Chesterfield County, Virginia, Wills:  Will of Stephen Beasley Sr. - 1766

Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Russell L. Lawrence
ruslaw@bellatlantic.net
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Will of Stephen Beasley Sr. - 1766
(Will Book 1, page 534, Chesterfield Co.VA.)

In the Name of God Amen I Stephen Beasley of the County of Chesterfield
being of sound and disposing mind do make and ordain this my last Will
and Testament in manner and form following that is to say -
First (my debts and funeral Expences being first paid) I give devise &
bequeath to my wife Tabitha during her natural life four hundred acres
of land in the said County of Chesterfield on the South side a Branch
of Proctor's called the great Branch being the Land & Plantation 
whereon I now live and after her decease I give the said Land to my Son
Thomas and his Heirs forever. I also give my said wife during her 
natural life only all that part of my Land lying on the lower side of
the licking branch of Falling Creek in the said County which I lately
purchased of the Honourable William Byrd Esq. after the death of my
said wife I give the said Land to my Daughter Ann and to Heirs forever.
I also give to my said wife Tabitha during the term of her natural life
two hundred acres of Land with the appurtenances in the County of 
Amelia adjoining the Land whereon my Son Peter now lives and after her
decease I give the Same to my said Son Peter and to his Heirs forever.
I give to my said wife Tabitha my Negro wench Amy to be at her own
disposal forever I also give her all my Household Furniture & utensials
and all my Stock of Horses Cattle Sheep & Hogs during her natural life
and after her death the Same to be equally divided among all my 
children I also lend unto my said wife during her natural life only my
Negroes Rete Young Bristol Bowser Old Bristol Cesar Flora Jugg Jupiter
& Jenny & after her Death I give the same Negroes except Young Bristol
& Bowser to be equally divided among all my Children my son Josiah 
excepted And I do declare it to be my will and desire that my said wife
Tabitha in consideration of the several Legacies aforesaid given her do
maintain in a decent manner my Son Josiah who from a disorder which has
sometime afflicted him is unable to take care of himself but if my wife
departs this life before my Son Josiah I then direct that the Negro Man
Bowser & Young Bristol above given to my wife for life shall go & 
belong to my son Peter Beasley during the life of the said Josiah and
that he maintain the said Josiah in consideration thereof and after the
Death of the said Josiah I give the said Negro Bowser to my said Son
Thomas and the said Young Bristol to my said Son Peter.
Item. I give and devise unto my said Son Peter and his Heirs forever
one hundred acres of Land lying in the County of Amelia adjoining the
Land I have already conveyed to him by Deed being all the remaining 
part of my first survey and also my Negro Man Joe.
Item. I give and devise unto my Son Benjamin and to his heirs forever 
my Negro Man George.
Item. I give and devise unto my Grandson Archibald son of my said Son
Benjamin Forty Pounds Cash and to my four Grand Daughters Children of
the said Benjamin twenty five pounds each.
Item. I give and devise unto my said son Thomas and his Heirs forever
the the Land & Plantation whereon my Son Stephen formerly lived in the
County of Chesterfield which I purchased of Vanderhood and the 
Honourable William Byrd Esq. also my Negroes Ned Sam & Olive and Fifty
Pounds Cash.
Item. I give to my Daughter Obedience the other part of my tract of 
Land on the aforesaid Licking Branch which I lately purchased of the
Honourable William Byrd Esq. and to her Heirs forever.
Item. I give to my Grand Daughter Tabitha Hatcher one Negro Girl named
Hannah.
Item. I give to my Grand Daughters Sarah & Ann Cheatham Children of my
Daughter Tabitha Twenty Five Pounds Cash each & I do acquit and release
William Cheatham her Husband of Forty five pounds which I lent him.
Item. I give to my Grand Daughter Ann Edwards one Negro Girl named Nell
All the residue of my Negroes not herein before disposed of I give to 
be equally divided among my Children now living my son Josiah excepted.
Lastly I appoint my said wife & Son Peter Executors of this my last 
Will & Testament revoking all former Wills by me made I direct that my
Estate be not appraised In Witness whereof I set my hand & seal this 
Twentyeth day of December One Thousand Seven hundred & sixty six.

Signed Seald published & delivered by the s'd testator to be his last
Will & Testament in presence of us}
Stephen Beasley
William Hatcher
Nathanael Hatcher
Obediah Hatcher

Submitted by R ussell L. L awrence