Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1862-08-08


aItem: Upon the decease ofny wife, Il Is my
will aud desire that all the slaves / hold m my
own right shall receive their freedom
"To emancipatc them during her life would
though earnestly wished by me, be attended
with such insupcrable difficulties on account
of their intermixture by marriages with the
dover negroes, as to excite the most painful
sensation, fnot disagreeable consequences, from
the latter, while both descriptions are in the
occupancy of the same proprietor, il not being in
my power, under the tenure by which the dow
er negros are held, to manumit them.
"And whereas, among those who will receive
freedom according to this DEVISE there may be
some who from old age or bodily infirmities, and
others who on account Of their infancy, will be
unable TO support themselves, il is my will and
desire that all who come under the first and sec
ond descriptions 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 If living are unable or unwill-
ing 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 nges can be ascer-
tanned, the judgment of the court upon its own
view ofthe 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,
dbIctdbl1 10 ble laws Oh Iht commonwealth OF
Virginia providing for the support of orphans
and other poor children.
"And do hereby expressly forbid the sale OF
transportation out Of the said commonwealth oi
any slave may die possessed of under any pre-.
tence whatsoever. And / do moreover mos
pointedly and most solemnly enioin it upon M,
executors hereafter named, or the survivors 0
| Them to see thut this clause respecting slave:
and every part thereof be religiously fulfille,
at the epoch at which it is directed to take place
without neglect, evasion or delay, after the crop
that may be on the ground are harvested, par
ticularly as respects the aged and inirm, seeing
! that regular and permanent fund be establish.
ed for their support so long as they are subjects
requiring il, not trusting to the uncertain pro-
visions to be made by individuals.
"And to my mulatto man William (calling
himself William Lee) / give immediate free
dom, or if he should prefer it. (on account of the
accident which have befallen him, and which
have rendered him incapable of walking or of
any active employment) to remain in the situa-
ton he now is, it shall be optional in him to do
so In either case however, / allow him an
annuity of $50 during his natural life, which
shall be independent ofhs vituals and clothes
he has been accustomed to receive if he chooses
the last alternative but in full with his freedom
If he prefers the first. And this give him as
testimony Of my sense of his attachment 10 me
and for his faithful services during the Revolu.
tionary war;"
Extract from the records of wills in the Clerk
Office at Fairfax @. H., Va, liber II. page l. by
job Hawxhurst, Clerk of Circuit Court