Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Use Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Preferred Citation

Orange County (Va.) Deed of Emancipation, 1784 Mar. 27, Local government records collection, Orange County Court Records. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Va. 23219.

Acquisition Information

This item came to the Library of Virginia in a transfer of court papers from Orange County.

Historical Information

Orange County, according to most accounts, was named for William of Orange, the Dutch prince who became William III of England in 1688. It is more probable, however, that the name honored William IV, prince of Orange-Nassau, who married Anne, eldest daughter of George II, in 1734-the year Orange County was named from Spotsylvania County.

Scope and Content

Orange County (Va.) Deed of Emancipation, 1784 Mar. 27, liberating Presilar, age 24, and Sarah, age 22, from Thomas Coppedge. The deed (photocopy) is worded as follows: "I Thomas Coppedge of Orange County from a deliberate consideration and conviction of my own mind am willing to fulfil that injunction of our Lord do unto all men as I would they should do unto me and having under my care one negro woman named Presiler twenty four years old and one ditto named Sarah twenty two years old, I do now for myself and my heirs release and discharge from being my property hereafter forever the above named negroes."

Index Terms

Corporate Names:

• Orange County (Va.) Circuit Court

Subjects:

• Slaves--Emancipation--Virginia--Orange County.

Geographical Names:

• Orange County (Va.)--History--18th century.

Genre and Form Terms:

• Deeds--Virginia--Orange County.
• Free negro and slave records--Virginia--Orange County.
• Local government records--Virginia--Orange County.