The weekly Anglo-African. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1859-1861, 1859-09-03
WASHINGTON'S WILL OF EMANCI-
PATTON.

1t is well known that Washington pro-
vided in his will for the liberation OF all
his slaves. The will is given in full in the
last volume of Irving's Life Of Washing
ton, Just issued; and, presuming the item
with reference to all his slaves would be IN
teresting to our readers, we quote it in full
lem Upon the decease of my wife, it
is my will and desire that all the slaves
whom hold IN my o10na right shall receive
their freedom To emancipate them during
her life would, though earnestly wished by
me, be attended with such insuperable diff
culties on account of their intermixture by
marriage with the dover negroes, as to ex-
cite the most painful sensations, if not disa-
greeable consequences to the latter, while
both descriptions are in the occupancy of
the same proprietor, it not being in my pow
er, under the tenure by which the dowerne-
groes are held, to manumit them. And,
whereas, among those who will receive free
dom according to this devise, they may be
some, who, from old age, or bodily in6rmi-
ties, and others, who, onaccount of their In
fancy, will be unable to support themselves,
it is my will and desire that all who come
under the first and second description, shall
be comfortably clothed and fed by my heirs
while they live; and that such of the latter
description as have no parents living, or, it
living, are unable or unwilling to provide
for them, shall be bound by the court until
they shall arrive at the age of twenty-five
years; and, in cases where no record can be
produced, whereby their ages can be ascer-
tanned, the judgment of the court, upon its
own view of the subject, shall be adequate
and final The negroes thus bound are by
their masters or mistresses) to be taught to
read and write, and to be brought up to
some useful occupation, agreeably to the
laws of the commonwealth of Virginia,
providing for the support of orphan and 9th
er poor children. And do hereby express
ly forbid the sale or transportation, out of
said commonwealth, of any slave l may die
possessed of, under any pretence whatsoev-
er. And l do, moreover, most pointedly
and most solemnly enjoin it upon my exec
utors hereafter named, or the survivors of
them, to see that this clause respecting
slaves, and every part thereof, be religious
ly fulfilled at the epoch at which it is direct
ed to take place, without evasion, neglect,
or delay, after the crops which may then be
on the ground are harvested, particularly as
it respects the aged and infrm; seeing that
irregular and permanent fund be established
for their support, as long as there are sub
jects requiring it; not trusting to the I'M
certain provisions to be made by individu-
ais And to my mulatto man, William,
calling himself William Lee, give imme-
date freedom, or, if he should prefer it, ION
account of the accidents which have befal-
len him, and which have rendered him in
capable of walking, Or of any active en-
ployment, to remain in the situation he now
is, it shall be optional in him to do SO; in Ell
Their case, however, allow him an annuity
of thirty dollars, during his natural life,
which shall be independent of the victuals
and clothes he has been accustomed to re-
ceive, if he choose the last alternative; but
in full with his freedom, if he prefers the
first; and this l give him, as testimony of
my sense of his attachment to me, and for
his fait hful services during tn revolutiona-
rY war"