Southampton-Nansemond County Virginia USGenWeb Archives Deeds.....Ricks, manumission, 1785 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/va/vafiles.htm ************************************************ Southampton County Virginia USGenWeb Archives Deeds Joseph RICKS, deed of emancipation (of six slaves), 19 Feb 1785 (10 Mar 1785) Richard RICKS, deed of emancipation (of six slaves), 19 Feb 1785 (10 Mar 1785) I Josep [sic] Ricks of Nansemond County Virginia, having under my care the following Negroes being Negros lef [sic] me by Robert Ricks deceas'd of Southampton (to wit) Hannah about 35 Years old Bess 22 Peter born March 1771 Fagain 2.nd April 1776 Jane November 1781 Moses 15.th Jan.y 1784 which have been heretofore held as slaves but being fully Persuaded that freedom is the natural right of all mankind and that it is my duty to do to others as I wou'd they shoud do unto me I do therefore Emancipate and set the said Negroes free yet I believe it right for me to have the care of such as are under age untill they shall arive to Lawfull [page break] [p.] 369) Lawfull age and I do for myself my heirs Ex'ors and 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 arrive to lawfull age aforesaid then to enjoy their full freedom without any interruption from me or from any person claiming for by or under me In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 19.th day of February in the year of our Lord 1785. Sign'd seal'd and deliver'd Joseph Ricks ¤seal¤ In presence of us _____ Tho.s Ricks } At a Court held for the County of Southampton Rob.t Ricks } the 10 day of March 1785. This Emancipation Rob.t Ricks } was proved by the ["oaths" struck] Affirmation of Thomas Ricks & Rober [sic] Ricks the witness's thereto And ordered to be recorded. [small check mark in margin] I Richard Ricks of Southampton County Virginia having under my care the following Negros (to wit) Jacob about 54 Years Old Patience 19 Beck Born 21.st December 1768 Amos 14.th May 1774 Tillar 18.th December 1775 Nancy the 9 of January 1785 which have heretofore been held as slaves but being fully persuaded that freedom is that freedom is [sic] the Natural right of mankind & that it is my duty to do to others as I woud they shoud do unto me I do therefore hereby Emancipate and set the said Negroes free, Yet I believe it right for me to have the care of such as are Under age Untill they shall arive to lawful age and I do for myself my heirs Ex'ors and adm'ors relinquish all my right title Interest and claim or Pretention of claim whatsoever eitheir[sic] to their persons or to any estate they may acquire after they arrive to lawfull Age aforesaid then to enjoy their full freedom without any Interruption from me or from any person claiming for by or under me In Witness whereof I have hereunto set [page break] [p.] 370) set my hand and seal this 19 day of February in the year of our Lord 1785 Sign'd Seal'd & Deliver'd Richard Ricks ¤seal¤ In presence of us} Tho.s Ricks } At a Court held for the County of Southampton Rob.t Ricks } the 10 day of March 1785 This Emancipation was proved by the affirmation of Tho.s Ricks & Robert Ricks the witnesses hereto And Ordered to be recorded Sam.l Kello Cl ~-"-~ Southampton Co., VA, Deed Book 6 (1782-1787), pp. 368-70 The Library of Virginia (LVA), Richmond, VA LVA, Southampton Co. Microfilm Reel 3 [p.] (37 At a court held for the county of Southampton 10.th day March 1785 [...] _ ¯ A writing under the hand & seal of Joseph Ricks ["Vick" altered] for the emancipation of Sundry slaves therein named was proved by the solemn affirma- tion of Robert Ricks & Thomas Ricks Witnesses thereto & ordered to be recorded _ ¯ A writing under the hand & seal of Richard Ricks for the emanci- pation of sundry slaves therein named was proved by the solemn affirmation of Thomas Ricks & Robert Ricks witnesses thereto & ordered to be recorded _ ¯ [...] [page end] Southampton Co., VA, Court Order Book, 1784-1789, p. 37 The Library of Virginia (LVA), Richmond, VA LVA, Southampton Co. Microfilm Reel 27 Additional information: Their father Robert RICKS (Sr.) left will 25 Jul 1764, proved 12 Oct 1764, naming as legatees his widow Mary and children Thomas, Robert, Richard, Joseph, Mary, Melesent {gets spelled variously) and Anna. (Southampton Co. WB2:103-06). His estate was appraised 11 Oct 1764, returned 12 Jul 1770. (Southampton Co. WB2:330-32); file at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/southampton/wills/r200r1wl.txt Their mother Mary "senior" left an undated will, proved 10 Feb 1785 (Southampton Co. WB4:90); file at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/southampton/wills/r200m1wl.txt The same day Mary's will was presented in court, 10 Feb 1785, her son Thomas RICKS emancipated two slaves (DB6:355); file at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/southampton/deeds/06db355.txt Richard RICKS had already emancipated three slaves, 15 Sep 1782. His sisters emancipated their slaves 27 Sep 1782- Anne one, Melisent five, and Mary four. All four deeds were presented in 12 Dec 1782. (DB6:93-94, 97-99); file at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/southampton/deeds/06db093.txt Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Matt Harris, zoobug64@aol.com [brackets mine] file at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/southampton/deeds/06db368.txt