Will of John Watts of Charlotte Co., VA 1770/1771

Note: I transcribed the following will while searching for the WATT family of Charlotte County.  John 
Watts below turned out not to be my family after all, but perhaps this transcription. will be helpful to 
someone else.
Willanna Griffin, March 2002

THE WILL OF JOHN WATTS OF CHARLOTTE COUNTY, 23 Oct 1770
(Charlotte County Will Book 1, p. 82)

I John Watts of Charlotte County Cornwall Parish being in perfect mind memory & reason do this day & 
year make ordain and publish this my Last Will & Testatment in manner and form as followeth, viz., 
Item I give and bequeath to my beloved wife Ann Watts the use of my plantation and houses 
whereon I now live with all my household furniture and stock of every kind during her natural life or 
widowhood. 
Item I give and bequeath to my beloved Son John Watts all my Land on the South side of great 
Sandy Creek to him and his heirs forever. 
Item I give & bequeath to my beloved Son Thomas Watts all my land on the north side of great 
Sandy Creek to him & his heirs forever. 
Item I give to my beloved daughter Clairy Watts one feather bed & furniture known by the name 
of my bed to her & her heirs forever.
Item It is my will & desire that all my household furniture of every kind and stock of every kind at 
the death of my wife be equally divided among my beloved children of the following names, viz., William 
Watts, Richard Watts, John Watts, Thomas Watts, Mary Drake, Elizabeth Christopher, Ann Watts, Wiley 
(Urby? Early? illegible) Watts, & Clairy Watts to them & their heirs forever as witness my hand & seal this 
23rd day of October 1770.

John Watts (his mark)

Test, Silvanus Stokes, Phllip Bond
At a Court held for Charlotte County the second day of September 1770. The within written Last Will & 
Testament of John Watts decd. was presented in Court & proved by the oath of Phillip Bond, a witness 
hereunto subscribed & ordered to be certifyed.

Teste Thom. Read

At a Court held for Charlotte County the 7th day of october 1771. The within written Last Will & 
Testament of John Watts decd. was presented in Court and further proved by the oath of Silvanus Stokes & 
ordered to be recorded and on the motion of Walter Robertson who made oath according to law 
administration with the will annexed of the said ---? is granted him he giving security whereupon he 
together with Paul Carrington Gent. his security entered into & acknowledged this bond according to law 
for that purpose.

Truly Recorded
Test. Tho. Read