Samuel Gist’s Will

Origin
Samuel Gist was an English-American slave owner. An Englishman, he rose from humble beginnings to become a wealthy slave owner and plantation owner in the Colony of Virginia. Upon the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War, he returned to Great Britain. In 1808, he drafted a will which stipulated the manumission of all of his slaves. He later amended it so that his executors could revoke that provision. However, the executors freed many, possibly all, of the slaves, probably numbering around 500, though some estimates go as high as 1,000.

Effects
Can rewrite and change any legally binding document to the intended party’s favor, usually release from another entity’s control. It will take into account any discrepancies the other parties will notice and decide whether several small adjustments are more favorable than a total overhaul. All revisions will be legally acceptable and unable to be altered again.