NORTHAMPTON COUNTY, VA - WILLS - William Major, 1 Feb 1774
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February 1st, 1774 - William Major - Last Will and Testament:

In the name of God, Amen.  This first day of February Anno Domini One 
thousand seven hundred and seventy four I, William Major of Northampton 
County and Colony of Virginia, Planter, being very sick and weak in body, but 
of perfect mind and memory thanks be given unto God therefor, calling unto 
mind the mortality of my body and knowing that it is appointed for all men 
once to die, do make and ordain this my last Will and Testament, that is to 
say, Principally and first of all I give and recommend my Soul into the hands 
of Almighty God that gave it me, and my body I recommend to the earth to be 
buried in decent Christian burial at the discretion of my Executors; nothing 
doubting but at the general Resurrection I shall receive the same again by 
the almighty power of God and as touching such worldly Estate wherewith it 
has pleased God to bless me in this life I give, dismiss, and dispose of the 
same in the following manner.

First I give and bequeath unto my son John Major Three hundred and thirty 
eight acres of land laying in Nasswaddox Neck joining upon  Edward Turner and 
Thomas Smith lands,  which was formerly my wife's maiden land and sixty 
acres/more or less, that I bought of Thomas Smith she having it during her 
natural life proposeing that my son John Major never disturbs my son Custis 
Major of one hundred acres of Land that lies on the sea-side which was his 
great Grandmothers which was intailed upon him which if he does he shall 
forfeit that sixty acres that I bought of Thomas Smith joining to his for my 
son John to have one hundred acres of Land at the Sea side when he comes to 
lawful age and one hundred acres of Land more that I bought of Esme Marshal I 
give to my son Custis Major, only his mother to the have the profit of them 
till he comes to lawful age.

Secondly, I give and bequeath unto my son Littleton Major three hundred and 
thirty eight acres of land and my mill lying upon it after he comes to lawful 
age   My loving wife to have the use of it til he comes of lawful age

Thirdly, I give my loving son Smith Major two hundred and thirty five acres 
of land only my loving wife to have the use of the same till he comes to 
lawful age
 further paying all my Just honest Debts

I give unto my son John one negro named Arrus and one named Jack and my Still 
that stands upon the Land that his mother lives upon and my best Copper 
Kettle on the same plantation and two large framed Mehogany Looking Glasses 
hanging up in the great room and one Mehogany Table and half a dozen of 
Mehogany Chairs not to be moved off the Land untill his mothers death or 
marriage and one Silver Cann with WRM upon it upon the provisor he never 
disturbs his brother Custis of that one hundred acres of land at the Sea side 
if he does he shall forfeit all that I have him. and I give my son John the 
first choice of my Guns and these Legacies not to be sold but to be kept till 
he comes of lawful age.

I give to my son Littleton Major a negro fellow called Luke and one called 
Bob and one still and one Copper Kettle now standing upon the plantation and 
one large silver Tankard with WRM upon it, and the second choice of my Guns 
and one large looking Glass with brass concers to it and one Mehogany Table.

I give my son Custis Major one negro named Daniel and one named Stephen and 
one looking glass standing in my little room with a gilted Top and one brass 
Kettle about twenty five gallon with a Copper bottom and the third choice of 
my guns.

I give unto my loving wife one negro Andover and one negro wench named great 
Esther and nary the else of them during her life after her death they and 
their increase to be equally divided among all my children and one walnut 
Table and one Bell metal Skellet I give to my Wife.

I give my son Smith one negro girl named Bridget and a negro boy named Isaac 
and one Copper Kettle holding about twelve gallons with one small stile in it 
what silver spoons I have to be equally divided between my son Custis and my 
son Smith and twenty pounds I give to my son Smith to be raised out of my 
Estate.

I give to my daughter Peggy Major one negro girl named Seah and one negro boy 
named Jacob and one negro wench named Little Esther they and their increase 
if one dies the other to have theirs and the increase.

I give and bequeath to my daughter Betsey one negro boy named George and one 
negro girl named Peg and one negro girl named Tamer and if either of them die 
without lawful issue the other shall have a free Title to them if they both 
die they shall be divided among the rest of my children and 25 pounds apiece 
to be raised out of my estate to my two little daughters.  

 To my loving Wife at her disposure I give my two negro fellows called 
Solomon and Toney upon the provisor she keep my son William Major his life 
then the negro's to be hers at her own disposure if not well used for them to 
fall to my son John and if he does not use them well then to my son 
Littleton.  

Further I give to my loving Wife one good feather Bed and furniture with it 
my gray horse which is called Hepp and my brown horse called Morris and my 
Swain and Stears that is on my place whereon I dwell and my Sealskin Trunk 
with WM upon it.   And if I should die my desire is that William Reath should 
be under wages at forty shillings per month until he can get another Birth. 
and the remainder of my negros and their increase to be equally divided 
amongst my children. and the remainder part of my Estate that is not fore 
given to be sold and pay my debts with it and the remainder part left to be 
divided among my Wife and children.  

I likewise constitute make and ordain my loving Wife and Hezekiah James my 
Sole Executrix of this my last Will and Testament and I do hereby utterly 
disallow, revoke and disannull all and every other former Testaments, Wills, 
Legacys and bequests and Executors by me in any ways before named Willed and 
bequeathed Ratifying and Confirming this and no other to my last Will and 
Testament.  In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal the day 
and year above written.  

Signed, sealed, published, pronounced, and declared

by the said William Major as his last Will & William Major(SS)

Testament in the presence of us the subscribers
Thomas Fisher, William Heath, Rand Clarke

To Wm. John Bowoin Sr, I desire you as a friend of mine to be a Trustee to my 
children and a friend to and you shall be honourably paid for your trouble. 

At a Court held for Northampton County the 10th day of December 1782.  
This Will was proved by the oath of Thomas Fisher one of the witnesses 
thereto, who also made oath that he saw William Heath and Rand Clark, since 
deceased, subscribe the same as witnesses, and ordered to be recorded, and 
upon the motioin of Hezekiah James therein appointed and he having given bond 
with security and taken the oath according to Law, a Certificate is granted 
him for obtaining a probate thereof in due form.