m or
if he should prefer it (on account of the accidents which have
befallen him and which have rendered him incapable of walking or
of any active employment)[528] to remain in the situation he now
is, it shall be optional in him to do so--In either case however
I allow him an annuity of thirty dollars during his natural life
which shall be independent of the victuals and cloaths he has
been accustomed to receive; if he chuses the last alternative,
but in full with his freedom, if he prefers the first, and this I
give him as a testimony of my sense of his attachment to me and
for his services during the Revolutionary War.[529]

"_Item_--The balance due to me from the Estate of Bartholomew
Dandridge deceased, (my wife's brother) and which amounted on the
first day of October, 1795, to Four hundred and twenty-five
pounds (as will appear by an account rendered by his deceased son
John Dandridge, who was the Executor of his father's will) I
release and acquit from the payment thereof,--And the _negros_
(then thirty three in number) formerly belonging to the said
Estate who were taken in Execution,--sold--and purchased in, on
my account in the year (1795?) and ever since have remained in
the possession and to the use of Mary, widow of the said
Bartholomew Dandridge with their increase, it is my will and
desire shall continue and be in her possession, without paying
hire or making (13) compensation for the same for the time past
or to come during her natural life, at the expiration of which, I
direct that all of them who are forty years old and upwards shall
receive their freedom, all under that age and above sixteen shall
serve seven years and no longer, and all under sixteen years
shall serve until they are twenty-five years of age and then be
free.--And to avoid disputes respecting the ages of any of these
_negros_ they are to be taken to the Court of the County in which
they reside and the judgment thereof in this relation shall be
final and a record thereof made, which may be adduced as evidence
at any time thereafter if disputes should arise concerning the
same.--And I further direct that the heirs of the said
Bartholomew Dandridge shall equally share the benefits arising
from the services of the said _negros_ according to the tenor of
t