Cumberland Co., VA Will of Samuel Atkinson, 1794 Will Cumberland Co., VA, WB 3, Page 34, dated 7 May 1794: I Samuel Atkinson of Cumberland County being in good health and of perfect disposing mind sence & memory do nake my last will and testament that is to say after discharging my just debts and necessary funeral expenses I give and bequeath to my loving and beloved wife Mary Ann two negro Slaves named Dick, a men and Kate, also one third of all my personal estate, my still and black smiths tools exceptd. I also lend to my said beloved wife a negro woman named Jane during her naural life, and after her decease to my daughter Mary Johnson. I also lend to my said wife during her natural life the use & profits of two hundred acres of land part of the tract whereon I now dwell and in such part thereof as she shall choose sa as to include the mansion house and the necessary offices thereto belonging & part of the plantation and wood land as she shall find most convienient, and a negro man named Jack which said bequest and loans are hereby meant to be taken by her in lieu of her Dower in my estate I give and bequeath to my son Samuel the tract of land & plantation whereon I ow live, including the part thereof loaned to my loving wife, containing by estimation four hundred & thirty five acres more or less, also a negro man named Jack, and a negro man named Moses, and a negro boy named Jesse and my still and black smiths tools, to him and his Heirs forever. But it is also to be understood that this bequest is not meant to deprive my wife of the benefit of loan above made to her of part of the said land and slave Jack. I give and bequeath to my sons Josiah & Jesse my tract of land in Pittsylvania County whereon the said Josiah now resides containing by estimation four hundred & fifty acres more or less to be equally divided between them, provided never the less that if I shall at any time hereafter purchase other lands and give them to either of them the said Josiah & Jesse by Deed or otherwise he to whom such land shall be so given shall relinquish to the other by Deed of relinquishment or otherwise as shall be deemed most adviseable to all claim under these presents to the said four hundred and fifty acres land or any part thereof without any researve whatever. I also give and bequeath to my Son Josiah a negro boy named Frank now in his possession to him and his Heirs forever. And to my son Jesse a negro boy named Ben, and a feather bed & furniture, to him and his Heirs forever. I give and bequeath to my son Robert two hundres and sixty nine acres of land more or less which includes lands conveyed to me by John Montague and Lawerence Smith, whereon Montagues old ordinary is situate and a negro girl named Noh also a feather Bed and furniture to him and his Heirs forever I give and bequeath to my daughter Sarah Meaders a negro woman named Lucy, a negro boy named Isaac, and a negro girl maned Agg, all of them now in her possession to her and her Heirs forever. I give in Trust to my son Josiah Atkinson a female negro slave named Rachel and her children, and negro girl slave named Rose, which were intrusted to the possession of John Johnson, and my Daughter Nancy his wife or or about the ninth day of March one thousand seven hundred and ninty two, for the purposes following that is to say that my said Daughter Nancy and her children, shall during the natural life of her the said Nancy, without any lett, hindrance, or molestation, from him the said John Johnson enjoy the full benefit and use of the labor of the said slaves and their future increase if any and after the death of my said Daughter, I give and bequeath the said slaves and their increase to be equally divided among the children of my said Daughter or their legal representatives, and it is my particular request that my Son Josiah will take upon himself the burden of this trust. I give and bequeath to my daughter Annis Flippin a negro woman named Rose, and a negro girl named Silva, both now in the posession of my said daughter also a negro boy named Lewis to her and her Heirs forever. I give and bequeath to my daughter Maru Johnson a negro girl named Anne, now in her posession, to her and her Heirs forever. I give and bequeath to my Daughter Fanny Johnson a Negro Girl named Betty now in her posession and a girl named Pegg to her and her heirs forever. I give and bequeath to my daughter Sasanna Gauldin a negro boy named Ned, and a negro girl named Rachel to her and her Heirs forever. I give and bequeath to my dughter Elizabeth Atkinson a negro man named Charles, and a negro girl named Lucy, and a feather Bed & furniture to her and her Heirs forever. I give and bequeath to my daughter Judith austin a negro boy named Davy and a negro girl named Moll and a feather Bed & furniture to her and her Heirs forever. I give and bequeath to my Grandson Samuel Atkinson son of my son John Atkinson a negro girl named Jany to him and his Heirs forever. I give and bequeath to my Son John Atkinson forty shillings current money. My will and desire is that all my estate of what kind soever not herein before particulary disposed be divided among all my children (my son John excepted) in equal portions. I nominate and appoint my Son Samuel Atkinson and Charles Woodson Executors of this my last will & testament hereby revoking all former wills by me heretofore made. In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this seventh day of May one thousand seven hundred ninty four. his Samuel X Atkison mark Signed Sealed published & declared by Samuel Atkinson to be his last will & testament in presence of us at whose request we have hereunto subscribed our names John Criddle James Austin R Austin At a court held for Cumberland County the 22nd Sept'r 1794. This last will and testament of Samuel Atkinson deceased was exhibited in Court by Samuel Atkinson & Charles Woodson the Executors therein named and proved by the witnesses thereto and ordered to be recorded. And on the motion of Samuel Atkinson one of the Executors who made oath according to law certificate is granted him for obtaining probate thereof in due form on giving bond & security whereupon he with Edward Walton his Security entered into bond conditioned according to law. Teste Miller Woodson Clk File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Thomas Atkinson - trasams@bellsouth.net USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be freely used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages cannot be reproduced in any format for profit or other presentation.