Mecklenburg Co., VA Will of Joseph Rudd 1779 Submitted 12 Sep 1999 by Patricia Henderson London trishahen@earthlink.net *********************************************************************** 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. *********************************************************************** JOSEPH RUDD WILL In the name of God amen. I Joseph Rudd of the County of Mecklenburg being sick and weak of body but of sound mind memory and understanding and considering the uncertainty of this transitory life do make and declare this my last will and testament in manner and form following (to wit) Imprimis I give and bequeath to my daughter Avis Ahern [Akin] my Negro boy slave named York to her and her heirs forever Item I give and bequeath to my daughter Margaret Owen my Negro girl slave named Molly to her and her heirs forever. Item I give and bequeath to my daughter Wilmouth Avery one negro man slave named Frank to her and her heirs forever. Item I give and bequeath to my daughter Anne Hester my negro girl slave named Pheadyte to her and her heirs forever also one cow and calf. Also I give and bequeath to my daughter Lucy Daniel my negro girl slave named Grace and one cow and calf to her and her heirs forever Item I give and bequeath to my son Joseph Rudd my negro woman slave named Betty to him and his heirs forever also the sum of twenty pounds to be paid by my son Thomas and Field Rudd out of the sales of the land devised them. Item I give and bequeath to my son Thomas Rudd my negro slave named Robin also one cow and calf to him and his heirs forever Item I give and bequeath to my son Field Rudd my negro man slave named Dick also two cows and calves to him and his heirs forever. Item I give and bequeath to my son Harwood Rudd one majority of the tract of land and plantation whereon I now live and containing by estimation six hundred acres he my said son to have the part whereon I now live to be divided as follows (to wit) Beginning at a scrub oak in John Puryears line running from thence along to Nauls branch then to John Puryear's land paying to my grand daughter Anne Rudd daughter of my late son John Rudd the sum of one hundred pounds to him and his heirs forever also give my said son Harwood Rudd my negro man slave named Jimmy together with my bay horse Prince to him and his heirs forever. Item my will and desire is that the other morsel of the land before mentioned be sold by my son Thomas Rudd and the money arriving from such sale be equally divided between my two sons Thomas and Field Rudd. They paying to my son Joseph Rudd the sum of twenty pounds to them and their heirs forever. Item I give and bequeath to my Grandson Elijah Rudd my negro boy slave Scipio together with the bed and furniture he now lies on and one cow and calf to him and his heirs forever. Item I give and bequeath to my Grandson William Rudd son of my late son William Rudd sixty six pounds thirteen shillings and four pence to him and his heirs forever. Item I give unto my Grandson John Rudd son of my said son William the sum of sixty six pounds thirteen shillings and four pence to him and his heirs forever. Item I give and bequeath to my Granddaughter Sally Rudd daughter of my said son William the sum of sixty six pounds thirteen shillings and four pence to her and her heirs forever. Item I give and bequeath to my Granddaughter Wilmouth Rudd daughter of my late son John Rudd the sum of one hundred pounds to her and her heirs forever. Item I give and bequeath to my Granddaughter Anne Rudd the sum of one hundred pounds to be paid her by my son Harwood Rudd in consideration of my giving my said son the plantation whereon I now live and my paying the above mentioned sum for the plantation whereon my said son now lives to her and her heirs forever. Item my will and desires that if my said Sons Thomas and Field should refuse or neglect to pay the legacy to my within named son Joseph Rudd the twenty pounds and my said son Harwood should refuse to pay my said Granddaughter Anne the said sum of one hundred that in that case so much of their part of my estate be sought as will be sufficient to discharge the said legacy. Item my will and desire is that in order that there be an equal division of the remainder of my slaves not there before devised they be set up to the highest bidder and that none shall have a right to buy except my five daughters and four sons hereafter named (to wit) Avis Ahern, Margaret Owen, Wilmouth Avery, Anne Hester, Louisa Daniel and my said sons Joseph, Thomas, Field, and Harwood Rudd and that the amount of such sales be equally divided amongst my said children share and share alike to them and their heirs forever. Item my will and desires that the residue or remainder of my estate not heretofore devised be equally divided(after paying all my just debts and funeral expenses) amongst my said five daughters Avis Ahern, Margaret Owen, Wilmouth Avery, Anna Hester, and Louisa Daniel and my said sons Joseph, Thomas, Field, and Harwood Rudd or the survivors and their heirs. I do hereby constitute and appoint my sons Thomas Thomas Rudd and my son in Law Thomas Ahern [Akin] my sole and sole executors of this my last will and testament hereby revoking and making void all other will or wills by me heretofore made In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this thirty first day of January one thousand seven hundred and seventy nine. Signed , sealed published and his declared by the said testator of Joseph R. Rudd his last will and testament mark in presence of us. Clausel Clausel Dolphia Williams John Puryear Samuel Puryear At a court held for Mecklenberg County the 11th day of June 1779, this will was proved by the oaths of John Puryear and Clausel Clausel witnesses thereto and ordered to be recorded and on the recommendation of Thomas Rudd one of the executors named in the said will who made oath thereto and together with Richard Swepson and James Hester his securities entered into and acknowledged their bonds in the penalty of twenty thousand pounds conditioned as the Law directs certificate was granted him for obtaining a probat thereof in due form, liberty being reserved for Thomas Akin the other executor therein named to join in the probat when he shall think fit. Teste Examined John Brown Co lun