Chesterfield County, Virginia, Wills:  Will of Seth Ward - 1769

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Russell L. Lawrence
ruslaw@bellatlantic.net
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Will of Seth Ward - 1769
(Will Book 2, page 13, Chesterfield Co.VA.)

In the name of God Amen. I Seth Ward of the parish of Dale & County of
Chesterfield being Sick & weak but of sound sense & memory, calling to
mind the uncertainty of this life do make & ordain this writing to be
my last Will & Testament in manner & Form following.
First I give devise & bequeath unto my son Seth the Land & Plantation
whereon he now lives situate on James River in the said County commonly
called Sheffield, to him my said son Seth & to his Heirs forever. I 
Also give to him my said Son Seth all the Negroes now in his possession
on the said Plantation except two Children, to wit: a Boy named Frank,
& a Girl named Rachel, & also all the Household Furniture & Tools & all
the Stock of Horses Cattle Sheep & Hogs on the said Plantation & in his
possession.
ITEM. I give devise & bequeath to my son Benjamin the Land & Plantation
whereon I now live situate on Appomattox River to him my said Son 
Benjamin & to his Heirs forever. I also give to my said son Benjamin 
the aforesaid two Negro Children Frank & Rachel and also all the 
Negroes on the said plantation on Appomattox River except the Negro 
Girl Pegg daughter of Kate, and all the Stock of Horses, Cattle, Hoggs
& Sheep & all the Household Furniture & Tools of every kind on the said
Plantation, But if my said son Benjamin shall depart this Life before
he attains the age of Twenty one years & without Issue then I give all
the aforesaid Estate of every kind to my Son Seth & to his Heirs 
Forever.
ITEM. I give to my daughter Mary one Negro Girl named Sylvia now in her
possession & Five Hundred pounds current money.
ITEM. I give to my daughter Martha one Negro girl named Martia & five
hundred pounds current money.
ITEM. I give to my daughter Ann the aforementioned Negro Girl named 
Pegg daughter of Kate & five hundred pounds current money, But if my
said daughter Ann shall depart this life before she shall arrive the 
age of Eighteen years old & not married then I give the said Negro &
money to be equally divided between my said daughters Mary & Martha.
ITEM. If my son Benjamin shall die without Issue & under Twenty one
years of Age then I give to my said daughters Mary, Martha & Ann the
further Sum of Five hundred pounds each & the said Anns part in case
her death shall happen after the s'd. Benjamins death & before she
arrives to the age of Eighteen & unmarried to be equally divided 
between her two Sisters Mary & Martha.
LASTLY. I do also give to my said son Seth the whole & Sole use & 
profits of all the aforesaid Estate willed to my said son Benjamin to
him my said son Seth untill my said son Benjamin arrives to the age 
Twenty one years and in Consideration thereof & of the aforesaid 
Legacies bequeathed to him my said son Seth I do charge him with the
payment of all my Debts & also charge him with the payment of the money
Legacies to my daughters that is to say with the payments of the first
mentioned Five hundred pounds each immediately & also with the payment
of the remainder on the contingency of his Brothers Death happening as
aforesaid in such parts & portions as the Same shall be raised from the
profits of the said Estate yearly till these Legacies are paid off. And
I do by these presents subject the whole Estate hereby willed to him my
said son Seth to the payment of the said Legacies in case he shall fail
in payment thereof.
And I do appoint my son Seth Ward my sons in law William Broadnax &
James Murray & my Friend Benjamin Watkins Executors of this my last 
Will & Testament & direct that my Estate shall not be appraised. In
Witness whereof I set my hand & Seal this Eighth day of September 1769.

Seth Ward   (LS)

Signed Sealed published & declared to be his last Will in presence of
us the Subscribers}
Francis Goode
Leonard Ward
Ben Watkins
Arch'd. Cary
James Ball

Submitted by Russell L. Lawrence
ruslaw@bellatlantic.net
February 2000