Robeson-Bladen County NcArchives Court.....Willis, Joseph 1787
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Sam West sam.west.1@gmail.com June 28, 2015, 8:29 pm

Source: N C Reports
Written: 1787

Laws of North Carolina, 1787

CHAPTER XXXV.

An Act to Emancipate Certain Persons therein mentioned.

   Whereas Agerton Willis late of Bladen county, was in his lifetime possessed of 
a certain slave called Joseph, and in consideration of the services of him the 
said Joseph, and in consideration of the services of him the said Joseph, and the 
particular obligations be conceived himself under under to the said Joseph for 
his fidelity and attention, did by his last will and testament devise to the said 
Joseph his freedom and emancipation, and did also give unto the said Joseph a 
considerable property, both real and personal; And whereas the executor and next 
of kin to the said Joseph did in pursuance of the said will take counsel thereon, 
and were well advised that the same could not by any means take effect, but would 
be of prejudice to the said slave and subject him still as property of the said 
Agerton Willis; whereupon the said executor and next of kin, together with the 
heirs of the said Agerton Willis, deceased, did cause a fair and equal 
distribution of the said estate, as well to do equity and justice in the said 
cause to the said Joseph, as in pursuance of their natural love and affection to 
the said Agerton, and did resolve on the freedom of the said Joseph and to give 
an equal proportion of the said estate:  Wherefore,

Be it Enacted by the General Assembly of the State of North Carolina, and it is 
hereby Enacted by the authority of the same, That from and after the passing of 
this Act, the said Joseph shall and is hereby declared to be emancipated and set 
free; and from henceforward he be called and known by the name of Joseph Willis, 
by which name he may take, hold, occupy, possess and enjoy to him and his heirs 
forever, all and singular the property both real and personal so given him by the 
said distribution of the said executor, heirs and next of kin, and by the said 
name of Joseph Willis shall henceforward be entitled to all the rights and 
privileges of a free person of mixt blood; Provided nevertheless, That this act 
shall not extend to enable the said Joseph by himself, or attorney, or any other 
person in trust for him, in any manner to commence or prosecute any suit or suits 
for any other property but such as may be given him by this act or such as he may 
have acquired by his own industry, but this act may in all such cases be plead in 
bar, and the property therein given be considered as a full and ample 
consideration for the final accommodation and settlement of all doubts concerning 
the freedom and property either real, person or mixed belonging or in any manner 
appertaining to the said Joseph.

 Source:  The State Records of North Carolina, Vol. XXIV, Laws 1777-1788, by 
collected and edited by Walter Clark; Nash Brothers, Goldsboro N.C., 1905, pp. 
929-930.

Note:  Agerton Willis, deceased, owned and resided on lands lying along the 
Saddletree Swamp in that part of old Bladen County, which later became known as 
Robeson County. According to the above Act, the said Agerton Willis was also 
possessed of property, Joseph, a slave. By the Last Will and Testament of the 
said Agerton Willis, he apparently attempted to emancipate Joseph, and to 
bequeath to him real and personal property as an heir of the estate. The Act 
provided for the said Joseph, a slave be emancipated, and henceforth be known as 
Joseph Willis, and entitled to have all the rights and privileges of a free 
person of mixt blood. Being classified as being of mixed blood, it appears as 
though he was perhaps most likely a biological son of Agerton Willis and a slave 
women, whose name is not given.


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