Will of Thomas Gregory, Esquire; Chesterfield County, Virginia File submitted for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Portermom1@aol.com ************************************************************************ 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 *********************************************************************** In the name of God Amen, I Thomas Gregory Senior of the County of Chesterfield do make this my last will and testament in manner and form following, that is to say : 1. I lend unto my beloved wife Elizabeth during her natural life the tracts of land whereon I now reside called Hampton and Elam’s. I also give devise and bequeath to my wife the following servants wit Olivia, Jacob Leager and Ritty and all the present and future increase of said Leager and Ritty (except a girl named Mickey, one of the children of said Leager) to her, her heirs and asigns forever. And I also will and direct that my single daughter may live in my house at Hampton during her single life. 2. I give devise and bequeath to my son John Gregory my tract of land at the cross roads and one negro woman named Raney and all her increase now in his possession to him his heirs and assigns forever. I also give devise and bequeath unto my said John the sum of one hundred pounds which I loaned him to pay for a tract of land called Gathmonths upon his releasing to my estate all claims which he may have under the wills of his grandfather Andrew Laprade and grandmother Martha Laprade on which he may have against me on account of my having received his portion of said estates. 3. I have already given to my daughter Margaret Hancock what I consider a fair portion of my estate. 4. I give devise and bequeath unto my son Thomas Gregory Jr. the tract of land whereon he now resides, a negro boy named John and a negro girl named Delilah and all her increase now in his possession to him his heirs and assigns forever. 5. I give devise and bequeath unto my daughter Judith Ferguson one negro girl named Ridley and all her increase now in her possession to her and her heirs and assigns forever. 6. I give devise and bequeath unto my daughter Sally Wood one negro woman named Nancy and all her increase now in her possession to her her heirs and assigns forever. 7. I give devise and bequeath unto my daughter Polly Jacobs one negro woman named Nelly and all her increase now born (named Barbary, Lucy, and Lehauty) on which may be hereafter born, also one feather bed and furniture to her her heirs and assigns forever. 8. I give devise and bequeath unto my daughter Susannah Gregory one negro woman named Jemima and all her increase now born (named Maria, Spencer, Frank, Betsy and Thomas) on which may hereafter be born also one feather bed and furniture to her her heirs and asigns forever. 9. I give devise and bequeath unto my daughter Ann McGee one negro girl named Martha and one negro boy named David and one feather bed and furniture now in her possession to her her heirs and assigns forever. 10. I give devise and bequeath unto my son James Gregory one negro boy named John Abram, one girl named Leharette and all her increase and one feather bed and furniture now in his possession to him his heirs and assigns forever. 11. I give devise and bequeath unto my son William Gregory one negro man named Absolum and one feather bed and furniture now in his possession and after the death of my wife I also give devise and bequeath unto my said son William all that part of my tract of land called Elam’s lying on the east of a drain passing near the centre of said tract of land to him his heirs and assigns forever. 12. I give devise and bequeath unto my son Richard Gregory all my land lying on the south side of the court house and Coal Pitt road, one negro boy named Philip and one feather bed and furniture now in his possession, and also one negro boy called little John to him his heirs and assigns forever. 13. I give devise and bequeath unto my son Major Gregory one negro boy named Peter and one negro girl named Nancy with all her increase and one feather bed and furniture and after the death of my wife I also give devise and bequeath unto my said son Major the tract of land whereon I now reside called Hampton and one hundred acres of land lying on the north side of the court house road which I purchased of Mark Farmer’s estate to him his heirs and assigns forever. 14. I give devise and bequeath unto my son Samuel Gregory the following negroes to wit; Daniel, Ann and Mickey (one of the children of Leager and all the increase of the females and one feather bed and furniture and after the death of my wife I also give devise and bequeath unto my said son Samuel all that part of the tract of land called Elam’s not heretofore given to my son William to him his heirs and assigns forever. 15. All the rest and residue of my estate not herein before disposed of after the payment of my first debts, I give devise and bequeath to my dearly beloved wife Elizabeth Gregory to her her heirs and assigns forever. Lastly, I do hereby nominate constitute and appoint my wife Elizabeth executive and my son Major Gregory executor of this my last will and testament and direct that no security shall be required of them unless it shall be made to appear that they are wasting my estate and I do hereby revoke and annul all former wills by me hereto for made. In testimony where of I have here upon to set my hand and seal this ninth day of October Anne Domini one thousand eight hundred and thirty four. Signed sealed and delivered by Thomas Gregory (signature) Davidson Nunnally Allen Whiteworth Daniel Smith Codicil to Will of Thomas Gregory Sr., Esquire I Thomas Gregory Senior of the Chesterfield County, having duly made and published y last will and testament in writing, bearing date on the 9th day of October in the year 1834 do hereby make and declare this present writing to be as a codicil to my said will, and do annul the same thereto as such to be taken and considered as a part thereof. Having given to my son William, a slave named Frank bequeathed by my said will to my daughter Susan and placed the said slave in his possession, and having sold a girl Maria likewise bequeathed to my said daughter. Thereby revoke the bequeath to her of the said two slaves and bequeath and confirm the said slave Frank to my son William his heirs executors ye. I bequeath to my daughter Susan two slaves, Lucy and Sarah with their increase from this day to her, her heirs, executors ye. Having sold to my son James a slave named Charlotte bequeathed to him and another named Philip bequeathed to my son Richard by my said will, thereby confirm the said two slaves to my son James, his heirs executors ye. My son Richard having in his lifetime sold to my son Major the land devised to him by my said will lying on the south side of the Court house and Coal Pitt road. I devise and confirm to my son Major his heirs, and assigns all the said tract of land lying on the south side of the road aforesaid. I bequeath to my said son Major his heirs, executors ye, the two children of Nancy, Mary and John born since the date of my will, with their future increase from this day; and I devise to him his heirs and assigns after the death of my wife all that part of my tract of land called Elam's devised by my said will to my son Samuel, being the upper part of the said land. Should my son Major be indebted to me at my death on account of his agency for me under articles of agreement now existing between us, I release to him his heirs ye all such debts whatever. I give and devise to my son Samuel after the death of my wife and to his heirs and assigns all that part of my tract of land called Elam's which by my said will is devised to my son William being the lower part of the said tract of land. Should my son John's representatives be not satisfied with the bequest or arrangements made by me in my said will, in relation to his interest in the estates of (his grandfather and grandmother)Andrew and Martha Laprade I thereby direct my tract of land at the cross roads devised by my will to my said son John to be sold by my executors and the proceeds applied to the payment of whatever I may owe the said John or his estate on account of his interest in the estates aforesaid. I hereby revoke and annul all devises and bequeath contained in my said will, inconsistent with the provisions of this codicil, and in all other respects notify and confirm the same. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this eighteenth day of June in the year one thousand eight hundred and forty one. Memo: The words "all the" on the 23rd line of the first page written over an erasure before signing. Published and declared by the Testator as and for a codicil to his Last will and testament in the Presence of us who have attested the Same in his presence and at his request. R.W. Flournoy Daniel Smith James S. Horner In Chesterfield County Court, April 10th, 1843. The last will and testament of Thomas Gregory Sr. deceased with a codicil thereto annexed was presented in court and the said will was proved by the oaths of Davidson, Nunnally and Daniel Smith, subscribing witness thereto and the said codicil was proved by the oaths of Richard W. Flournoy, Daniel Smith and James S. Horner subscribing witness thereto ordered that the said will and codicil be recorded. On the motion of Elizabeth Gregory and Major W. Gregory executive and executor therein named who entered into bond without security none being required and took the oath required by law a certificate of probate thereof in fine form is granted them.