Slaves in Kentucky could
be emancipated by the owner petitioning the county court or being set free
through a provision in the owner's last
will and testament. To guarantee the former slave would not become a charge upon the county, a bond with security was signed by a responsible local citizen. The following handwritten emancipation papers are located in the
loose county court papers, Crittenden County Clerk's Office.
Know all men ... we John S. Elder, Harvey W. Bigham &
George T. Mayes are held & firmly bound unto the Commonwealth of Kentucky
in the penal sum of $1000 ... 11th day
of December 1843. The condition is such
that whereas the above named court have this day ordered a certificate of freedom to be
granted to Sethe a man of Color emancipated by the last will & testament of
James Elder. Should Sethe never become chargeable upon any County of the
Commonwealth this obligation to be void ... [signed] John S. Elder, H.W.
Bigham, G.T. Mayes.
Know all men ... we H.M. Witherspoon, Wm. B. Hickman, U.G.
Witherspoon and James R. Hanks are held and firmly bound unto the Commonwealth
of Kentucky in the penal sum of $500 ... this 11th day of Octr. 1847. The condition
is such that whereas George Witherspoon
late of Crittenden County now deceased in his last Will and testament declared
that his slave named Sam should be liberated and set free at the Octr. term of
the Crittenden County Court. Now whereas the sd. Court has this day directed
that Certificate of Emancipation shall issue to sd. slave ... if Sam shall
never become chargeable to the County then this bond is to become of no effect
... [signed] H.M. Witherspoon, W.B. Hickman, U.G. Witherspoon, J.R. Hanks. Attest: R.L. Bigham.
Know all men ... we Green C. Reece
and W.H. Husband & H.R.D. Coleman are held and firmly bound unto the
Commonwealth of Kentucky in the penal Sum of $500 for the payment of which ... bind ourselves our heirs executors &c ... this 10th day of April 1848. The condition
is such that whereas Elisha Reece dec'd by his last will and testament (which
was this day proven & ordered to Record by the County Court) hath set free
and Emancipated his Negro Boy Cyrus aged about fifty years Now if Cyrus shall not become chargeable to any
county in this Commonwealth then ... this shall become null and void ...
[signed] G.C. Reese, W.H. Husbands, H.R.D. Coleman.
Know all men ... we Manerva and W. Wagar are held and firmly
bound unto the Commonwealth of Kentucky in the penal sum of $500 ... this 11th
day of March 1861. The condition is such that whereas Manerva has been
Emancipated and set free Now should Manerva never become a charge upon
any County in the Commonwealth for her support and maintenance then this
obligation shall be void ... [signed] Manerva (X her mark), W. Wagar.
Know all men ... we King and F.D. Wyatt are held and firmly
bound unto the Commonwealth of Kentucky in the penal sum of $500 ... this 11th
day of March 1861. King has been
emancipated and set free ... should King never become a charge upon any county
in the Commonwealth for his support and maintenance then this obligation shall
be void ... [signed] King (X) his mark, F.D. Wyatt. Wit: Berry S. Young clerk.
Published 28 December 2016, Western Kentucky Genealogy Blog, http://wkygenealogy.blogspot.com/
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