Will of William McDaniel, 1777 - Halifax Co. VA Written on 14 February 1777 Probated on 16 July 1778. In the name of God Amen. I William Mc Daniel of Halifax County finding myself in a declining State of Health but of sound memory thanks be to God for the same and reflecting on the mortality of this life do by these presents make my last will and testament in manner and form following: First and principally I recommend my soul to the Almighty God who gave it (To) me and my body to be buried at the disgression of my executors hereafter named. Item: My just debts being first paid and satisfied, I leave to my loving wife Anne the plantation whereon I now live to be layed off into lots of five hundred acres together with the following Negros namely Daniel, Lester, Justis, Janny, Caroline and Lydia together with her third part of my household goods and furniture and stocks and movables of all kinds to be for her support and maintance as long as she lives and after her death to be divided amongst my children as shall be hereafter. Item: I give and bequeath to my son William eight hundred acres of land out of the track I now live on lying on both sides of Bye Creek where the last quarter is including a hundred acres purchases of William Powell and an entry to right of Joshua Ewell joining McHenry line and bounded as followed, be the same more or less, to wit beginning at a new corner joining Luke Williams line. Thence a new line a straight course the head of a small stream that runs into the said Creek (Bye Creek)below the little Barn on the South side of the said Creek below the mouth of a branch that empty into the said creek on the North side opposite to the said little barn thence astride course of Robert Halls line together with the following Negros and all the stock he now claims, Nero, Simon, Mack, Lucy, and David. To have and to hold the said land and Negros to my said son William and his heirs and assigns forever. Item: I give and bequeath to my son Clement my Bannister Plantation containing three hundred acres more or less together with the following Negros namely Old Dick, Betty, young Dick, Hector, and Bettys son Sam together with the stock he now claims to have and to hold the above said land and Negros to him and his heirs and assign forever. Item: I give and bequeath to my daughter Chloe two hundred acres of land on Polecat Creek joining Nimrod Langushons land be the same more or less together with the following Negros namely Cuffie, Tobe, Robert, and Manuel to have and to hold the said land and Negros to her and her heirs forever. Item: I give and bequeath to my son Jame Smith McDaniel Fivehundred acres out of the tract I now live on bounded by the new line lately run for that purpose joining Obediah Echols line and the county line together with the following Negros namely Milly, Suckey, Nall and new Negro Dick together with stock he now claims to have and to hold the above said lands and Negros to him and his heirs and assigns forever. Item: I give and bequeath to my son Collan Mc Daniel five hundred acres out of the said tract I now live an(d) joining his brother William's line and Johnson line and Robert Hall's line including part of the upper quarter of Plantation on the Mill Place together with the following Negros namely Duncan and Dianah, his wife , young Duncan and Darkness Janneys child to have and to hold the above said lands and Negros to him and his Heirs and assigns forever. Item: I give and bequeath to my daughter Nancy the following Negros namely Frank, Carroline, Rachael and Joe to have and to hold the above said Negros to her and her heirs forever. Item: I give and bequeath to my daughter Polly the following Negros old Lucy, Daniel, Janney, and Cleo to have and to hold the above said Negros to her and her heirs forever. Item: give and bequeath to my son Joel Mc Daniel the plantation whereon I now live containing Five hundred acres of land more or less joining his brothers William and Collan's line together with the following Negros namely Janney, Lysda, Julius and Lester to have and to hold the above said land and Negros to him and his heirs forever. And as it has pleased God in his providence to call my oldest son John Mc Daniel out of the world before the date of these presents and he is now no more, his heirs is hereby excluded from having any part any part of my estate as I have given his children an equal part of my estate with the rest of my children to his two sons William and Johnson in the way of Deed of Gift and also my daughter Catherine is hereby excluded from having any part of my estate as she had her full share when she was married away and as my sons William and Clement and my daughter Chloe have sufficient part of my stock named above and now which they claim and is to have as soon as they become of age and the rest of my stock of all kinds is to be divided amongst my five youngest children namely James Smith, Collan, Nancy, Polly and Joel at my wife Anne's death or sooner as she my said wife shall think fitt and I do hereby appoint her their guardian to manage their estate for them the said five youngest children and as I have two tracts of land in Pittslyvania County, one on Pigg River containing three hundred acres the other 482 acres on Sandy Creek of Dan River joining Redmund Tallons Land. I do hereby leave the tou(two) tracts of land to be sold for the payment of my just debts together with the crop of tobacco now on hand and what money is due to my from the country of NC and to pay my tou(two) youngest daughters Nancy and Polly(Mary) fifty pounds when they shall become of lawful age or eighteen years old apiece and do hereby appoint my said wife Anne Esquire and my friend Paul Covington and friend Paul Charles Womack and my sons William and Clement Esquires of this my last will and testament, hereby revoking , disannulling and making voide all former wills, gifts, and devices or bequests by me in any wills made, done or executed, rectifying and confirming this and no other to be my last will and testament. In witness hereof I have hereunto sett my hand, afixed my seal this 14 th day of February Anno Domine One Thousand Seven Hundred and Seventy Seven.~~~ Sealed and Published by me the } William MDaniel Said Testator in the presents of } Nath. Hall, Chloe M Daniel } At a court held for Halifax County the 16 th day of July 1778. This last will and testament of William M Daniel deceased was exhibited in Court and proved by the oaths of sundry witnesses to be the handwriting of the said Testator and the same is received as his true last will and testament and the same was ordered to be recorded. And Paul Covington Esqr. One of the executors herein named, came to court and refuseth to take upon himself the burden of the executor hereof. Geo. Covington GHC Submitted by Charles McDaniel **************************************************************** 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. 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