Southampton County Virginia USGenWeb Archives Deeds.....Smith, manumission, 1782 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/va/vafiles.htm ************************************************ Southampton County Virginia USGenWeb Archives Deeds Martha SMITH, deed of emancipation (of sixteen slaves), 3 Aug 1782 (12 Dec 1782) [margin notes] Martha Smith s Emans. I Martha Smith, of Southampton County Virginia Being fully pursuaded That Freedom is the natural right of all mankind, and that it. is my Duty to do by others, as I wou'd desire to be done by in the like situation; and Having under my care six Negroes whom I have here =tofore held as Slaves, of. the following names & ages vizt. Hannah about sixty Mill about forty; Yellow Dick about Thirty five, Benn about twenty three, Siah about 21. years old, all whom I hereby emancipate &set free all & every of the above Named slaves, and I do for myself my Heirs Executors & Adm'ors relinquish all my right title Interest and Claim or pretention of Claim Whatsoever either to their Persons or to any estate they may hereafter Acquire, __ and haveing also Ten Negroes now in their Minority of the following names and ages Vizt: Sam aged about Nineteen years, Dave aged about seventeen, Bob aged about Fifteen, Mike aged fourteen, Anica aged about 12 Years; Natt aged about 10.Years, Charles aged about Eight, Joe about six, Hannah about three ___ Willis 7 Months, all of whom I also emancipate & [page break] [p.] (94) And set free, Yet I believe it right for me act as a Guardian over Them untill the males arrive to the age of twenty one, and the Fee males to the age of eighteen Years & I do for my self my heirs Executors & Adm'ors: Relinquish all my right title Interest and Claim or pretention of Claim whatsoever, either To their persons, or to any estate They may acquire after They shall attain to the ages aforesaid, which will be at the following times :Viz:t Sam the 31.st of the 12.th Month 1784, Dave the 31.st of the 12.th Month 1786., Bob the 31.st of the 12.th Month 1788., Mike the 31.st of the 12.th Month 1789., Anica the 31.st of the 12.th Month 1788., Natt the 31.st of the 12.th Month 1793. ___ Charles the 31.st of the 12.th Month 1795., Joe the 31.st of the 12.th month 1797, Harry the 31.st of the 12.th Month 1800., Willis the 31.st of the 12.th Month 1802, ___ all the above said Negroes & Their posterity, to Enjoy Their full Freedom without any Interrup =tion from me or any person Claiming for by from or under me. In Witness Whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal this 3.rd Day of the 8.th Month, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred & Eighty Two ~ Sealed & Delivered } } Martha Smith ¤Seal¤ In the presence of ..} Thomas Pretlow jun.r} Joseph Bailey } Joshua Bailey } At a Court Held for the County of S.oton ¯¯¯¯ the 12.th Day of December 1782 This deed Was proved by the Affirmation of Thomas Pretlow Jun.r, and Joshua Bailey two of the Witnesses thereto & Ordered to be Recorded ~ Teste ~ [page & entry end] Southampton Co., VA, Deed Book 6 (1782-1787), pp. 95-96 The Library of Virginia (LVA), Richmond, VA LVA, Southampton Co. Microfilm Reel 3 [At a Court held for the county of Southampton the 12.th day of December 1782.] [...] _ ¯ An instrument of writing under her hand and seal of Martha Smith emanci- pating the following slaves to wit: Hannah, Mill, Yellow Dick, Ben, Siah, Sam, Davy, Bob, Mike, Annica, Natt, Charles, Joe, Hanry and Willis was proved by the affirmation of Thomas Pretlow jun.r & Joshua Bailey two of the witnesses thereto and ordered to be recorded. _ ¯ [...] Southampton Co., VA, Court Order Book, 1778-1784, p. 249 The Library of Virginia (LVA), Richmond, VA LVA, Southampton Co. Microfilm Reel 27 Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Matt Harris, zoobug64@aol.com [brackets mine] file at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/southampton/deeds/06db095.txt