claiming under the will of the said Joseph Mayo, deceased, as to any other estate or interest whatsoever devised by the said will. CHAP. LXXIV. An act to confirm the freedom of certein negroes late the property of Chareles Moorman, deceased. ([Passed December 12, 1787) firmed. I. WHEREAS it has been represented to the pre- Emancipation sent general assembly that Charles Moorman, deceased, of slaves of late of the county of Louisa, did, on the twenty eighth Charles day of May, in the year one thousand seven hundred Moorman, by and seventy eight, by deeds under his band and seal, hi will, conrelease unto thirty three slaves, then his absolute property, all the right, title, or interest, which he had to the persons of the said slaves, or to any property they might acquire, such emancipation and right to property, to take effect immediately, where the said slaves were of full age, and where the males were under twenty one, and the females under the age of eighteen years, to take effect when they should respectively attain to those ages. 11. And whereas the said Charles Moorman, did by his last will and testament, bearing date the second day of September, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy eight, which has been duly proved, and recorded in the court of Louisa county, make the following bequests to wit: "Item, I lend to my said son Robert the labour of the five following slaves, viz: Phyllis, (Toby's daughter) Judy, John, (Toby's son) Easter, and Rachel; the males until they attain to the age of twenty one years respectively, and females to the age of eighteen years, and then after that time, it is my will and desire, that the said five slaves and their increase, shall forever hereafter be discharged to all intents and purposes from slavery, or the service of any person whatsoever, and that the said slaves and their increase, shall enjoy all the benefit o freedom in the same manner as if they had beca freeborn. Item, I lend to my son Thomas the labour of the four following negro slaves, viz: Lucy, Hanyah, Tom, and Adam in mamer as followeth: the three last named under the same limitations, and to be made free in the same manner as the five slaves lent to my son Robert; my will is that the first named Lucy shall remain with her mother till she is of age, or as long as her mother lives, and that whoever shall keep her, shall pay reasonable wages to my son Thomas, until her mothers death, then she is to be under the same limits as the others to my son Thomas, to be made free at the age of eighteen years. Item, I lend to my son James the labour of the four following negro slaves, viz. George, Sary, Amy, and Nelly, under the same limitations, and to be made free in the same manner as the slaves lent to my son-Robert Item, I lend to my aforesaid beloved wife Mary, the five following negro slaves, viz. Morris, John (Rachel's son) Phyllis, Jean, and Aggy and that she have the benefit of their labours during her natural life, and after her decease, the said negroes to enjoy their freedom as above mentioned, they and their heirs forever, to all intents and purposes. Item, I lend to my daughter Agnes Venable, one negro girl slave, named Letty, under the same limits, and to be made free in the same manner as the slaves lent to my son Robert. Item, I lend to my daughter Elizabeth Johnston, one negro girl named Peg, under the same limitation, and to be made free in the same manner as the slaves lent to my son Robert. Item, I lend to my daughter Mary Taylor, one negro girl named Milly, under the same limitation, and to be made free in the same manner as the slaves lent to my son Robert, and also one negro girl named Mima, in the same manner, and to be made free as above. Item, it is my will and desire that the slaves hereafter named, viz. Jack, Allen, Rachel, Dinah, Hannah, Sarah, Toby, Lett, Beck, Venus, and Annis, in consideration of their faithful services be immediately free, and enjoy all the benefits thereof as persons born free. In case the laws of the land will not admit of such freedom, that then the said last mentioned slaves and their increase be equally divided among my other legatees, or their legal representatives. Item, it is my will and desire, and I hereby leave it as my particular instruction to my executors, as soon as may be, to make application to the general assembly of this commonwealth, for an act to confirm the freedom hereby intended to be given to all the slaves above mentioned, and in case such an act cannot be obtained, that then my legatees keep possession of their respective loans and their increase, to descend to them and their heirs or assigns forever. Reserving nevertheless a right for all the above-mentioned slaves to claim the benefit of this my last will and testament if ever hereafter it should be lawful for them so to do." III. And whereas it is just and right that the benevolent intentions of the said Charles Moorman, deceased, towards his said slaves should be carried into effect, Be it therefore enacted by the General Assembly, That the following slaves mentioned in the said bequests to wit: Adam, Annis, Milly, Beck, Dinah, Sarah, Venus, Allen, and Rachel, who are between the ages of twenty one, and forty five years, shall be, and they are hereby emancipated and set free, to all intents and purposes, in like manner as if they had been born free. IV. And be it further enacted, That the following slaves mentioned in the said bequests to wit: Morris, John (Rachel's son) Phyllis, Jane, and Aggy, (who were devised to the widow of the said Charles Moorman, deceased, during her life, and who hath since departed this life) shall be, and they are hereby emancipated and set free to all intents and purposes, in like manner as if they had been born free. V. And be it further enacted, That the following slaves mentioned in the said bequests to wit: George, Amy, Nelly, Phyllis, John, Tom, Lucy, Sarah, Hannah, Easter, Lett, Peg, Judy, and Fanny, who are under the age of twenty one years; shall respectively be emancipated and set free to all intents and purposes, in like manner as if they had been born free; the males, when they arrive at the age of twenty one years, and the females when they arrive to the age of eighteen years. VI. And be it further enacted, That the following slaves mentioned in the said bequests to wit: Toby," Lett, Hannah, Jack, and Rachel, who are above the age of forty five years (so soon as Christopher John ston, executor of the said Charles Moorman, deceased, Exclusive privilege granted to John Fitch, to navigate steam boats, for a limited time. CHAP. LXXVII. An act granting to John Fitch the exclusive privilege of constructing and navigating boats impelled by fire or steam, for a limited time. [Passed the 7th of November, 1787.] I. WHEREAS John Fitch, of the state of Pennsylvania, hath represented to the present general assembly, that he hath constructed an easy and expeditious method of impelling boats through water by the force of fire or steam, and hath made application for the sole and exclusive right of making and navigating all boats impelled by the force of fire or steam within this state, for a limited time, Be it therefore enacted by the General Assembly of the commonwealth of Virginia, That the said John Fitch, his heirs, executors, administrators, and assigns, are hereby vested with the sole and exclusive right and privilege of constructing, and navigating, every species of boats or water craft, which may be impelled through the water by the force of fire or steam, in the bays, rivers and creeks within the territory and jurisdiction of this state, for and during the term of fourteen years, from and after the end of the present session of general assembly If any person or persons, other than the said John Fitch, his heirs, executors, administrators, or assigns, shall construct, use, employ, or navigate, any boat, or water-craft, which shall be impelled through the water by the force of fire or steam, within the territory of this state, every person or persons so offending shall forfeit and pay to the said John Fitch, his heirs, executors, administrators, or assigns, the sum of one hundred pounds, for each boat so constructed, used, or navigated, to be recovered by action of debt in any court of record within this commonwealth, with costs of suit, and shall moreover forfeit to the said John Fitch, his heirs, or assigns, every such boat or water craft, together with the steam-engine, and all appurtenances, to be recovered, with costs of suit, in any court of record within this state. 11. Provided nevertheless, That this act shall be void at the expiration of three years from its commencement, unless the said John Fitch shall then have in use, in some river of this commonwealth, boats or craft of at least twenty tons burthen each, constructed and navigated as above described. CHAP. LXXVIII. An act authorizing the directors of the public buildings in the city of Richmond to convey to Philip Turpin certain lands. [Passed the 14th of December, 1787.] J. WHEREAS it hath been represented that the di- Directors of rectors of the pubic buildings in the city of Richmond public build. ings, autho have appropriated for the use of the public, certain rised to con VOL. XII. C 4 |