Will and executor's bond of Mahala, free woman of color, 1831

Access and use

Location of collection:
Library of Virginia
The Library of Virginia
800 East Broad Street
Richmond, VA 23219
Contact for questions and access:
POC: Archives Reference Services
Phone: (804) 692-3888

Summary

Creator:
Hanover County (Va.) Circuit Court.
Language:
English

Background

Scope and content:

Will and executor's bond of Mahala, free woman of color, 1831, recorded in the Circuit Superior Court of Law and Chancery for Hanover County. In her will, Mahala stated that she wanted her children that she purchased from Colonel Thomas Tinsley, deceased, be free. She also wanted her daughter Clara be bound to her former mistress Susanna Tinsley until she reached the age of 21. The executor's bond named Thomas G. Tinsley executor of Mahala's estate.

Biographical / historical:

Hanover County was named for King George I, who at the time of his accession to the English throne was elector of Hanover in Germany. The county was formed from New Kent County by an act passed in 1720 to take effect 1 May 1721. The county seat is Hanover.

Most county court records of Hanover County, particularly deeds, wills, and marriage records, were destroyed by fire in Richmond on 3 April 1865, where they had been moved for safekeeping during the Civil War. The circuit court records were not moved to Richmond and were relatively unscathed. Consequently, there is a strong run of common law papers and chancery papers after 1831 that were generated by the circuit superior court of law and chancery and its successor, the circuit court.

Acquisition information:
These items came to the Library of Virginia in transfer of court papers from Hanover County.
Physical location:
Library of Virginia
Physical description:
4 p.