Barbara Wilson Deed of Emancipation Document
Scope and Content
This collection contains a deed of emancipation signed by Barbara Wilson of Bath County, Virginia, freeing Harry, an enslaved man. Wilson is described as filing the deed "upon principle opposed to holding any person in slavery." Harry is listed as being about thirty-two years old.
Dates
- 1822
Language of Materials
The materials in this collection are written in English.
Conditions Governing Access
The collection is open for research.
Conditions Governing Reproduction and Use
The copyright status of this collection is unknown. Copyright restrictions
may apply. Contact Special Collections and University Archives for
assistance in determining the use of these materials.
Reproduction or
digitization of materials for personal or research use can be requested using
our reproduction/digitization form: http://bit.ly/scuareproduction.
Reproduction or digitization of materials for publication or exhibit use can
be requested using our publication/exhibition form:
http://bit.ly/scuapublication. Please contact Special Collections and University Archives (specref@vt.edu or 540-231-6308) if you need assistance with forms or to submit a completed form.
Historical Note
Barbara Wilson freed fourteen enslaved people in Bath County, Virginia, in January 1822. The following month, Barbara Wilson's family filed a case claiming that she was mentally insane and of unsound mind when manumitting the enslaved people. The family initially failed, but seized Wilson's estate upon appeal. The enslaved people filed a suit against the family members, and in the course of the case, Wilson died, leaving an 1819 will that also emancipated the enslaved people. In 1836, the superior court ruled that the enslaved people were entitled to their freedom.
Source: Benjamin Watkins Leigh, Report of Cases Argued and Determined in the Court of Appeals, and in the General Court, of Virginia, Vol. 5, 1903. Pages 552-553. [https://www.google.com/books/edition/Virginia_Reports/aZ4UAAAAYAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=henry+and+others,+paupers,+v.+bollar+and+others&pg=PA541&printsec=frontcover]
Extent
0.1 Cubic Feet (1 folder)
Abstract
This collection contains a deed of emancipation signed by Barbara Wilson of Bath County, Virginia, freeing Harry, an enslaved man.
Source of Acquisition
This collection was purchased by Special Collections and University Archives in 2018.
Rights Statement for Archival Description
The guide to the Barbara Wilson Deed of Emancipation Document by Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, is licensed under a CC0 (https://creativecommons.org/share-your-work/public-domain/cc0/).
Processing Information
The processing, arrangement, and description of the Barbara Wilson Deed of Emancipation Document was completed in November 2022.
- Title
- Barbary Wilson Deed of Emancipation Document
- Status
- In Progress
- Author
- Miranda Christy, graduate assistant
- Date
- 2022 (CC0 1.0)
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech Repository
Special Collections and University Archives, University Libraries (0434)
560 Drillfield Drive
Newman Library, Virginia Tech
Blacksburg Virginia 24061 US
540-231-6308
specref@vt.edu