Will of Thomas Bartlett, 1767 - Richmond Co. VA Richmond Co, VA Will Book 7, Page 432 In the name of God amen. I Thomas Bartlett of the Parish of Lunenburg and County of Richmond, being in perfect Health and sound mind and Memory thanks be to God therefore and Calling to 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 Commend my soul into the Hands of Almighty God who gave it and my Body I Commit to the Earth to be buried in a Christian like and decent Manner at the discretion of my Executors herein after named and as touching Such Worldly Estate wherewith it hath pleased God to Bless me in this life I give devise and dispose thereof in manner and form following Viz. Imprimis: I give and bequeath unto my well beloved Wife Katherine Bartlett, the Sole use of all and Singular my Estate both real and personal for and during her Natural life................. Item: I give and Bequeath unto my son John Bartlett all my Land and Plantation whereon I now live after my said Wifes deceased to him and his Heirs for ever and what other Estate I heretofore let him have in the whole of my Estate. I give and Bequeath unto my son James Bartlett after my said wifes decease my Negroe Man named Humphrey to him and his assigns forever and no more of my Estate. Item: I give and bequeath unto my Daughter Anne Jones one Cow and Calf. Item: I give and bequeath unto my Daughter Mary Scott one Cow and Calf. Item: I give and bequeath unto my Daughter Bathsheba Foans one Feather Bed and Furniture and one Cow and Calf after my said Wifes decease... Item: I give and bequeath unto my son Josep Bartlett on Feather bed and Furniture and one Cow and Calf after my wifes decease.... Item: I give and bequeath unto my Daughter Sarah Skates one Cow & Calf .. My Will and desire is that all the remaining part of my Estate after my Wifes decease shall and be Equally Divided among my seven Children to wit: Thomas Bartlett, Elish Bartlett, Joseph Bartlett, Anne Jones, Mary Scott, Sarah Skates & Bathsheba Foans, one to have as much as another.... Lastly I ordain Constitute and appoint my said Wife and my son Charles Jones Executors of this my last Will and Testament Revoking and disannulling all other Wills Legacies and bequests by me heretofore Willed left and bequeathed, Ratifying and Confirmed this and no other to be my Last Will and Testament for Confirmation whereof I have hereunto fixed my hand and Seal this Sixth day of December One Thousand Seven Hundred and Sixty Seven ... Signed Sealed and declared... by the said Thomas Bartlett... Thomas his X mark Bartlett to be his last Will and Testament in the presence of .... John Eidson At a Court held for Ruchmond County the 6th day Octo. 1783 Daniel Jackson Morton Willson This Will was presented in court by James Bartlett and being proved Chris’r Collins by the Oath of Morton Willson who also made Oath that he saw of other Witnesses attest the same was admitted to Record Test Lihoy Peachey Cl... Transcribed from a Xerox of the original record by Jim Bartlett 10 Mar 2000; as close to verbatim as possible - bolding added to highlight key information. Extract: LWT of Thomas BARTLETT of Lunenburg Parish, Richmond Co, VA dated 6 Dec 1767, recorded 6 Oct 1783 [almost 16 years later - did Thos. die abt 1767 or abt 1783?]. Thos. “in perfect health”. Wife Katherine; ch: Thomas, Elish, Joseph, Anne JONES, Mary SCOTT, Sarah SKATES, Bathsheba FOANS, James, John. From other records it appears the names were: wife = Catherine; daughters = Sarah SCATES and Bathsheba FONES; and Anne married Charles JONES (son was often son-in-law); and son = Elisha. Derived information: I believe Thomas was the oldest son and got his part of the estate earlier; similarly James was probably an older son, and had previously gotten his share (the reason for “no more of my estate”; John was probably the youngest son, and per custom, he got the remaining land; the daughters were all old enough to be married, indicating that by 1767 this family was fairly grown up, and there were no infants or very young children. Most of the bequests were to be effective after Catherine’s “decease”, so perhaps she lived until 1783, and the will did not need to be recorded and probated until she died - so we don’t really know when Thomas, Sr. died. In 1788 John, then of Culpepper Co, VA, sold the farm to Edward EIDSON. Submitted by Jim Bartlett **************************************************************** USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. 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