Will of John Griffin, 1797 - Halifax Co. VA Signed 7 April 1797, probated 28 Sept 1807; Will Book 7, Page 352, Halifax Co., VA. "In the name of God Amen, I John Griffin now of Halifax County, Virginia being sick and weak of body but sound as to mind and many thanks to Almighty God for the same, but knowing that time is appointed for all men now to die do make and ordain this to be my last Will and Testament in manner and form following. Item: First, I commit my soul to the God who made it and this my body tot he clay from whence it came to be decently burried at the order? of my Executor hereafter named and as to my worldly estate which it hath pleased God to bless me with, I give and bequeath in the manner and form following. First my will and desire is that my executor pay off all my just debts. Item: I give and bequeath to my daughter Nanney Arrington all that she already received to her and her heirs forever. Item: I give and bequeath to my daughter Mourning Griffin one feather bed & furniture, one cow and one calf, two pewter dishes ?, two pewter plates, half dozen spoons, and one iron pott [sic] to her and her heirs forever. Item: I give and bequeath to my daughter Salley Jones all that she has already received to her and her heirs forever. Item: I give and bequeath to my daughter Betsey Jarratt all what she has already received to her and her heirs forever. Item: I give and bequeath to my daughter Karen Griffin what part she has already received to her and her heirs forever. Item: I give and bequeath to my son John Griffin the part he has already received to him and his heirs forever. Item: I give and bequeath to my daughter Armintha Vaughn (this is a wild guess) the part she has already received to her and her heirs forever. Item: I give and bequeath to my daughter Ann William (another guess) the part she has already received to her and her heirs forever. And the rest of my estate whatever both real and personal I leave to my beloved wife, Sarah Griffin during her life or widowhood . At the end of which period it is my wish and desire for it all to be sold by my executor and the proceeds arising therefrom be equally divided among my son and daughters before mentioned and I do nominate and appoint ....Luke Wiler, James Griffin, Willikam Wilson and my wife, Sarah Griffin, my whole and sole executors and executrix of this my last will and Testament and annulling all .......wills before made by me declaring this to be my last will Testament. To witness thereof I do hereto set my hand and seal the 7th? day of April, 1797. (Submitter notes: There is a document below which I think is the statement made by the following gentlemen declaring their presence at the signing of the will, but it is impossible to make out enough to know for sure. Every other will that can be made out is followed by one of these. The 3 men signing this are Reuben Jones, John Griffin, and Daniel Goode. Anna St. Clair sent me this will transcription of John's will. She stated the copy was very illegible and she had to guess at some of the names) Submitted by Sharon Clark **************************************************************** 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. ****************************************************************