Description:

Slavery
Philadelphia, PA, January 6, 1770
Slavery in 18th C. Penn., Will & Testament Mentions Slaves By Name, 7pp, Superb
DS
A manuscript document signed by William McIlvaine, beside a hand-drawn seal, 7pp bifolium, 9.5" x 15.25", Fairview, Pennsylvania, January 6, 1770, a true copy of his Last Will and Testament. Stitched self wrappers. Scattered pencil notations by previous collector. Flattened folds and creases. Moderate browning and ink show-through. Chipping at edges. A few minor tears, some with evidence of repair. Overall, in near very good condition.

WITH: A partial printed, partial manuscript document, once annexed but presently detached, 1p, 10" x 8", Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, October 2, 1785, issued by the Supreme Executive Council and appointing John Matthews as probate. Signed by James Trimble for J. Armstrong, Secretary. Additionally signed along the margin by Charles Biddle as vice president of the council. Separation affects Biddle's signature. Flattened folds and creases, with minor separation and loss at same. Age toning and scattered foxing. Edge chipping with remnants of tape repair. Overall, in near very good condition.

In his Last Will and Testament, William McIlvaine divides his numerous estates, assets, and at least twelve enslaved people among his three children, Joseph, William, and Mary, and his second wife, Margaret. In addition to his late father's estate located in Ayr, Scotland, McIlvaine's land tracts include properties in Fairfax County, Virginia, Georgetown, Maryland, and Buck's County, Pennsylvania, some of which were under lease and some of which were dedicated to the family's farming business.

The slaves of the McIlvaine estate were divided as follows: William's daughter Mary would receive the "Negro Girl called Rachel"; his wife Margaret, "my two Negro Men the one called Sampson and the other named Tom, as also my Negro Wench Marthia with her young Mulato Child...my Mulato Boy Jean, as also the remainder of time of my Servant Boy James White"; his son Joseph, "my Negro Man called Paco, my Negro Boy Dick and my Negro Woman called Sylvia with her child"; and his son William, "my Negro Boy called Bobb".

McIlvaine left extensive instructions for how to allot the money of any sold properties and included a failsafe in the event the family members did not honor his terms: "It is my further Will and desire that if this my Will is not complyed with by my Son Joseph or my Son William or my Wife Margaret that then my Executor hereafter named may have full power to sell or other ways dispose of my Estate Real and Personal..."

William McIlvaine (1722-1770) was a shipping merchant born in Ayrshire, Scotland. He was a member of the Independent Company of Foot under Captain John Kidd. He married Anne Emerson (b. 1725) in May of 1742. They had three children together: Joseph, born in 1749; William, born in 1750; and Mary, born in 1752. The date of Anne's death is unknown, but McIlvaine took a second wife, Margaret Cross, in December of 1766 and they had no children together.

Charles Biddle (1745-1821) was a Pennsylvania statesman and a member of the prominent Biddle family of Philadelphia. During the American Revolutionary War, Biddle was a captain in the merchant service and participated in the work around of the British fleet's blockade of American ports. He volunteered in the Quaker Light Infantry. He was elected to Pennsylvania's Supreme Executive Council in 1784; served as vice president of the council under Benjamin Franklin, 1785-1787; and was a member of the state Senate, 1810-1814.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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  • Dimensions: 9.5" x 15.25"
  • Medium: DS

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