"It is my will that all the increase of my negroes named shall be free at the age of twenty-five, and their increase, if any, to be free at the same age (those only who were born before their parents arrived at the age of twenty-four), those born after to be liberated with their mothers,"[[156]]
Extract from the will of John Smith, of Sussex County, dated 9th November, 1825, and admitted to probate 2nd March, 1826:
"At the death of my beloved wife, I direct that all of my negroes, without regard to age, sex or condition, with all their future increase, be, by my executor, sent to the African Colonization Settlement, established for the removal of free black persons of color from the United States; and believing freedom to be the natural birthright of all persons and having spent many of my best days in defense thereof, I do hereby declare all of my said slaves or negroes, with their future increase ... to be emancipated and free ... from and after the death of my said wife. And I do hereby give and grant to each of said negroes so emancipated, without regard to age, sex or condition, one good serviceable hat, one pair shoes and stockings, blanket and one year's provisions, exclusive of ship provisions on board, to carry with them.... I hereby direct my executors to pay all expenses of removing said emancipated slaves out of any money that may be in their hands belonging to my estate."[[157]]
Extract from the will of John Ward, Sr., of Pittsylvania County, dated the 30th day of July, 1826 and recorded the 20th of November, 1826:
"It is my will and desire that all my slaves now living or which may be living at the time of my death be free and I do hereby bequeath to each and every one of them their freedom immediately upon my death in as full and unlimited a manner as the laws of Virginia will admit of. But should any of my slaves choose not to avail themselves of this bequest of their freedom with the conditions which the law may annex, then it is my will and desire that they have the privilege of choosing their master who may take them at the valuation of two good men, to be chosen by my executors, and should the females thus electing choose to keep any of their children with them it is my will that said children be at liberty to obtain their freedom at the age of twenty-one years in the same manner.... I give to all my slaves over fifteen years at the time of my death each the sum of twenty dollars—excepting Davy and Nancy, having already given them one hundred and fifty dollars each."[[158]]
Extract from the will of Martha E. Peyton, of Prince William County, dated the 30th June, 1831, and admitted to probate October 3rd, 1831:
"Secondly, I do hereby will and direct that after my debts are paid in the manner aforesaid that all my negroes without exception shall be emancipated and have their freedom; they having served me during my life and as I am unwilling for them to be kept in slavery or owned by any person after my death."[[159]]
Extract from the will of Aylette Hawes, of Rappahannock County, dated the 9th August, 1832, and admitted to probate 7th October, 1833:
"I do hereby free and emancipate all my slaves that I may own at my death, that I may not hereafter dispose of; such of the said slaves that are old and infirm, I wish to have the liberty of choosing their place of residence with any of my relations, and to receive from my estate such assistance as, with the work they are able to do, will render them profitable without being an encumbrance where they live; and to Jack, who, besides being old and infirm, is also afflicted in his legs, I leave fifty dollars. Such of my said slaves as are so nearly white as to render it unsafe for them to go to Liberia I desire may be sent to the State of Ohio, or where slavery is not tolerated, at the expense of my estate. I desire my said slaves thus sent at the expense of my estate to Ohio, to be put under the protection and patronage of David S. Dodge and his family and that the said David S. may be amply compensated from my estate for any trouble or expense he may be at in patronizing the said slaves. I desire all my other slaves to be transferred to the proper agent of the African Colonization Society, with twenty dollars each, for their transportation to Liberia."[[160]]
Extract from will of John Randolph of Roanoke, dated May, 1819, admitted to probate in 1833: