Lunenburg County, VA - Will of Robert Estes, 1775 File contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives Hilton Estes HCEGAAL@MSN.COM ********************************************************************** 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. ********************************************************************** 15 Mar 1775 Robert Estes' Will dated, recorded 17 Apr 1775, Lunenburg Co. VA mentions sons Robert, Elisha, George, Benjamin, Zachary and Bartlett Estes, and his son-in-law, Fred'k Cox who md. his daughter Milly Estes. Executors named Robert and Elisha Estes and friend Thos. Tabb. Division of the above estate dated 18 Feb 1777 (of negroes), and recorded 13 Mar 1777; share to Elisha Estes, Robert Estes, Benjamin Estes, Zachary Estes, Bartlett Estes, Mary Estes (widow of George Estes), Millie Cox (wife of Frederick Cox). "Journals of the House of Burgesses of Virginia" Vol. 1761-65 page 134. "Ordinary office Jasper County. 258 In the name of God, AMEN. I, Robert Estes of Lunenburg County being weak in body but of sound mind and perfect memory do make and ordain this my last will and testament in the form and manner following: Insur(ness?) I leave my body to be buried in such decent Christian manner as my Exors. here after to be named shall think suitable to my circumstances. Item I desire my said Exors. to pay all Just debts out of any Estate for which purpose I desire they will sell upon a Reasonable Credit all my furniture and stock with my tools and plantation utinsels of every other commodity except so much as shall be thought necessary for (finishing?) the Crops intended to be made this year with my negroes which crops I intend shall go towards paying my debts. Item It is my will that my land whereon I now live and which is in the same tract whereon the Court House stands be sold by my executors on such credits as they shall desire most adviseable for commanding the best price and so much of the money arising from such sale as shall be necessary for the completeing of the payment of my debts shall be applied that way, and the balance I leave to be equally divided amongst those to whom I give my negroes with the same precaution I shall use regarding them being well convinced for many years that my sons Robert and Elisha will take care of their living and that my sons George Benjamin Zachary and Bartlett and son in law Frederick Cox who married my daughter Milley have had an excessive turn for spending their living to preventory(?) said last mentioned sons from wasting or spending that moderate estate which under divine providence I have got together by many years Labour & Frugality I do give and lend and divide my negroes and the money arising from the sale of my Lands goods and chattles after paying my debts in the following manner and form (??) It is my will that my negroes with the negro boy sam lent my son Robert Estes and the negro woman and child lent Milly Cox and increase and the money that shall be left after payment of my debts be divided into as many equal parts as I had children at my wife’s decease that my son Robert and Elisha Estes have each of them an equal part to do with as seems the best to them. Item one equal part of my said negroes and money. I lend to my son George's wife and his children by her intending thereby that the said Part of my Estate shall be applied towards maintaining my said son Georges wife and the maintaining supporting and bringing up such of the young children my said daughter-in-law shall have by my said son as shall stand in mortal need these of and in case my said son shall die before his wife meaning that he carried with him when he moved from Virginia not knowing at the time whether she be dead or not & of course whether my said son be married again tho I do not believe his wife died since she left these parts & it is for her benefit I intered this will and not another if she be dead then the above mentioned equal part of negroes and money be kept together for the above mentioned prupose till the youngest child my said daughter in law shall have by my said son shall arrive to the age of eighteen years at which time it is my will that the said part of my Estate & Increase shall be equally divided amongst my son Georges children and his widow but in case she shall die before such child's coming of age then it is my will that the said part of my estate shall be equally divided as soon as may be amongst the children of my son George as shall be then living and at all events I do not mean to leave any part of my estate in the power of my said son to spend but that his children have the entire benefit in case his wife as above meant shall be dead before him- Item one equal part of my said negroes and money I give to my son Benjamin's wife and children in the same manner as that given to my son George’s wife and children. Item One equal part of my said negroes and money I give to my son Zachary’s wife and children in the same manner as I give to my son George's wife and children. Item one equal part of my said negroes and money I lend to my son Bartlett for which he must give security to my Exors. for the return of it to be equally divided amongst my children their representatives in case he does not entirely refrain from drunkeness and gameing but (afore?) such Reformation appearing to my exors. or to the court of this county then I give the said part of my estate to my said son to do with it as seemeth best to him. Item to my daughter Milley Cox I lend one equal part of my said negroes and money during life which said money and negroes I give to be equally divided at her decease amonst her children or their legal Represenatatives and my late wife's (clothes ?) and rider saddle I give to my said daughter and do appoint my sons Robert and Elisha and my neighbour Thomas Tabb Exors. of this my last will and testament. Witness my hand and seal this 15th day of March 1775. Robert Estes (seal) (Cotest?) William Gorden, William Crymes, and Thomas Tabb. transcribed from original Ordinary Office Jasper Co. GA unknown book, pages 238-241. 13 Apr 1775 "At a Court held for Lunenburg County 13th day of april 1775 the last will and Testament of Robert Estes decd. was exhibited in Court by Robert and Elisha Estes two of the executors therein named and was proved by the oaths of all the witnesses thereto subscribed and ordered to be recorded and on the motion of the said Exers. who made oath according to law Certificate is granted them for obtainng a probate of the said will in due form (of law- written and crossed through) they giving security, whereupon they together with security entered into and aknowledged bonds for that purpose and Thomas Tabb the other Exr. refused herein Court to Join in probate. Test Wm. Taylor. a copy Test Wm H. Taylor. Registered November 15th, 1816 Robert Robey C.C.O." Ordinary Office Jasper Court, page 242. The above reading "for" Lunenberg County was held in Jasper County, Georgia. The Executors were living there at the time and perhaps this out of State reading was necessary for a real estate transaction they were making with Benjamin. I received this copy from another cousin. I am descended from Robert via Zachary, Zachary, Henry Tillman, James Phillip and Joseph Demetrius Estes. I am Hilton Estes. HCEGAAL@MSN.COM