Will of James Ferrill, Jr., 1818 - Halifax Co. VA In the name of God, Amen. I, James Ferrill of the county of Halifax in Virginia, being as this weak in body but of a disposing mind and memory in order to regulate and set my house in order, and to make such a disposition of my worldly property among my family as I judge most equally, before my death, do make and prepare this my last will and testament, revoking all former wills by me made. 1st principally I desire to recommend and submit myself to the divine disposal for longer or shorter life, as the Almighty Governor of this world, shall please to direct. I implore his mercy for the pardon of my sins and acceptance through the redeemer’s righteousness when I am called hence, that worldly sustinence his providence has bestowed on me, I desire maybe distributed in followeth of. I lend unto my beloved wife Jemima Ferrill during her natural life or wid- dowhood, one hundred and fifty acres of land including the mansion house and housewares (?) be laid off by a line drawn from East to West, so as to include the above quantity of land. I also lend unto my said wife the following slaves, James, David, & Fanny, but if the said woman Fanny should have any more children but those hereafter devised, tis my desire that they should be equally divided between my four sons hereafter mentioned heirs: John, William C., James B. and Chiles Overton Ferrell, let it be further understood that the quantity of land --- to my said wife after her death shall be sold on a credit of twelve months and the money arising from said sale to be equally divided between (unreadable) John and William C. Ferrell. I also leave unto my said wife horses, her choice, two cows her choice, two ewes, and lambs, two sows and pigs, one yoke of small oxen and a sufficiency of corn and pork for the first year after it may please God to call me, hence, the slaves left to my said wife, to be sold in the ---- manner; as the land and the money arising from sale of land negroes to be equally divided among the following children, John, William C, Temperance Poyner, Charity, James and Chiles O. Ferrill to them and their heirs forever. 3rd. I give and bequeath unto my daughter Temperance Poyner, one negro girl by name Jane to her and heirs lawfully begotten of her body and the increase forever. 4th I give and bequeath unto my daughter Piety Dodson, late Piety Ferrell, five pounds cash as a legatee of my estate and no more. 5th I give and bequeath unto my daughter Charity Ferrell, one negro Girl by name Angelina, to her and her heirs, lawfully begotten of her body and the increase of the said negro girl forever. 6th I give and bequeath unto my two sons, John and William C. Ferrell, the following slaves, George, Peter and William to be divided as follows: the three slaves are to be set up between my two sonsas above mentioned, and they are to bid for choice, so that the child that gets the most valuable slave or slaves, shall pay to the other the affluence of (??) and of his own money, so that they may both share as equal as possible to them and their heirs forever. I also give unto my said two sons, the benefit of all my claim against the estate of John Hutcheson, myself being a legatee by marriage of Mecklenburg ( ??) 7th I give and bequeathe unto my son James B. Ferrell two negroes a boy by name Jenkins and his mother Lucy Jenkins, and should my negro woman Fanny have another child more than is devised in this will, tis my (??) that it should go to my son James and his heirs forever, also one shot Gun called my old Gun. 8th I give and bequeath unto my son Chiles Overton Ferrill three negroes, a girl by name Sarah and two boys Ned and Robert and their increase forever, also my Silver watch. I also give and bequeath unto my two sons, James and Chiles O. Ferrill the balance of all my lands, after deducting one hundred and fifty acres, as before devised, to be equally divided in quantity by running a line, due north, and south to them and their heirs forever. Tis my will and desire. Then all of my just debts shall be paid, before any legacies given to my children shall be removed from my estate, that all my house and kitchen furniture shall be sold and money arising from said sale, to be appropriated to the payment of my just debts also my plantation tools, and the stock of all kinds not hitherto devised. Lastly I (?) hereby nominate and appoint my beloved wife Jemima Ferrell Executrix with my two sons John and William C. Ferrill Co-Executors with my said wife this 21st day of August 1818 James Ferrell, Sr. In presence of John Henry Joseph (X) Dunmum Shermond (X) Wharton Garratt W. Cook Sayton Yancey At a court held for Halifax County the 26th day of Oct 1818 The (?) written last will and testament of James Ferrell and (?) in court and confirmed by the oaths of two witnesses therin subscribed (?) ordered to be recieved: Whereupon a motion of Jemimah Ferrell the Executrix and John Ferrill and William C. Ferrill the Executors thein named who made oath thereto according to law, certificate is granted them for obtaining probate thereof in due form, they giving security. Whereupon they together with John Henry, Joseph Dunmon and Garret W. Cook their securities enter into and acknowledge (?) in the penalty of ten thousan dollars contional according to law. Teste, John Wimlish CMC Submitted by Eddie Vaden **************************************************************** USGENWEB 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. Files may be printed or copied for personal use only. ****************************************************************