1815 - Clay to Adelia, et al. - Pittsylvania Co, VA
Manumission Item Data Item Type Metadata
Date
07/17/1815
Manumitter
Manumitted
Number of Persons
3
Text of Freedom Document
In the name of God amen, I Matthew Clay of the County of Pittsylvania & State of Virginia, being of sound mind good health but knowing the uncertainty of life, do make and ordain this my last will and testament in manner and form following (Viz) imprimus. It is my express desire that no inventory nor appraisements shall be taken of my estate.
2ndly I will to my two sons Joseph Clay and Matthew Clay & to their heirs forever, all the lands which I own or claim lying out of the state of Virginia to be equally divided agreeable to quality and quantity between them.
3rdIy will to my daughter Amanda Ann T. Clay & to her heirs forever, all the lands which I own or claim lying in the state of Virginia.
4th all the rest residue & remainder of my estate both real personal, I will to be equally divided between my three children, Joseph, Matthew and Amanda Ann T. which I give unto them and their heirs forever except the legacies herein after mentioned (Viz) I will that William Penn who is now fourteen years also, shall be clothed, boarded & schooled until he has acquired a good English education, then bound to learn a trade until he is twenty one years old & then my Executors herein after mentioned shall pay him one thousand dollars from my estate, also give him the said William Penn one horse bridle and saddle of the value of one hundred dollars, and a good suit of clothes, and further will that my Executors cause to be carried Adelia, Eliza,and Ellen three mullato girls now about eight years old out of the state of Virgnia, into some other state to be emancipated, clothed, boarded and schooled until they are eighteen years of age & then pay each of them from my estate five hundred dollars & a good suit of clothes of the value of fifty dollars which I give to them & their Heirs. And lastly it is my will & desire that my two sons Joseph Clay & Matthew Clay execute this my last will & testament, signed by me on good Friday 8th April 1814 Matthew Clay of Lavallee
See page 548
At a court held for Pittsylvania County the 17th day of July 1815. The within last will and testament of Matthew Clay Sr. was presented in Court and the Court being well acquainted with the hand writing of said defendant and satisfied that the said will is wholly in his handwriting, and do order that the same be recorded, and on the motion of Joseph Clay and Matthew Clay the executors therein named who made oath thereto according to law and together with Obediah P Levy, John Bennett, Joel Lanim, Westly Shelton, Tunstall Shelton, Daniel Shelton, Samuel Calland and John J Oliver their securities entered into and acknowledged their Bond in the penalty of thirty thousand dollars conditioned as the law directs certificate is granted them for obtaining a profit of the said will in due form.
Teste
Will Tunstall
For a further certificate see page 548
2ndly I will to my two sons Joseph Clay and Matthew Clay & to their heirs forever, all the lands which I own or claim lying out of the state of Virginia to be equally divided agreeable to quality and quantity between them.
3rdIy will to my daughter Amanda Ann T. Clay & to her heirs forever, all the lands which I own or claim lying in the state of Virginia.
4th all the rest residue & remainder of my estate both real personal, I will to be equally divided between my three children, Joseph, Matthew and Amanda Ann T. which I give unto them and their heirs forever except the legacies herein after mentioned (Viz) I will that William Penn who is now fourteen years also, shall be clothed, boarded & schooled until he has acquired a good English education, then bound to learn a trade until he is twenty one years old & then my Executors herein after mentioned shall pay him one thousand dollars from my estate, also give him the said William Penn one horse bridle and saddle of the value of one hundred dollars, and a good suit of clothes, and further will that my Executors cause to be carried Adelia, Eliza,and Ellen three mullato girls now about eight years old out of the state of Virgnia, into some other state to be emancipated, clothed, boarded and schooled until they are eighteen years of age & then pay each of them from my estate five hundred dollars & a good suit of clothes of the value of fifty dollars which I give to them & their Heirs. And lastly it is my will & desire that my two sons Joseph Clay & Matthew Clay execute this my last will & testament, signed by me on good Friday 8th April 1814 Matthew Clay of Lavallee
See page 548
At a court held for Pittsylvania County the 17th day of July 1815. The within last will and testament of Matthew Clay Sr. was presented in Court and the Court being well acquainted with the hand writing of said defendant and satisfied that the said will is wholly in his handwriting, and do order that the same be recorded, and on the motion of Joseph Clay and Matthew Clay the executors therein named who made oath thereto according to law and together with Obediah P Levy, John Bennett, Joel Lanim, Westly Shelton, Tunstall Shelton, Daniel Shelton, Samuel Calland and John J Oliver their securities entered into and acknowledged their Bond in the penalty of thirty thousand dollars conditioned as the law directs certificate is granted them for obtaining a profit of the said will in due form.
Teste
Will Tunstall
For a further certificate see page 548
Record Location
D&WB 11:405-406
Document Type
Will
Notes
Matthew Clay was from a prominent political family, was a founding trustee of Danville, VA and served as a US Congressman for Pittsylvania County, VA.
Additional biographical Information on Matthew Clay: https://clayfamilysociety.net/matthew-clay-1754-1815/
Additional biographical Information on Matthew Clay: https://clayfamilysociety.net/matthew-clay-1754-1815/
Files
Collection
Citation
“1815 - Clay to Adelia, et al. - Pittsylvania Co, VA,” Manumission Project, accessed November 14, 2025, https://manumissionproject.omeka.net/items/show/963.