To emancipate them during her life, would tho
earnestly wished by me, be attended with such insuperable
difficulties, on account of their intermixture by marriages with
the Dower negroes as to excite the most painful sensations--if
not disagreeable consequences from the latter while both
descriptions are in the occupancy of the same proprietor, it not
being in my power under tenure by which the dower Negroes are
held to manumit them--And whereas among those who will receive
freedom according to this devise there may be some who from old
age, or bodily infirmities & others who on account of their
infancy, that will be unable to support themselves, it is my will
and desire that all who come under the first and second
description shall be comfortably clothed and fed by my heirs
while they live and (3) that such of the latter description as
have no parents living, or if living are unable, or unwilling to
provide for them, shall be bound by the Court until they shall
arrive at the age of twenty five years, and in cases where no
record can be produced whereby their ages can be ascertained, the
Judgment of the Court upon it's own view of the subject shall be
adequate and final--The negroes thus bound are (by their masters
and mistresses) to be taught to read and write and to be brought
up to some useful occupation, agreeable to the laws of the
commonwealth of Virginia, providing for the support of orphans
and other poor children--and I do hereby expressly forbid the
sale or transportation out of the said Commonwealth of any Slave
I may die possessed of, under any pretence, whatsoever--and I do
moreover most positively, and solemnly enjoin it upon my
Executors hereafter named, or the survivors of them to see that
this clause respecting slaves and every part thereof be
religiously fulfilled at the Epoch at which it is directed to
take place without evasion neglect or delay after the crops
which may then be on the ground are harvested, particularly as it
respects (4) the aged and infirm, seeing that a regular and
permanent fund be established for their support so long as there
are subjects requiring it, not trusting to the uncertain
provisions to be made by individuals.--And to my mulatto man,
William (calling himself William Lee) I give immediate freedo