Sussex County, VA - 12 Deeds of Emancipation --------------------------------- Deed of Emancipation - Susannah Baird's Slaves 1790 (Deed Book G, page 545, Sussex Co.VA.) I Susanna Baird after full and deliberate consideration (and agreeable to our Bill of rights) am fully persuaded that Freedom is the natural Right of all mankind, and that no Law, Human or Divine hath given me a just right or property in the persons of any of my Fellow creatures and am desirous to fulfill the injunction of our Lord & Saviour JESUS CHRIST by doing to others as I w'd. be done by, do hereby set free from Bondage my Negro man Cubit & do for myself my Heirs Exrs. & Admrs. from this day release unto the said Negro all my Right and all claim whatsoever as to his person or to any Estate he may acquire hereby declaring the said Negro absolutely free without any Interruption from me or any person or persons claiming under me. IN WITNESS whereof I have hereunto set my hand & Seal this 18th Day of Sept'r. 1790. Susannah Baird (Seal) Test Ephraim Ellis John Travis Thomas Temple John _____ At a Court held for Sussex County the 3rd day of February 1791. This Deed of Emancipation was proved to be the act & Deed of Susanna Baird by the oaths of John Travis and Thomas Temple two of the witnesses & ordered to be Recorded. Teste M.Bailey C. --------------------------------------------------- Deed of Emancipation - William Baird's Slaves 1790 (Deed Book G, page 462, Sussex Co.VA.) TO ALL TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN. KNOW YE, that by authority of Act of Assembly I William Baird of the County of Sussex do emancipate and set free the following Slaves at the following periods Viz't. Aron, Dinah, Rebeka, these three goes out this year Henry goes out in December one Thousand seven hundred & ninety four, George goes out December one Thousand and Eight hundred, Dilcey goes out in December one Thousand Eight hundred and five, Jeremiah goes out December one Thousand Eight hundred and Eight, David goes out just two years after Jeremiah and I do hereby according to the above declaration set them and all that may be born in my House hereafter from any othem, the above named at the certain periods, Those that may be Born at the age the age the Law allows, free from me my Heirs & to all Intens & purposes As Witness my Hand & Seal this second day of September Anno Dom 1790. William Baird (Seal) At a Court held for Sussex County the 2 day of September 1790. This Deed of Emancipation was acknowledged by Wm.Baird to be his act & Deed & ordered to be recorded. Teste Mich.Bailey CSC. --------------------------------------------------- Deed of Emancipation - James Briggs Slaves 1788 (Deed Book G, page 275, Sussex Co.VA.) I James Briggs of Sussex County in Virginia being fully persuaded that Freedom is the natural right of all mankind and that I am desirous of doing to others as I would desire to be done by in the like situation and having under my care two Negroes a woman named Nan aged ninteen years, a boy named Anthony aged nine months, the boy to be free when he arrives to the age of twenty one years I hereby emancipate & set free the above named Slaves and that they enjoy their Freedom in as full and ample manner as a free born person might or could do, and I do so for myself my Heirs Exetrs. and Admrs. relinquish all my right title claim or Demand whatsoever either to their persons or to any estate they may acquire IN WITNESS whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal this twelf day of the twelf month in the year of our Lord one thousand seven Hundred and Eighty Eight. James Briggs (Seal) Signed & Sealed in the presents of} Charles Hamlin Joseph Rosser At a Court held for Sussex County the 15th day of January 1789. This Deed of emancipation was proved to be the act & Deed of James Briggs a party thereto by the affirmation of Charles Hamlin one of the Witnesses thereto. Teste M.Bailey Cl.Cur. And at another Court held for Sussex County the 2nd day of April 1789. This Deed of Emancipation was acknowledged by James Briggs to be his act and Deed and ordered to be recorded. Teste Mich'l.Bailey Cl.Cur. --------------------------------------------------- Deed of Emancipation - William Ellis Slaves 1787 (Deed Book G, page 124, sussex Co.VA.) I William Ellis of Sussex County after mature Deliberation (and agreeable to our Bill of Rights) am persuaded that no Law moral or Divine gives me a right to the Life and property of my fellow creatures and to fulfill the Injunction of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ by doing to all men as I would be done unto Do set free from Bondage the following Negroes to wit, Thomas aged twenty six years, Sarah aged twenty three years, Fanny aged twenty years, Jane aged Sixteen years, Philip aged Fourteen years, Randolph aged Six years, Allen aged Four years, Alexander aged two years and three months, Charlotte aged two years and one month, Edmund aged one year & ten months, Anacha aged Six months, and do for myself my Heirs Executors etc. declare the same to be absolutely free without any person claiming any Right or title by or under me, and as it appears several of the above nam'd. Negroes are yet in their nonage it is my request and desire to have the care and Instruction of them till they arrive at full age, which will happen, November Fourteenth 1806 Charlotte is free, February the Seventeenth 1807 Edmund is free, Anacha free June the twenty eighth 1808, Randolph Free March the eleventh 1802, Allen Free Feb. the fourtenth 1804, Alexander Free May the twenty second 1806, Fanny Free the tenth of August 1788, Jane Free January the first 1792, Philip free January the third 1794 at which periods the same shall go out without any person or persons claiming by or through me WITNESS my Hand and Seal this 19th Day of December 1787. William Ellis (Seal) Witness's Thomas Nicholson Buckner Nicholson At a Court held for Sussex County the 20th day of December 1787. This Deed of emancipation from William Ellis to the therein mentioned Slaves was proved by the oaths of Thomas Nicholson & Buckner Nicholson & by the Court ordered to be recorded. Teste M.Bailey C.S.C. --------------------------------------------------- Deed of Emancipation - Benjamin Evans Slaves 1785 (Deed Book F, page 434, Sussex Co.VA.) I Benjamin Evans of Sussex County in Virginia being fully persuaded that Freedom is the natural Right of all mankind according to the Bill of Rights and that it is my Duty to do unto others as I would desire to be done by in the like situation and having under my care four Negroes whome I have heretofore held as Slaves of the following names & ages viz't. Patt aged fourty four years, Tom aged twenty four years, Isaac aged twenty two years, Ezee(?) aged fifteen years, hereby emancipate & set free all and every of the above named Slaves, and I do for myself my Heirs Executors, and Administrators relinquish my Right Title Interest and claim or pretention of claim whatsoever either to there person or to any Estate they may hereafter acquire, without any Interruption from me, or any person claiming for by, from or under me. IN WITNESS whereof I have hereunto set my hand & Seal this twentieth Day of July in the year of our Lord one thousand seven Hundred and Eighty five. Benjamin Evans (Seal) Sealed and Delivered in Presence of} Robert Jones Michael Malone Henry Moss At a Court held for Sussex County the 21st day of July 1785. This Deed of Emancipation was proved by the oaths of Robert Jones & Michael Malone witnesses thereto & ordered to be recorded. Teste Jno.Cocke Cl.Cur. --------------------------------------------------- Deed of Emancipation - Erasmus Gill's Slaves 1785 (Deed Book F, page 404, Sussex Co.VA,) I Erasmus Gill of the County of Dinwiddie being fully persuaded that Freedom is the natural Right of all men agreeable to the Declaration of of the Bill of Rights upon which I conceive our present happy Constitution is established, and whereas I have under my care a Servant Girl by the name of Sally and her Child Charlotte, which I have heretofore held as Slaves, the Woman Sally about Eighteen years of age, and her child Charlotte about two months, which servant I hereby emancipate and set free, and I do, for myself, my Heirs and assigns hereby Relinquish all my Right Title Interest claim or pretention of claim whatsoever to them or any Estate they or either of them may hereafter acquire, And the said Servant Sally & Charlotte shall forever hereafter enjoy their full Freedom without any Interruption from me or any other Person claiming by or under any Authority received of me IN WITNESS whereof I have set my Hand, and affixed my Seal this Eighteenth day of May in the year one thousand seven hundred and eighty five, and the Ninth of American Independance. Erasmus Gill (Seal) Sealed & Delivered in presence of} J.H.Briggs George Booth At a Court held for Sussex County the 16th day of June 1785. This Deed of Emancipation was proved to be the act & Deed of Erasmus Gill a party thereto by the oaths of John Howell Briggs & George Booth the witnesses thereto & ordered to be recorded. Teste Jno.Cocke Cl:Cur. --------------------------------------------------- Deed of Emancipation - Sarah Hamlin's Slaves 1788 (Deed Book G, page 241, Sussex Co.VA.) I Sarah Hamlin of Sussex County Virginia do this Twenty Fifth day of the Sixth month AD 1788 manumit & Deliver up all my Right, Title and Interest to the four following Negroes which was left to me by Will of my Deceased Husband Viz't. Ned aged Fifty seven years, Aggie Forty nine years, Dick aged Forty eight years, & Bett aged Fifty five years and doth hereby secure their Freedom both in person & Estates they now have or may hereafter acquire during my natural Life and will defend them against myself my Heirs & every person or persons claiming by from or under me. I likewise have under my care a Negro Boy named Joe aged Sixteen years & I do further promise & agree that as soon as he shall arrive to the age of Twenty one years he shall be free during they Remaining part of my normal Life and I do hereby secure him against my Heirs or any person or persons claiming by from or under me during they affors'd. period IN WITNESS whereof I have hereunto set my Hand & Seal. Sarah Hamlin (Seal) Signed & Sealed In the presence of} Wm.Hamlin Joseph Bailey Rich'd.Wren We the Heirs and Legatees of Stephen Hamlin Deceased do for our selves our Heirs etc. Relinquish all our Right Title, Interest, claim & Demand to the above named Negroes. IN WITNESS whereof we have hereunto set our hands and Seals this Fourteenth Day of the Twelfth month in the year of our Lord one thousand Seven hundred and Eighty Eight. Jesse Hargrave (Seal) W.Hamlin (Seal) Charles Hamlin (Seal) John Hamlin (Seal) Signed & Sealed In the Presence of} Samson Stanton Rich'd.Wren At a Court held for Sussex County the 18th Day of December 1788. This Deed of Emancipation was proved to be the act & Deed of Sarah Hamlin a party thereto by the affirmation of William Hamlin & Richard Wren also a relinquishment of the Rights of Jesse Hargrave, Wm.Hamlin, Charles Hamlin & John Hamlin was acknowledged by the said William & proved as to the others by the affirmation of Rich'd.Wren & Samson Stanton & ordered to be Recorded. Teste Mich'l.Bailey Cl Cur --------------------------------------------------- Deed of Emancipation - William Hamlin's Slaves 1787 (Deed Book G, page 169, Sussex Co.VA.) I William Hamlin of Sussex County in Virginia being fully persuaded that freedom is the natural right of all mankind, and that it is my duty to do unto others as I wou'd. desire to be done by in the like situation and having under my care, three Negroes heretofore held as slaves of the folowing names and ages viz't. Isbel aged about thirty four years, James aged thirty three years, Fan aged about twenty years, I hereby Emancipate and set free the three above named slaves and I do for myself my heirs, Executors & Administrators, 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 having also two Negroes now in their minority of the following names and ages viz't. Randall aged fourteen years, Cillar aged twelve years I also hereby Emancipate and set free yet I believe it right for me to reserve the prerogative of acting as Guardian over them untill the male arrive to the age of twenty one years the female to eighteen years. and I do for myself my heirs, Executors and administrators relinquish all my right, title interest and claim or pretentions of claim whatsoever either to their persons or to any Estate they may acquire after attained to the ages above said which will be at the following time viz't. Randall on the first day of the first month seventeen hundred and ninety five, Cillar on the first day of the first month Seventeen hundred and ninety four, then to enjoy their full freedom without any interruption from me, or any person claiming for, by, from, or under me In Witness whereof I've hereunto set my hand and seal this second day of the second month in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty seven. Sealed & Deliver'd In presence of} William Hamlin (Seal) At a Court held for Sussex County the 17th day of April 1788. This Deed of Emancipation was acknowledged by William Hamlin a party thereto to be his act & deed & ordered to be recorded. Teste Michael Bailey C.Cur. --------------------------------------------------- Deed of Emancipation - Elizabeth Hargrave's Slave 1795 (Deed Book H, page 414, Sussex Co.VA.) I Elizabeth Hargrave of Sussex County having in my possession one Negro Woman named Lucy aged Thirty seven years and being willing that she may enjoy the rights and liberties of mankind I do hereby emancipate and set free the above named woman, and do for myself & my heirs relinquish all my right title and claim to the said Negro or to any estate she may acquire hereafter IN WITNESS whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal this second day of December one thousand seven hundred and ninety five. Elizabeth Hargrave (Seal) Acknowledged in presence of} Benj'n.B.Rosser M.Bailey At a Court held for Sussex County the 7th day of January 1796. This Deed of emancipation from Elizabeth Hargrave to her slave Lucy was proved to be the act and deed of said Elizabeth my the oath of Benj.B. Rosser and the affirmation of Michael Bailey the witnesses thereto and ordered to be recorded. Teste Mich'l.Bailey C.S.C. --------------------------------------------------- Deed of Emancipation - Lottice Hargrave's Slaves 1785 (Deed Book F, page 468, Sussex Co.VA.) I Lottice Hargrave of Sussex County Virginia being fully persuaded that Freedom is the natural Right of all mankind and that it is my duty to do unto others as I would desire to be done by in the like situation and having under my care two Negroes whom I have heretofore held as Slaves of the following names and ages viz't. Roger aged thirty Eight years, Rachall aged nineteen years I hereby Emancipate and set free all every of the above slaves, and I do for myself my Heirs Executors and administrators relinquish all my right, Title, Interest and claim or pretention of claim whatsoever either to their person or to any Estate they may hereafter acquire without any Interruption from me or any person claiming for, by, from or under me IN WITNESS whereof I have hereunto set my hand & Seal this (Blank) day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred & Eighty five. Lottice Hargrave (Seal) Sealed and Delivered In the presence of} Rich'd.Wren Joseph(hisxmark)Lane Micajah Moore At a Court held for Sussex County the 17th day of November 1785. This Deed of Emancipation was proved by the oaths of Micajah Moore & Joseph Lane witnesses thereto & by the Court ordered to be recorded. Teste A.Claiborne D.C.S.C. --------------------------------------------------- Deed of Emancipation - William Hargrave's Slave 1796 (Deed Book I, page 32, Sussex Co.VA,) I William Hargrave of Sussex County in Virginia being fully persuaded that freedom is the natural right of all mankind and that it is my duty to do unto others as I would desire to be done by in the like situation and having under my care one Negro whom I have heretofore held as a Slave of the followimg name and age viz. Rachael aged about twenty Eight years I hereby Emancipate and sett free of the above named Slave. And I do for myself my Heirs Executors & administrators relinquish all my right Title Interest and claim or pretention of claim whatsoever either to her person or to any estate she may acquire, without any interruption from me or any person claiming for, by, from, or under me. IN WITNESS whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal this sixteenth day of September in the year of our Lord one thousand Seven hundred and ninety Six. William Hargrave (Seal) Sealed and delivered in the presence of} Drury Lane Richard Hargrave Sally Hargrave At a Court held for Sussex County the 2nd day of February 1797. This deed of Emancipation was acknowledged by William Hargrave to be his act and deed. and ordered to be recorded. Teste Mich'l.Bailey Cl C. --------------------------------------------------- Deed of Emancipation - Wilkins Harper's Slaves 1791 (Deed Book G, page 508, Sussex Co.VA.) KNOW all Men by these presents that I Wilkins Harper of Sussex County of Virginia being fully persuaded of the impropriety & sinfulness of Negro Slavery, and having in my possession Sundry Negroes which I have heretofore held as Slaves, do by these presents for myself my Heirs and assigns Emancipate the under mentioned Slaves in the following manner to wit. Jinny to have her freedom on the first of January in the year of our Lord One thousand seven hundred ninety two. Sealey on the first of January One thousand seven hundred & ninety seven. Sam on the first of January One thousand Eight hundred & two. Aaron on the first of January one thousand eight hundred & twelve, Jimmey on the first of January one thousand eight hundred & fourteen. All the above said Negroes & their posterity to enjoy their full freedom without any interruption from me or any person for by or under me IN WITNESS whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal this the Sixth day of January one thousand Seven hundred and ninety one. Wilkins Harper (Seal) At a Court held for Sussex County the 6th of January 1791. This Deed of Emancipation was acknowledged by Wilkins Harper to be his act & Deed & by the Court ordered to be Recorded. Teste Mich'l.Bailey CSC --------------------------------------------------- File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Russell L. 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