed according to its true intent and meaning so far as in their power lies.
Sam Harris seal
Witness present Interlined the third superfluous word marked out Christopher Conway
George Sutherland Junior
Allan Sholas
Thomas Pistole Sener
James M Donald
At a court held for Pittsylvania County October the 21 1799
1st My body to be interred in a decent and Christian like manner and every Brother Minister by whom I am regarded be requested to deliver a solemn discourse on the occasion at such time and such place as they may think proper from the 2nd Timothy Chap. 4 Verses the 7th & 8th.
2nd All my just and lawful debts (should there be any) to be punctually paid. Previous to the distribution of any legacies out of my personal estate so that no creditor may have just cause for misnomer.
3rd My lands, including the plantation lately occupied by my son Samuel and that at present occupied by my son Benjamin as also all the lands and houses I possess whatsoever to be divided at such time such manner as my executors may think most proper and advantageous into three parts, each equal in value. One third I will and bequeath to my son Nathaniel and his heirs for ever, one third to my son Benjamin and his heirs for ever and the other third to my executors for the benefit of my son Samuel and his heirs, the profits whereof to be bestowed by my executors on the said Samuel as there is actual occasion but the right to remain in my said executors until they may have just cause to believe the said Samuel will make a proper and desirable use of it and not till then is my said Executors to give up the said one third of my lands to the said Samuel and his Heirs for ever; nevertheless I give the preference of choice to either of my sons that has occupied any part of my land to have the plantation so occupied on their said one third.
4th Five of my negroes, Hannibal, Pompey, old Bobb, Jenny, and York having hitherto faithfully served me to be immediately set free should they or any of them choose it.
5th all my other negroes, as also all my personal estate whatsoever including the negroes and other property I leave from time to time delivered to any of my children which is to be considered only as Loans, except the increase of a negro girl lent my daughter Mary Buckley which will be mentioned hereafter, after paying my just debts and twenty dollars worth of clothing to my daughter Mary Buckley to be divided by my executors at such time and in such manner as they may think most proper and advantageous into five parts, each equal in Value. One fifth I will and bequeath to my son Nathaniel, one fifth my son Benjamin and one fifth to my daughter Elizabeth Parkins and their heirs for ever; One fifth to my Executors for the same purpose as the last third of my lands before mentioned and to be at the discretion of my said executors to retain the said one fifth and not to give it up to my son Samuel until they may have just cause to believe a proper and desirable use may be made of it but the profits thereof to be for his benefit. The other and last fifth with the increase of a negro girl named Dilley lent my daughter Mary Buckley before mentioned to my executors for the benefit of, or the profits rising there from to be bestowed on my daughter Mary Buckley so long as she may stand in need at the discretion of my said executors in whom the right is to remain also at their discretion and not till my said executors may have just cause to believe the said Mary is in circumstances to live free from want all her days are they to give up the some to the children of the said Mary Buckley (after being of lawful age) all to shear alike and I do earnestly enjoin on my said executors not to let my said daughter Mary suffer for want of any of the necessities of life upon any consideration whatever.
6th Should any of my children die without [???] or without lawful consent then their portion to dissolve to the survivors to be equally divided agreeable to the nature and meaning of the foregone. Reserving nevertheless the right to such as may so die to will their portion to whom they please of their Brothers and Sisters best to no other.
7th And lastly I do hereby make and constitute my two sons Nathaniel and Benjamin executors of this my last will to see the same performed according to its true intent and meaning so far as in their power lies.
Sam Harris seal
Witness present Interlined the third superfluous word marked out Christopher Conway
George Sutherland Junior
Allan Sholas
Thomas Pistole Sener
James M Donald
At a court held for Pittsylvania County October the 21 1799
Record Location
D&WB 11:222-224
Document Type
Will
Files
Collection
Citation
“1799 - Harris to Hannibal, et al. - Pittsylvania Co, VA,” Manumission Project, accessed August 14, 2026, https://manumissionproject.omeka.net/items/show/952.