Chesterfield County, VA - Will of John Archer, 1784 File submitted for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Nancy Slator ************************************************************************ USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.net John Archer Will - February 22, 1784 In the name of God amen, I, John Archer, of Chesterfield County in Bermuda Hundred being weak and sick but of perfect mind and memory doth make and ordain this to be my last Will and Testament, in manner and form following. Item: I give, bequeath and devise unto my son, Peter Field Archer, my lands and Plantation in Amelia County when he shall arrive to the edge of twenty-one years to him and his heirs forever. I also give him the following Negroes, to wit: Will, Ned, Lewis, Sam, Flora and her children, Chloe, Joe, Lucy, Daniel, and Bobb. I also give him twenty head of cattle, thirty head of hogs, ten head of sheep and the horses that are now on the plantation in Amelia County, one bed and furniture, half a dozen silver spoons for the table, half a dozen silver tea spoons, one dozen pewter plates and half a dozen pewter dishes, one black walnut desk and book case, one musket, bayonet and cartouche box and my sword. Also one dozen leather bottom chairs and one large mahogany table and in consideration of the above legacy, my above said son, Peterfield Archer, shall pay the sum of two hundred pounds of my debts. Item: I give and bequeath unto each of my daughters when they shall arrive on the edge of eighteen years or when married the one fifth part of all my Negros not already willed away. Also one fifth part of the remainder of my stock of horses, cattle, sheep and hogs and likewise I give to each of my daughters half a dozen silver table spoons and half a dozen silver tea spoons and likewise to each of my daughters I give a bed and furniture to them and their heirs forever. Item: I desire my land in Cumberland County that lies adjoining the land of Thomas Johns and contains four hundred acres may be sold at the discretion of my executors hereafter named in order to discharge my sister, Judith Archer=s, attached bond which said bond to be made equal to money in the year one thousand seven hundred seventy six and should the said land not sell for sufficient to discharge the said bond the deficiency to be made good out of my estate. Item: I lend the use of all the estate to my loving wife until each of my children shall have their share laid off to them the better to enable my loving wife to educate them and pay the residue of my debts. Item: If my wife should now be with child and it should be a son, I give him and his heirs forever my land in Plantation in Bermuda Hundred. Also all my lands adjacent lying in the county of Chesterfield and the one fifth of my Negroes and stock of every kind. But if my wife should prove with child of a daughter, my will is that such daughter shall have an equal part of my estate with my other daughters and should the child that my loving wife is now pregnant with prove not to be a son or being so should die without issue, my will is that my son, Peterfield Archer, shall after the death of my loving wife have, possess, and enjoy all right and title in the aforesaid lands lying and being in Bermuda Hundred and County of Chesterfield in consideration of his paying unto each of my daughters or their heirs the sum of four hundred pounds within four years after the death of my loving wife or as they arrive at the edge of eighteen years. Item: My will and desire is that all the residue of my estate after the death of my loving wife be sold and the money arising thereby to be equally divided between my daughters, Elizabeth, Martha Field, Ann and Mary, also the son or daughter that may be that my wife is now pregnant with. Item: My will and desire is that the provision herein made for my loving wife is in lieu of her Dower. My will is that there may be no appraisement of my estate. Item: Lastly, I appoint my loving wife executrix, my brother, Henry Archer, my brother James Robertson, my cousin, John Archer, son of William Archer , and my son, Peterfield Archer, executors of this my last will and testament. As witness my hand and seal this twenty second day of February, one thousand seven hundred and eighty four.1868. Signed, sealed, published, and declared John Archer by the said John Archer to be his last Will in the presence of: Samuel Shearwin Blackman Moseley Thomas Poullan