Cumberland Co., VA Will Jeffrey Robertson, 1816 In the name of God Amen, I Jeffrey Robertson, Jr. of the County of Cumberland and State of Virginia being in perfect sense and memory call to mind the certainty of death and the uncertainty of life do therefore make and ordain this my last will and Testament in manner and form following, viz. ITEM. After my decease my will and desire is that all my just debts shall be paid and all those due me received and gottin. ITEM. After my decease I lend unto my beloved wife Ann Webb Robertson during her natural life or cease of her widowhood all the land tenaments that I possess or have any rights to together with all its appurtenances thereunto, all the plantation utensils, a11 the household and kitchen furniture, the stock of every species together with all their increase. Also the following slaves together with all their increases, to wit, Stephen, Tab, Minny, Peter, Tom, Fanny, John, Tab, Wilson, Joe Pleasants, Mary Randolph, Sarah, Harry and Morris all of which I desire, she my beloved wife Ann Webb Robertson may enjoy during her natural life or termination of her widowhood. ITEM. My will and desire is that after the decease of my beloved wife Ann Webb Robertson or at the cease of her widowhood that all my estate as aforesaid both real and personal be equally divided among my children and that the legacy to each I desire shall have as before during their natural life and at their death to be equally divided among their heirs lawfully begotten of their body and should either of my children die without lawful issue then and in that case my will and desire is that their legacy's shall be equally divided among my remaining children all of which said legacy's so bequeath I desire they & their heirs as aforesaid may enjoy forever. ITEM. Lastly & finally, I nominate & appoint my friend Wm. P. Talley my whole & sole executor to this my last will and Testament, in testimony whereof I do hereunto set my hand and seal the 9th day of December 1816. Test: Jno. Baughman Jeffrey Robertson Wm. P. Talley Elizabeth Criddle At a Court held for Cumberland County the 26th of January 1824 this last will and Testament of Jeffrey Robertson, decd., was presented in court for probate and William P. Talley, the executor named in said will in open court relinquished his rights or title to qualify as executor to said will and the said will was proved by oath of John Baughman and Wm. P. Talley, two witnesses thereto ordered that the same be recorded and on the motion of Wm. P. Talley Administration is granted him with the will annexed on the estate of Jeffrey Robertson, decd. There upon he, with Frederick Hatcher, Ferdinand G. Coleman and Thomas Montigue, his securites entered into and acknowledged their bond for the purpose in the penalty of twelve thousand dollars conditioned according to law and both took oath required by law certificate for obtaining letters of Administration hereof with the will annexed in due form is granted him. Teste: William Powell Teste: Miller Woodson NOTE: Shortly after Jeffrey Robertson died his widow, Ann, married William Talley. 1820.....PALMER & ABEL Parson - Estate of Ann Preston Robertson Chancery Division, Microfilm Reel #253, Box 5, Franklin Co., Va. (Furnished by Mrs. Mae D. Moore in a lt'r dated 14 Oct. 1981). To the Worshipful Court of Franklin County in Chancery sitting humbly complaining here unto your Worship your orator Palmer Parson & Abel Parson that some time in the year 1783 a certain Thomas Damos of Bedford County sold to Ann Preston, the widow and relict of Moses Preston, dec'd. of said county, a tract of land containing by estimation 194 acres for the sum of L28, that the said Ann Preston had then living by her late husband, six children, to wit: Moses Preston, John Preston, Jesse Preston, Anna Preston who afterwards intermarried with William Smith, Elizabeth - Preston who afterwards intermarried with William Taylor and Sally Preston who afterward intermarried with William Boles, that the said Ann Preston, after the said purchase intermarried with William Robertson, Sr., of Franklin County and had by him three children, infants under the age of 21 years of age at the time of her death which took place about the year (no date given) -. That after the death of the said Ann Robertson (formerly), Ann Preston, the said William Robertson, Sr., who was then only tenant by the courtesy & together with John Preston, William Smith, William Boles and Jesse Preston, conveyed the said land by deed in the year 1804 to Moses Preston one of the heirs of Ann Robertson (formerly Ann Preston), the other heirs William Taylor & Elizabeth his wife refusing to convey their portion of the said land and neither the wives of the said William Smith nor William Boles relinquished their dower in the same. That in consequence of the said conveyance the three children which the said Ann Robertson had by William Robertson and who were equally her heirs with her former six children are excluded from any portion in the said land and deprived of their legal rights, which said deed of conveyance from Robertson & others to Preston is duly admitted to record in this court. That Moses Preston conveyed the whole 1ot of land to your orator who was then ignorant of his defective title to the same in the year 1814 for the sum of $500, three hundred of which was paid off at the time of the purchase by your orator and this court gave to Moses Preston for the remaining two hundred which said bond was traded to the Abram Taylor, dec'd., late of this county. Your orator further states that (illegible) Administrator & Administratix of the said Abram Taylor, dec'd. has instituted suit on your orators on the said bond $84 of which has been paid to the sd. adm't & adm'tx on the common law side of the court which suit now pleads? upon this office judgement docket. All which action and doings are contrary to Equity and good conscience and in as much as your orator was mindful of the premises and only relieved in a court by equity when matters of this sort are cognizable. To the end therefore that the said William Robertson, Sr., John Preston, William Smith and Anna his wife, William Taylor, William Boles and Sally his wife, Jesse Preston, Moses Preston, Littleberry Robertson, Francis Watts and Lydia his wife, formerly Lydia Robertson and Milly Robertson may be made defendants to this bill, that they answer all and singular the allegations herein contained on oath fully and - illegible word - and may it please your Worship to (illegible due to ink smear) judgement of law until this matter can be fully heard in Equity and grant such other & further relief or in equity may seem fair & finally may it please your worship to grant the - - - - - - - - -- of - - - - commonly & as in duty bond your orator will ever pray. Robt. Cook Sworn to in Court by Palmer & Abel Pearson 8th March 1828. C. 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