Deed of manumission for Josiah Cathon's enslaved persons, 1793 February 2

Deed of manumission for Josiah Cathon's enslaved persons, 1793 February 2

Cathon, Josiah West

Quakers -- Virginia -- Southampton County

Slaves -- Emancipation -- Virginia -- Southampton County

Deed of emancipation for the slaves of Josiah West Cathon of Southampton County, Virginia dated February 2, 1793. By this deed, Cathon freed 5 slaves, two of whom were minors. Cathon intended to serve as guardian for the minors until they turned 18. Cathon was able to free his slaves under the provisions of a manumission act passed by the Virginia legislature in 1782. The deed was recorded by the Southampton court and proved by Lemuel Eley and John Rawls "people call'd Quakers." Samuel Kello signed the deed as clerk of the court.

Cathon, Josiah West

Special Collections, John D. Rockefeller Jr. Library, Colonial Williamsburg Foundation

1793

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jpeg

eng

Text

MS 2001.21

Ink on paper

Recto

I Josiah West Cathon of the County of Southampton
Virginia being fully persuaded that freedom is the
natural right of all Mankind; and that it is my duty
to do unto others as I would desire to be done by, in the
like situation, and having under my care three Negroes
whome I have heretofore held as Slaves, of the following
names and Ages (viz^t.) Will about forty five years
Selah about Twenty and Pleasant about Eighteen
years. I hereby Emancipate and set free all and
every the above named Slaves; And do for my self my
heirs Executors and Administrators relinquish all
my right Title Interest and claim or pretension
of claim whatsoever either to their Persons or any
estate they may hereafter Acquire.

And having also two now in their minority (viz^t)
Phereby fifteen Pat Eleven Years, each of which I also
hereby Emancipate and set free; yet I believe it right for
me to act as Guardian over them untill they arrive to
the age of Eighteen Years; And I do for my self my heirs
Executors and Administrators relinquish all my right
Title Interest and claim or pretensions of claim whatso
=ever either to their persons or any estate they may Ac
=quire after they shall attain to the ages aboves'^d, which will
be at the following times; Phereby 1^st 8^th Month 1796 Pat
1^st of 2^nd Month 1799. All the abovesaid Negroes and their
Posterity to enjoy their full freedom without any interrup
=tion from me or any person claiming for by or under
me In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my Hand
and Seal this 2^nd day of February 1793

Josiah W. Cathon Seal

Signed sealed and Delivered
in presance
of
Jesse Vick
Lemuel Eley John Rawls

Verso

17
Josiah West Cathon's eman
cipation of sundry slaves

Septb^r. 1793.

Recorded
Page 13

At a Court held for the County of S.ton the 12 day of Sept^r. 1793 held for the This
Manumission This deed for the emancipation of the within named
nam'd Sundry Slaves [crossed out, illegible] proved by the solemn affirmation of Lemuel Eley & John Rawls
being people call'd Quakers, & Ordered to be recorded.
S Kello