Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1835-08-13

would take from il q remuneration Il
my services. To this promptly Objected
informing him | should feel as though
were acting indelicately, to comply. II
then waived The subject, by saying, al
England Il Is always CUSTOMARY TIL
witnesses were now sent for, and soon a,
rived. The dying man was pronped IN i
bed, with pillows, nearly erect. Those on
ly who knew his form and singular phvsi
ognomy. can form an idea Of his appear
ance az this moment. Being extrcmel
sensitive to cold, he had blanket over hi
head and shoulders and he directed job,
70 place bis hat on, over the blanket. whicI
aided IN keeping il close to his head. Th,
hat bore evident marks Of age. and wa
| probably the one exposed to the pelting
of the storm during his discomforts on th,
day OF his arrival. With countenancs
iull OF sorrow. John stood close to tho bed
sue OF his dying master. The four wit.
nesses. to witt Edmund Badger. Doctor
Francis West, my son, DR.. Isaac Parrish.
and myself, were placed in semi circle
IN full view. 1t was evidently an awfaI
moment to the patient. lie rallied All the
expiring energias Of mind and body to this
last effort. His whole soul seemed con-
ccntrated in tho act. His eyes flashed
feeling and intelligence. Pointing towards
" with his long, index finger, he addres.
ed us :"l confirm all the directions in rny
will respecting my slaves, and direct them
to be enforced, particularly in regard to
provision for their support" And then
raising bis arm as high as he could, he
brought il down with bis open hand on
the shoulder Of his favoiiie John, adding
these words =" especially for this man .
Tie then asked each Of us whether we un.
derstood him. AT the close Of this ex.
hausting effort. remarked to my fellow
witnesses, that my patient a short time be-
lore informed me 10 private, that accord.
ing to the laws Of Virginia. a will might
manumit slaves, yet in order for their sub.
sequent support it was necessary that
declaration should be made in the pres-
encc OF one or more white witnesses, who.
after receiving Il from the party, should
remain and never lose sight Of him uutil
he was dead | then appealed 10 the dy-
ing man to know whether had stated il
correctly !; he replied, ios--and graceful
ly waving his hand as a token Of our dis
mission, be said, s. the young gentlemen
will remain with mo-" | took leave with
an assurance that would return az spee.
ddy as possible and remain with him Az.
tor the lapse Of perhaps an hour or more,
and about fifty minutes before his decease
returned to his sick room bat now the
scene was changed; bis keen penetrating
eye bad lostiis expression, bis powerful
mind had given way, and he appeared
totally incapable Of giving sny correct di.
rcctions relative to his worldly concerns.
10 record what now took place, may mt
be required, further than to saw, that al.
most to The last moment some Of his &c
centricities could be seen lingering about
him. lie had entered within /" the dark
valley Of the shadow nf deaih,n and what
was now passing in his chamber, was like
the distant voice OF words which fell with
confusion on the ear. The farther this
master spirit receded from human view,
the sounds became less distinct, until they
were lost in the deep recesses Of the Val
ley, and all that was mortal Of Randolph
Of Roanoke was hushed IN death. con.
clusion. psrhaps il may be proper for me
clearly and distinctly TO state, that at the
time he made the declarations in my pre-.
sence relative 10 his will, he was capa bile
Of discriminating correctly between thing
and thing; and no also possessed tenacity
OF memory. Hence give il as my deci
dsd belief, that he was Of sound dlsposing
mind and memory. Early in the after.
noon Of tho day on which John Randolph
died, 1t was concluded by the four witness
es 10 commit 10 writing the declarations
which he had made according to their un
Outstanding Of them. This did 10 room
contiguous to the one wherein he died. and
where his corpse was then lying and the
original paper Is in my possession. The
paper hereto is marked (D) and subscrib-
ed with my name, is true copy Of the
same. JOS. PARISH"
Ths certificate Of Dr., Joseph Parish 10
as follows
Copies Of Certificates relating to The tciH Of
the late John Raadolph
No. IL certify that was called to visit
John Randolph, Of Roanoke. at the City
Hotel, kept by HeiskelI 4 Badger, No Al
North third street. il the City Of Fhiladel.
phia.
My first visit was on the evening of the
twenlienth day OF the fifth month, called
MayJ 1883. lcontinued to visit the said
John Randolph, as his physician, until
this day, and was present al the time Of
bis death, which occurred at fifteen min
uies before ~ o'clock. During my visit
to him this morning. between the hours
OF eight and nine o'clock, in very i'm
pIesslye and distinct manner, he declared
10 me in substance as follows, and be-
lieye in nearly these words: g 1 confirm
every disposition made in my last will,
especially that respecting my slaves, whom
have manumittcd, and for whom have
made provision" On my informing him
that my engagements among my patents
would require me to leave hun for short
time, he most urgently requested me no,
to leave h'm--he stated would be good
witness for John, and must stay--he 10.