This is a request for help understanding two aspects of a will that was 
filed in Richmond in 1818.

1. The gentleman in question frees several slaves and allows them to 
stay in the homes where they were living until these homes are sold as 
part of his estate. He also provides for a yearly amount ranging from 
$40-$150 to be paid to each of these individuals. In addition, he 
provides assistance if, because of the law, these freed slaves were not 
allowed to live in Virginia. My question is: Was it normal at the time 
for slave owners to free some or all of their slaves when they died? Are 
the provisions in the will normal or do they seem especially generous?

2. The gentleman leaves amounts ranging from $2000 to $8000 to a series 
of women, most of them married but some not. Since several of these 
woman were well known in Richmond society, it's hard to imagine that 
they had all been lovers of the gentleman and that he would speak of 
them so openly in his will. Does anything you know about Richmond 
society of the time provide a clue as to the significance of these 
generous clauses?

I'd be very appreciative of any ideas that could help explain these two 
points in the 1818 will.

Rita Goldberg

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