The third and last case alluded to above, consisted of
several families, amounting in the whole to 26 individual
slaves belonging to the estate of the late James Green, of
Adams county, Mississipi. The following interesting
circumstances concerning their liberation, were communicated
to me by James Railey, Esq., the brother-in-law and acting
executor of Mr. Green's Estate. Mr. Green died on the 15th of
May, 1832, the proprietor of about 130 slaves, and left Mr.
Railey, his brother-in-law, and his sisters, Mrs. Railey and
Mrs. Wood, executors of his last will and testament. Mr.
Green's will provides for the unconditional emancipation of
but one of his slaves--a faithful and intelligent man named
Granger, whom Mr. Green had raised and taught to read, write,
and keep accounts. He acted as foreman for his master for
about five years previous to his death. Mr. Green, by his
will, left him 3000 dollars, on condition that he went to
Liberia, otherwise, 2000 dollars. Provision was also made in
the will for securing to him his wife. Granger has been
employed since the death of Mr. Green, until recently, as
overseer for Mr. Railey, at a salary of 600 dollars per
annum. Granger declines going to Liberia at present on
account of the unwillingness of his mother to go there. She
is very aged and infirm, and he is very much attached to her.
She was a favorite slave of Mr. Green's mother, who
emancipated her and left her a legacy of 1000 dollars.
Granger came to this city with Mr. Railey to see his friends
and former fellow-servants embark: and when he bade them
farewell, he said, with a very emphatic tone and manner, "I
will follow you in about 18 months."
The executors of Mr. Green's estate were by no means slack in
meeting the testator's wishes concerning these people. Mr.
Railey accompanied them to New-Orleans, and both he and Mrs.
Wood, who also was in New-Orleans while they were preparing
to embark, took a lively and active interest in providing
them with everything necessary for their comfort on the
voyage, and their welfare after their arrival in the Colony,
and placed in my hand 7000 dollars for their benefit, one
thousand dollars of which were appropriated towards the
charter of a vessel to convey them to the Colony, with the
privilege of 140 barrels freight--sixteen hundred dollars
towards the purchase of an outfit, consisting of mechanics'
tools, implements of agriculture, household furniture,
medicines, clothing, &c., and the remaining four thousand
four hundred dollars, partly invested in trade, goods, and
partly in specia, were shipped and consigned to the Governor
of Liberia, for their benefit, with an accompanying
memorandum made out by Mr. Railey, showing how much was each
one's portion.
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