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- Description is exactly "This is the will of Richard Rapier, in which he set aside money for the manumission of John Rapier, his slave. According to Florence historian Lee Freeman, "John H. Rapier, Sr., Republican Congressman James T. Rapier's father, was hired out by his Nashville Thomas owners to white merchant Richard Rapier (d. 1826), who moved from Nashville to Florence, Alabama in 1818 (the town itself was founded in that year). Rapier soon after founded the firm of Rapier & Co., later going into partnership with John Simpson in the firm of Rapier & Simpson. In his will Rapier instructed hs estate executors Alexander McFadden and Marshall Clark to buy John from his Thomas owners, setting aside $1,000 for that purpose, then to petition the Alabama Legislature for John's freedom, which was eventually granted, in 1829, three years after Rapier's death. Rapier also bequeathed to John his wardrobe (all of his "wearing apparel") and a bureau.""
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