Norfolk Co., VA Miscellaneous Wills Summary: Joseph Curling, Sr. dictated or wrote this will without the benefit of the usual formalities and witnesses. It was conveyed to William Taylor by Joseph Curling, Sr., with the admonition that it should be delivered to the Court House. Unusual and suspicious circumstances followed, with Walter Curling and Anthony Curling, Sr., accompanied by a James Wilson (perhaps an attorney) overtaking Taylor and demanding delivery of the noncupative will to Walter Curling, which he did. There is no record that the will was ever proved in Court, perhaps as a result of Walter and Anthony interceding and the possibility of fraud that followed. NORFOLK COUNTY, VA VA STATE ARCHIVES WILL BOOK 10, PAGE 144 RECORDED 17 April 1719 Joseph Curling, Sr. Noncupative Will The deposition of William Taylor, aged fourty years or thereabouts ???? Sworn saith that ??? in May last he was requested by Joseph Curling Senior to sign as evidence to his will in which said will he gave to his Son Anthony Curling the plantation he then lived upon with a hundred acres of land adjoyning to it ??? and likewise to his Son Walter Curling his plantation whereon he formerly lived on with one hundred acres of land adjoyning to it ??? to his Son Joseph Curling he gave an iron milling pott ??? to his daughter Ann one heifer ??? and the rest of his estate he willd to his wife rebeca during her life and after ??? to be equally divided amongst his children. William Taylor The deposition of Thomas Taylor aged thirty four years or thereabouts ??? Sworn saith: the same ??? and further that he had the will in keeping by Joseph Curling's request and at the instance of Walter Curling this Deponent was a going down with the said will to deliver it to the Court and on the way Mr. James Wilson and Walter Curling overtook me ??? with Anthony Curling: and the said James Wilson ordered me to deliver the will to said Walter Curling. William Taylor Date of Transcription: Nov 1997 JWC, PSC Location: Lottsburg, VA Note: The above will was transcribed from the originals to the best of our abilities. Paragraphs were inserted by us. This version largely repeated from the abstract given in "Brief Abstracts of Norfolk County Wills 1710-1753," Charles Fleming McIntosh, B.L., published by the Colonial Dames of America, p. 80, 1922. Copies of the original deposition was scanned for information not contained in the abstract, but none was found. Copy very poor - James William Curlin and Patricia Stevens Curlin Summary: Will of Anthony Curling, Sr. executed June 1752. The will was recorded during May Court 1753 - he likely died during the latter months of 1752. He leaves to his wife, Frances Curling, most of his personal property, and a life estate in his plantation on which they lived. He names his son Anthony, Jr., executor of his estate and bequeaths the remainder of the property to him on the death of of his wife, Frances. To his son Joseph Curling, he bequeaths a slave, a gun and after his wife Frances dies, a hand mill. To his son John Curling, he bequeaths 150 acres of land that he bought from William Wallace, and a negro named Sam. To his son Daniel Curling, he bequeaths a negro named George. To his daughters Ede [Curlin] Smith and Betty Ann [Curlin] Lockhart he bequeaths each a negro woman. To his daughter Martha, he bequeaths 10 pounds. NORFOLK COUNTY, VA VA STATE ARCHIVES WILL BOOK I, PAGE 317-318 16 JUN 1752 / REC. MAY CT. 1753 Anthony Curling (Sr.) Last Will and Testament In the Name of God Amen the Sixteenth day of June 1752 I Anthony Curling of the County of Norfolk being of perfect mind an memory thanks be unto God therefore calling to mind the mortality of my body know that it is appointed for all men once to die, do make and ordain this my Last Will and Testament___ First I give and bequeath to Frances my beloved wife our feather bed, bedstand and furniture, on iron and frying pan, six pewter plates and two pewter dishes, her choice of two cows and calves, the gang of hogs I ran on the plantation I now live upon, all the above I give the said Frances my Wife forever, I likewise give unto my wife Frances all the corn in or out of the ground forever, also I give to Frances my Wife the use of the hand mill lying along house, The use of of two nigroes viz. a negro man named Cezar and a nigroe girl named Hannah, the use of the house and plantation I live upon that part my son Anthony lives on excepted, during her natural life___ Also I give and bequeath unto my Son Joseph Curling one nigro man named Charles to be delivered unto him at the expiration of one whole year after my decease to him his heirs or assigns, I likewise give my son Joseph one gun, and a hand mill after the decease of Frances my Wife___ Also I give and bequeath to my son John the plantation I bought of William Wallace containing one hundred and fifty acres more or less to him his heirs or assigns forever. I likewise give and bequeath to my son John to be delivered unto him after the expiration of one whole year after my decease one nigro named Sam to him & his heirs or assigns. Also I give and bequeath to my son Daniel on nigro named George to him his heirs of assigns___ Also I give and bequeath unto my daughter Ede Smith after the decease of Frances my Wife one nigro named Hannah with her increase to her and her heirs___ Also I give and bequeath unto my daughter Betty Ann Lockhart one nigro named Shellie to her and her heirs I give and bequeath to my daughter Martha ten pounds current money of Virginia to be paid unto her at the age of twenty one or at the time of her marriage by my executor out of my estate left to him for that and other purposes here after maintained___ Lastly all the residue and remainder of my estate not above bequeathed together with such things ??? hereunder named I give to pay my lawfull debt and funeral charges and the above mentioned legacy of ten pounds to my daughter Martha, that is to say I give and bequeath unto my son Anthony he paying such debts aforesaid last mentioned in a nigro the Cezar after the decease of my Wife the use of two nigros a whole year after my decease the house and plantation I now live upon after the decease of Frances my Wife for his heirs or assigns forever I likewise give to my son Anthony whom I consitute make and ordain my sole Executor of my Last Will and Testament on nigro man named James him his heirs or assigns forever and I do hereby utterly disallow and revoke all other former testaments and bequeaths ratifying and confirming this and no other to be my Last Will and Testament In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the day and year first above written___ Signed Sealed & Delivered The mark of By said Anthony Curling as Anthony A Curling his Last Will and Testament in presence of us who also subscribed in presence of each other_____ James Hodges Robert Tucker ???? Robert William Joiner May Court 1753 Delivered & Ordered to be recorded as ordered Test Sam Borush CC Date of Transcription: Nov 1997 JWC, PSC Location: Lottsburg, VA Note: The above will was transcribed to the best of our abilities. Paragraphs were inserted by us - James William Curlin and Patricia Stevens Curlin Summary: Last Will and Testament of Anthony Curling (Jr.) [son of Anthony A. Curling (Sr.) who died in 1719]. He leaves his plantation to his son, Josiah Curling, who was apparently not yet 21 years old. He also gives land to his sons, Labin Curling and Henry Curling. Labin's land is described as adjoining John Curling's land [John Curling is a brother of Anthony Curling, Jr.]. His son Josiah Curling is given a negro man, Isaac, when Josiah becomes 21 years old. He leaves to his five daughters, Martha, Mary, Barbary, Francis and Lydia one negro girl named Nancee to be equally divided among them when Lydia reaches 18 years old. The remainder of Anthony Jr's. estate is left to his wife, Dority. His brother, Daniel Curling, is named sole executor. The will is witnessed by his brothers, John Curling and Daniel Curling. NORFOLK COUNTY, VA VA STATE ARCHIVES WILL BOOK 3, PAGE 10-11 9 DEC 1771 Anthony Curling (Jr.) Last Will and Testament In the Name of God Amen the ninth Day of December one thousand seven hundred and seventy and one, I Anthony Curling of Norfolk County being sick and weak but of perfect mind and memory calling to a rememberance the mortality of my body and knowing it is appointed for all men once to die, do make and ordain that my Last Will and Testament in following manner. First I give and bequeath to my Son Josiah Curling the ??? of Plantation that I now live on, that hundred acres to him and his heirs for ever: First, I give and bequeath to my Son Labin Curling the one half of my land adjoining John Curling line that I bought of Richard Wallis to him and his heirs for ever. First, I give and bequeath to my Son Henry Curling the remainder of my land to him and his heirs for ever. First, I give and bequeath to my Son Josiah Curling when he come to the age of twenty one one negro man named Isaac to him and his heirs forever. First, I give and bequeath unto my Daughters Martha, Mary, Barbary, Francis and Lydia one negro girl named Nancee to be equally divided when my Daughter Lydia come to the age of eighteen and then to be divided between my five Daughters. I tithe and leave all my Estate that is not mentioned to my dear Wife Dority Curling while such time as the youngest child comes of age the negro Man James till Josiah Curling comes of age and likewise Nancee till the youngest Daughter Lydia comes to the age of eighteen and all my other Estate not mentioned to my beloved Wife Dority Curling to her & her heirs for ever. I likewise make my Brother Dan Curling the sole exector of this my Last Will & Testament and ????? other forms Will or bequests. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my Hand and Seal this the day of our Lord aforesaid written. Signed, Sealed, and Delivered by Anthony x his mark Curling the said Anthony Curling on this Last Will and Testament from the presents aforesaid William Sikes, John Curling} Henry Sikes, Daniel Curlin } Date of Transcription: Nov 1997 JWC, PSC Location: Lottsburg, VA Note: The above will was transcribed to the best of our abilities. Paragraphs were inserted by us - James William Curlin and Patricia Stevens Curlin Summary: Henry Curling, son of Anthony Curling, Jr., leaves one hundred acres and his plantation to his brother Josiah Curling contingent on Josiah or his heirs returning within 10 years of the date of the will. Should Josiah or his heirs not return, the land would be equally divided between his two sisters, Lydia and Keziah Curling. Land that his Grandfather, Anthony Curling, Sr., patented was to be sold to pay his debts. NORFOLK COUNTY, VA VA STATE ARCHIVES WILL BOOK 3, PAGE 210 21 JUL 1798 / PVD. 16 DEC 1798 REC. 21 FEB 1799 Henry Curling Last Will and Testament In the Name of God Amen. I Henry Curling or Norfolk County and Parish of Saint Brides being sick and weak of body but of perfect mind and memory do make ???? and appoint this my last will and testament in the manner and form as followeth. Item. If my brother Josiah Curling or the heir of his body should return home in ten years from this date I give him the land and plantation that I now live on also one hundred acres of land more or less being that land that my father [ Anthony Curling, Jr.] bought of Whiden Wolis [Walter Wallis or Wallace?] to him and his heirs forever but if my brother or the heirs of his body should not come in the limited time above mentioned Item. I give the above mentioned land and plantation to my two sisters Lydia and Keziah Curling to be equally between them and their heirs forever. Item. I give to my two sisters Lydia and Keziah Curling the land I bought of Soloman Geofrey to be equally divided between them and their heirs forever. Item. I give to my two sisters Lydia and Keziah Curling my negres girl Rebecka and her increase to be equally divided between them and their heirs forever. Item. I give to my two sisters Lydia and Keziah Curling all my crop that is now growing and all my hogs between them and their heirs forever. Item. The land adjoining Joel Gammon and John Boushell to be sold at a public sale by my wish to pay my debts it being the land that was patented by my Grandfather [Anthony Curling, Sr.] Item. The remainder of my estate to be sold to pay my just debts and all that is over after paying my debts to be divided into four equal parts which I give one part to Solomon Godfrey the second part to Henry Gammon the third part to Solomon Stewart ??? children the fourth and last part Edward Strongs children ???? and lastly instruct constitute and appoint Charles Ferebee as my whole and sole executor of my last will and testament. In Witness whereof I have set my hand and seal this twenty first day of July in the year of our Lord Christ one thousand seven hundred and ninety eight ____ Signed Sealed & Acknowledged } Henry Curling (SS) in the presence of us } Charles Ferebee, Jr., Danel Hanbry,} Alexander Ferebee } At a Court ??? for Norfolk County December the 16th 1798 This last will and testament of Henry Curling decs. was proved by the oath of Charles Ferebee ??? at a Court held for the aforementioned County the February the 21st 1799. The will was further proved by the oath of Alexander Ferebee another witness thereto and ordered to be recorded. Date of Transcription: Nov 1997 JWC, PSC Location: Lottsburg, VA Note: The above will was transcribed to the best of our abilities. Paragraphs were inserted by us - James William Curlin and Patricia Stevens Curlin File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Jim Curlin - curlin@crosslink.net USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be freely used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material AND permission is obtained from the CONTRIBUTOR of the file. These electronic pages cannot be reproduced in any format for profit or other presentation.