Will of Thomas Hays 1761 of Northumberland County, Colony of Va. IN THE NAME OF GOD AMEN, I Thomas Hays of St. Stephens in the County of Northumberland and Colony of Virginia being sick and weak of body but of perfect memory and remberance, praised be to God for it, do make and ordain this my last will and testament. But first and principally I commend my soul to God that gave it to me, and my body I commit to the earth, from whence it was taken to be decently interred at the discretion of my Executor hereafter named. And as for my worldly estate, I dispose of as followeth---Imprs. I give and bequeath to my loving son Thomas Hays all my lands that I possess with, to him and his heirs lawfully begotten of his body forever---Item. I give to my loving son George Hays the choice of my feather beds and furniture except one bed. Item. I give my son Thomas Hays, One Shilling Current money---I give to my son George , one good cow and calf and two ewes and two lambs. And also my Gun, Sword, Baggonet, Catooch box, Powder and Ball---I give my well beloved wife Anne all the rest of my personal estate not before bequeathed, during her natural life. My desire is that my daughter Sarah Ann Hays shall be maintained out of my estate that I have given to my wife Anne. Item.-- My desire is that after my wife decease, the estate I have given her be equally divided between my five children, Prudence, Curtis, Betty Mitchel, Sinah Hill, George Hays and Sarah Ann Hays. Item--My desire is that if my daughter Sarah Ann Hays lives longer than her mother, that John Mitchel my son in law take and keep her and her estate. And after the said Sary Ann's decease, the said John Mitchel to have her estate. And I do appoint my loving wife Anne, Executor of this my last will and Testament. In Witness thereof I have thereunto set my hand and affixed my seale this 17th day of June 1761. Signed and sealed in the presence of Texter: John Corbell Thomas (x) Hays Charles (x) Hill ( His Mark ) ( Mark ) Probated in 1764. At Court held for Northumberland County this 16th day of May 1764. This last will and Testament of Thomas Hays deceased was presented in Court by Anne Hays the executor herein named, who made oath thereto according to law. And being proved by the oaths of John Corbell and Charles Hill Witnesses thereto, was admitted to Record. And on the motion of the said Executor, giving security, Certificate is granted her for obtaining a Probate thereof in due form. Teste. Thomas Jones Ct. Cur. ------------------------------------------------------ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by George Wayne Pailloz waybar@stc.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.