Draft Will of Martha Jefferson Randolph

Washington April 18th 2 o’clock in the morning Friday [Saturday]1

To my five daughters I wish to bequeath my property in the funds. To Benjamin & Lewis the two negroes now in Benjamins possession. my five remaining negroes Emily I wish liberated as soon as you break up house keeping here; Martha Ann at the death of her old grandmother, in the mean time to live with her and take care of her. To Betsy Hemmings, Sally & Wormley I wish my children to give their time. If liberated they would be obliged to leave the state of Virginia. To my dear George I have nothing but my love to leave, and in any division made of my books that he should have a share. In dividing the plate among you, I wish Jefferson to have the Casseroles, & Mr. Coolidge the duck. To Nicholas I leave my fathers clock.

written by Mama’s request

MS (ViU: Edgehill-Randolph Papers); entirely in the hand of Virginia J. Randolph Trist; partially dated; date confirmed and day of week editorially corrected based on Virginia J. Randolph Trist to Nicholas P. Trist, 10–19 Apr. 1835, in which Virginia Trist describes her mother’s illness and her request that Trist write the above at her direction.
118 Apr. 1835 fell on a Saturday
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April 18, 1835
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