William v. Nicholas B. Vanzandt & Christopher J. Estes. Appointment as Administrator Jennifer Guiliano Trevor Muñoz William G. Thomas III transcription and encoding Samantha M. Bryant Steph N. Camerone Kaci L. Nash Laura K. Weakly University of Nebraska-Lincoln University of Maryland National Endowment for the Humanities 2014 O Say Can You See University of Nebraska-Lincoln Center for Digital Research in the Humanities
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 Appointment as Administrator June 8, 1826 Our transcription is based on a digital image of the original. National Archives and Records Administration Record Group 21, Entry 6 Box 371, Folder 511 Case Papers Exhibit Civil Petition for Freedom May 1826 Cutler, Robert C. Harding, Samuel Johnson, James Shelton, Joseph Southall, William W. Nelson County (Va.) Washington (D.C.) William Estes, Christopher J. Vanzandt, Nicholas B. United States. Circuit Court (District of Columbia) Washington (D.C.) changed relationship encoding for Vanzandt per change on 2016-08-05 added Vanzandt as defendant reviewed document added idno; edited term added xml:ids; changed Van Zandt to Vanzandt and moved to attorney_defendant converted to new TEI changed subcategory to exhibit added attorneys to header encoded and transcribed; edited

Know all men by these presents that I Christopher J Estes administrator of William W Southall decd. for divers good causes and considerations are hereunto moving; have nominated constituted and appointed and by these presents do nominate constitute and appoint my friend Ns B. Van Zandt of the City of Washington my true and lawful attorney for me and in my name as administrator aforesaid to seize, take and hold or sell a negro boy William the property of the estate of the late William W Southall decd. and if sold to receive the purchase money therefor subject to my demand as administrator aforesaid, if not sold then to hold subject to my control as administrator aforesaid, And I do hereby further authorize and empower the said Ns B. Van Zandt to sue for and recover in my name and subject to my demand and control the said negro boy William should it be necessary to do so in order to get possession of him; and to do and act for me and in my name in all things touching the premises as fully and as effectually as I myself could do were I personally present. All of which actings and doings of any said attorney when done or made I do hereby ratify and confirm as administrator aforesaid to all intents and purposes. In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal in the County of Nelson and State of Virginia this 8th day of June in the year of our Lord 1826

Christopher J Estes (Seal)

Virginia. Nelson County. to wit:

I Robert C. Cutler, Deputy Clerk of the County Court of Nelson, do hereby certify that Christopher J. Estes, who hath signed his name to the foregoing Letter of Attorney, this day personally appeared in my office, and acknowledged the same to be his . In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand as Deputy Clerk of the said County Court and affixed the seal of my office this 9th day of June 1826, and in the fiftieth year of the Commonwealth.

Ro: C. Cutler

State of Virginia. Nelson County. November Court, 1821.

Administration on the Estate of William W. Southall deceased, is granted to Christopher J. Estes, of this county, who thereupon personally appeared in Court and made oath, and, together with James Johnson and Samuel Harding, his securities, entered into and acknowledged their bond in the penalty of three thousand dollars, and with the conditions required by law.

A Copy. Test. Ro: C. Cutler. D.C. of C.

State of Virginia. Nelson County. to wit:

I Joseph Shelton, presiding Justice of the Court of Nelson County in the State aforesaid, do hereby certify, that the foregoing attestations made by Robert C. Cutler, deputy Clerk of the said court, is in due form, and by the proper officer appointed by the laws of the said state for that purpose, and that full faith and credit is due thereto in every Court or office in the United States. Given under my hand at the County of Nelson in the State of Virginia aforesaid, this ninth day of June in the year 1826, and of the Independence of the United States the fiftieth.

Jos: Shelton

State of Virginia. Nelson County. to wit:

I, Robert C. Cutler, deputy Clerk of the County Court of Nelson, in the State aforesaid, do hereby certify that Joseph Shelton, whose certificate is hereto annexed, is presiding Justice of the Court of the said county in the State of Virginia, duly commissioned and qualified to the said to the constitution and laws of the said State. Given under my hand and the seal of my Office, this ninth day of June, Eighteen hundred and twenty six, and in the fiftieth year of the Commonwealth.

Ro: C. Cutler