Louisa County, VA - Will Book 3 (partial) ************************************************************************ USGENWEB ARCHIVES 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. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.net ************************************************************************ Pp. 163-64: In 1785, aged 78, William Darwin made the following will (entered for probate 13 March 1786):] In the Name of God Amen. I, Wm. Darwin of the County of Louisa and Parish of Saint Martin's being of a sound mind & memory do make this my last Will & Testament in the manner Following (to Wit) Imprimus. I lend to my Wife Jane Darwin during her natural Life the whole of my Estate and at her Death I desire as followeth: I give & bequeath to my son Jesse Darwin the tract of Land whereon I now live, lying in the lower end of Louisa County estimated at one Hundred acres, also one Grey Mare, Saddle & Bridle, 2 Cows & Calves and Sow & Pigs, one Feather bed & Furniture, Two Pewter Dishes, 2 Basons, Four Plates, one Black Walnut Table, Six Chairs, one large Chest & one large Iron Pot to him his Heirs & assigns forever. Item: I give & bequeath to my son John Darwin one Feather Bed & Furniture to him & his heirs forever. Item: I give and bequeath to my Grand Daughter Fanny Ward 1 Young Heifer to her & her Heirs forever. Item: the balance of my Estate I leave to be equally Divided amongst all my children. Lastly I constitute & appoint my wife Jane Darwin Ex'rix & my son Jesse Darwin Ex'or to this my last Will & Testament, revoking all other Wills heretofore made & acknowledging this my Last Will. In Witness Whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Affixed my Seal this 24th day of Oct. in the Year of our Lord Christ 1785. Wm. Darwin (seal) Sign'd, Seal'd & Acknowledged in the Presence of us Nathl Snelson (his mark) John Dickason Wm. Fowle [?] Wm Johnson (his mark) At a Court held for Louisa County March 13th 1786, This will was this day Exhibited in Court by Jesse Darwin the Executor therein named & was Proved by the Oaths of John Dickason, Wm. Johnson, & Nathl Snelson, three of the Witnesses thereto & by the Court is Ordered to be recorded & the said Executor having done what was usual in Such Cases, Certificate is granted for Obtaining a Probate thereof in due form. [At the same hearing, Jesse Darwin entered the following Executor's bond:] *** Know all men by these presents that we Jesse Darwin and John Dickason are held & firmly bound unto Thomas Johnson Gent. first Justice in the Commission of the Peace for Louisa County for & in behalf & to the Sole use & behoof of the Justices of the sd. County & their Successors in the Sum of Three Hundred Pounds govt. money of Virginia to be Paid to the said Thos. Johnson his Exc'rs, adm'rs or assigns to the which Pay't well & truly to be made we bind ourselves & every of us, our and every of our Heirs, Executors & Adm'rs Jointly & Severally firmly by these presents seal'd with our Seals and dated this 13th day of March, One Thousand Seven Hundred & Eighty Six. The Condition of this Obligation is such that if the above Bound Jesse Darwin Executor of the last Will & Testament of William Darwin Decs'd do make or Cause to be made a true & perfect Inventory of all & Singular the Goods, Chattles & Credits of the sd. Deceas'd which have or shall come to the hands, Possession or Knowledge of the sd. Jesse Darwin, or into the hand, Possession or Knowledge of any other person or persons for him & the same so made do Exhibit into the County Court of Louisa at Such time as he shall be thereunto required by the sd. Court, & the same goods, Chattles & Credits, & all other the Goods, Chattles, & Credits of the sd. Dec'sd which at any time, after, shall come to hands, Possession or Knowledge of the sd. Jesse Darwin, or into the Hands & Possession of any other Person or persons for him to well and truly administer according to Law & further do make a true & Just Account of his actings & doings therein when thereto required by the sd. Court, & also shall well & truly pay & Deliver all the Legacies Contained & Specified, in the sd. Testament, as far as the sd. Goods, Chattles, & Credits will extend, & the law shall Charge then this Obligation to be Void, & of None Effect, or else to remain in full force & Notice. Jesse Darwin (seal) John Dickason (seal) At the Court held for Louisa County March 13th 1786. This Bond was this day in open Court Acknowledged by Jesse Darwin and John Dickason to be their Act & Deed, & by the Court is Ordered to be Recorded. [Under the conditions of the William's will, his estate passed to wife Jane his death; after her own demise, title passed to Jesse. Jesse Darwin did not enter the inventory of his father's estate, as he was bound to do, until 23 May 1791, fully five years after William's death: we presume this shows that Jane Darwin died at this time. The inventory of William Darwin's estate appears (in the Louisa County Will Book 3, p. 416) as follows:] Inventory of the Estate of William Darwin Dec'd taken this 23d May 1791 by Jesse Darwin Executor. At a Court held for Louisa June 13th 1791. This Inventory of William Darwin Dec'd Estate was this day in Open Court Returned and by the Court the Same is Ordered to be Recorded. 1 Old Grey Horse 1 White Mare 1 Young Grey Mare 1 Young Bay Mare 1 Young Horse Colt 14 Head Cattle 16 Head Hogs 5 Head Sheep 4 Feather Beds & Furniture 1 Flax Wheel 1 Cotton Wheel 2 Large Wooden Chests 2 Wooden Boxes 1 Black Walnut Table 1 Pine D[itt]o 3 Bedsteads & Cords 7 Flag Bottomed Chairs 11 Cyder Casks 1 Small looking glass 1 Reel 5 Chisels 2 Drawing Knives 2 Reap Hooks 1 Fro 1 Handsaw 5 Planes 1 Broad Axe 3 Iron Wedges 4 Hoes 1 foot Adze 1 Plow Hoe 1 Grind Stone 2 Pr's Cart Wheels 3 Augers 1 pr. Steel Yards 2 Iron Potts 1 Dutch Oven 2 pr. pot Hooks 5 Pewter Basons 2 Small D[itt]o. 2 Pewter Dishes 6 Pewter Plates 1 Doz. Pewter Spoons 7 Bee Hives 1 Womans Saddle & Bridle 2 Juges & 4 2pt. Bottles 2 Butter Pottes 1 Pitcher 1 Cream Pott 4 Little Cups 1 2p. Mug 5 old Books a Small Parcel Leather 1 Raw Hide 2 Calf D[itt] 1 Iron Candlestick 1 Small Mug 2 Box & 1 flat Iron 1 Wash'g Tub 1 Pail & 2 Peggins 1 Weaver Loom 2 Slays and 1 Harness 1 Old Ax 1 Masson D[itt]o 1 Claw Hammer 1 Coffee Pot 2 bells 1 Gun 1 Spice Morter 1 Carpenters Rule 2 p. old Cotton Cards 1 p. Wool D[itt]o 8 1/2 pounds Tallow 5 Baskets Salt Box 1 Meal Tub 8 lb Larde 3 Small Tubs 20 lb Soap 200 lb Bacon 20 lb Smoaked Beef 4 Barrels Corn 1 1/2 Bushel Wheat 1 Sett Warping Bars & Boxes 3 Pecks Salt 3 Trays 1 Vinegar Cruiet 1 Grubing hoe 1 Sheep Shears 1 Tailers Shears 2 Wooden balls 1 p. Compasses 1 flax Hatchet [A further inventory and appraisement of the estate of William Darwin also appears in the Louisa County Will Book 3, p. 422. We have not yet examined this document1, which is dated 20 June 1791 and recorded at court 8 August 1791. It mentions a Christopher Hanes and William Ward, and is signed by Nathaniel Pulliam, Zacariah Edwards, and George Gentry.] Tim Grana [Transcribed by Tim Darwin Grana: grana@btinternet.com]