Manuscript document signed by James Spilman. Garrard County, Kentucky, 12 October 1832. 3 pages, folio. Docketed to verso. Attestation in the Garrard County court to verso. 

The last will and testament of James Spilman (alt. Spillman, 1780 - 1832), in which he makes provisions for the gradual emancipation of several of the individuals he enslaved. 

He first details the future manumission of David, with the caveat that he must move to Liberia: "I desire that my slave David (who is twenty four years of age) be emancipated at the age of forty-six years: the value of the last years services to be applied in transporting him to the Colony of Liberia in Africa, provided he chooses to; and provided further that he abstain from the use of ardent spirits until he arrive to that age and serve my wife Permelia and my two sons, Charles and James faithfully till that period."

He continues with more manumissions, albeit with further caveats: "And that my slave Jam (who is twenty-six years of age) be also emancipated, when she arrives to the age of forty-three years. Her two sons, Lewis (who is five years of age in February next) and William (who is three years of age in February next) and any, and all children she may hereafter have, I likewise desire may be emancipated when they arrive to the age of thirty-five years: provided they serve my wife and children faithfully until the respective periods mentioned above." 

The final line of the will, evidently in the hand of Spilman, reads "I bequeath my slave Tarlton to my wife, Permelia".  

In addition to dividing land, cattle, livestock, and personal property, he makes provisions for the education of his sons, Charles and James. He even makes allowances "that they be sent to college, (that is one or both as the case may be) and take the usual course of instruction, persued in such institutions."

Spillman died the day after the will and testament was recorded. Whether David, Jam, or any of her children elected to move to Liberia is unknown. A rare manumission document. 

[Civil War, Union, Confederate] [African Americana, African American History, Black History, Slavery, Enslavement, Abolition, Emancipation]  [Manuscripts, Documents, Letters, Ephemera, Signatures, Autographs]

Neat repairs to verso.