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| Detail from original document. Source at end of transcription. |
Note: I've kept the original spelling, capitalization and punctuation, , and added any comments in square brackets [ ]. I've formatted references to enslaved individuals in bold.
To all to whom these presents shall come, Council Wooten, one of the Executors of the last will and testament of Susan Jones, late of Newbern, in the State of North Carolina, deceased, sends greeting.
Whereas the said Susan Jones in and by her last will and testament dated the twenty-sixth day of July, Anno Domini 1847 since her decease, duly proved at the June term Anno Domini 1848 of Craven County Court, and registered in book of Wills D, folio 142 Etc., did provide and direct as follows, viz. “Item. I am anxious to reward the meritorious services of the following named slaves with the boon of freedom namely Phillis - Esther - Nancy - Patsey - Scot - John - Amey - Pleasant and Fortune - West - Mary and Sarah, which four last named are the children of Amey and all their future issue and increase, and I request and direct my executors to apply a sum not exceeding three hundred Dollars to pay their passage and settle said slaves in some one of the free States;” - And of her said will she appointed her brother Simon S. Becton and the said Council Wooten the executors, - to whom letters testamentary have been duly granted.
Now know ye that I the said Council Wooten, in pursuance of the said above recited provision in the will of the said Susan Jones, and in execution of the trust to to the said Executors thereby committed, have removed and carried the said Phillis, - Esther and her two children John & Benjamin, both born since 1848, - Nancy & her two children Pleasant & Henry, both born since July 1847, - Patsey & her child Mary, born since 1848, - Scot, - John, - Amey & her four children, Fortune, Mary, Sylvestor or West, and Sarah and Pleasant, -
into the State of Pennsylvania, with the purpose and intent of settling and fixing their respective residences therein; - and do hereby emancipate, set free and discharge, and declare them and each of them to be fully manumitted from all service or obligation of labor, or claim of service or labor due or owing to any person or persons whomsoever. In witness whereof I have set my hand and seal hereunto at the City of Philadelphia this twelfth day of May Anno Domini one thousand eight hundred and fifty-two. (1852.)
Council Wooten (seal)
Exec [Executor] of Susan Jones, dec’d [deceased].
Sealed & delivered
in the presence of
P. Williamson
Williams Ogle
The Eighteenth day of May Anno Domini 1852, before the subscriber an Alderman of the City of Philadelphia, personally appeared the above named Council Wooten and acknowledged the above Instrument of writing to be his act and deed the for the purpose of having it recorded as such. Witness my hand and seal.
Williams Ogle (seal)
Alderman
Whereas the said Susan Jones in and by her last will and testament dated the twenty-sixth day of July, Anno Domini 1847 since her decease, duly proved at the June term Anno Domini 1848 of Craven County Court, and registered in book of Wills D, folio 142 Etc., did provide and direct as follows, viz. “Item. I am anxious to reward the meritorious services of the following named slaves with the boon of freedom namely Phillis - Esther - Nancy - Patsey - Scot - John - Amey - Pleasant and Fortune - West - Mary and Sarah, which four last named are the children of Amey and all their future issue and increase, and I request and direct my executors to apply a sum not exceeding three hundred Dollars to pay their passage and settle said slaves in some one of the free States;” - And of her said will she appointed her brother Simon S. Becton and the said Council Wooten the executors, - to whom letters testamentary have been duly granted.
Now know ye that I the said Council Wooten, in pursuance of the said above recited provision in the will of the said Susan Jones, and in execution of the trust to to the said Executors thereby committed, have removed and carried the said Phillis, - Esther and her two children John & Benjamin, both born since 1848, - Nancy & her two children Pleasant & Henry, both born since July 1847, - Patsey & her child Mary, born since 1848, - Scot, - John, - Amey & her four children, Fortune, Mary, Sylvestor or West, and Sarah and Pleasant, -
into the State of Pennsylvania, with the purpose and intent of settling and fixing their respective residences therein; - and do hereby emancipate, set free and discharge, and declare them and each of them to be fully manumitted from all service or obligation of labor, or claim of service or labor due or owing to any person or persons whomsoever. In witness whereof I have set my hand and seal hereunto at the City of Philadelphia this twelfth day of May Anno Domini one thousand eight hundred and fifty-two. (1852.)
Council Wooten (seal)
Exec [Executor] of Susan Jones, dec’d [deceased].
Sealed & delivered
in the presence of
P. Williamson
Williams Ogle
The Eighteenth day of May Anno Domini 1852, before the subscriber an Alderman of the City of Philadelphia, personally appeared the above named Council Wooten and acknowledged the above Instrument of writing to be his act and deed the for the purpose of having it recorded as such. Witness my hand and seal.
Williams Ogle (seal)
Alderman
Source of handwritten document used for this transcription:
Wills and Estate Papers (Craven County), 1663-1978; Author: North Carolina. Division of Archives and History (Raleigh, North Carolina); Probate Place: Craven, North Carolina. Ancestry.com. North Carolina, Wills and Probate Records, 1665-1998 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015.
Original data:North Carolina County, District and Probate Courts.
Wills and Estate Papers (Craven County), 1663-1978; Author: North Carolina. Division of Archives and History (Raleigh, North Carolina); Probate Place: Craven, North Carolina. Ancestry.com. North Carolina, Wills and Probate Records, 1665-1998 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015.
Original data:North Carolina County, District and Probate Courts.
