The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-02-07

FAITHFUL OLD NEGRo.-We saw on record
Yesterday, at the Office of the county court clerk,
the Will OF Tinsley Ashe, a faithful old negro,
who died on Rocky Point some two or three
months since. He was formerly the property of
Mr.. Thomas s. Ashe, of this county, and before
and since the death Of his master, has served
the family with faithfulness and zeal. He was
among the very, very few who did not recognize
the emancipation proclamation Of President Lin
coin and the right of the negroes to be free, but
even after the war, continued to labor for the
Iamiy, placing In the hands of his mistress, as
was customary with him. portion OF his earn
lngs, which were q source of much relief amid
tie destitution which then generally prevailed.
BY honest industry Tinsley amassed comfort
able little property, and being impressed with the
Iear approach of his end, in July last made a
Will bequeathlng his property to those for whom
he entertained the greatest affection and regard.
This VIII was admitted to probate at the Decem-
Der term OF our county court. The first bequest
it contained was that his body should have a de-
cent Christian burial and be inferred as near the
remains OF bis beloved master as would be agree
able TO the family. He directed that HIS debts
should be first paid, and out of the sum remaining
he bequesthed TO bis kind mistress for whom he
expressed great affection, six hundred dollars
To another member Of the family he left four hun
bred dollars; to his executor, a citizen of this
place. four hundred dollars; to his attorney,
three hundred dOars and TO a gentleman of this
city, his horse, frOn.vhom il wassformerly pur-
chased.-lWilmington IN. CO. Journal.
The above reminds US Of a circumstance which
is within our personal knowledge. A gentleman
of Virginia inherited, about thirty years ago,
from his father, among other property, an old
negro who was then nsar'y eighty years of age,
and who had accumulated about three hundred
dollars, altogether in silver coin, which he kept
seoreted about his cabin in various holes aud
corners. Everybody on the plantation, white
and black, knew the fact, bat iAss.Fervi
with him or his money. although he lived alto
gether alone, and was in his dotage. cold
Uncle Orange" as his master, and his masters
children, and everybody else on the plantation,
stfectionately called him, at last died, gradually
succumbing to old age. In token Of respect for
him, everybody on the plantation, young and old,
white and black, were summoned by the master
Of the plantation TO attend his funeral-snd we
are very sure there never were more heartfelt
prayers uttered for the repose Of the soul of any
one than were then offered in behalf of cold
Uncle Orange" The writer Of this paragraph,
who was present, was then eight years old, but
he never will forget the impressive scene when
sixty or seventy people, white and black, children
and adults, were gathered around the grave of
that faithful old servant. He had been free, TO
all intents and purposes, for great many years,
and had accumulated his savings by raising pigs,
chickens, ETC., and doing rough shoemskers
work. When his cabin was searched after his
death, his money was found stuck away in all
sorts of holes and corners, and in his chest was
found a rude attempt in writing, at the making
of a wil-fOr the old man could read and write.
In this will he appointed his master his executor.
He gave his personal effects to a niece, (he had
no children,) and his money he directed to be
equally divided between his niece and his master.
The will, of course, had no validity ia law: but
his master, it is hardly necessary to say, strictly
carried out the old mans wishes, except that he
devoted a portion of the money bequesthed to
him to the erection Of a handsome tombstone
over his grave.