SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY, VA - WILLS AND ESTATES - Benjamin Adams, 30 Oct 1794
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IN THE NAME OF GOD AMEN, I Benjamin Adams of Southampton County being sick & 
weak in body but of sound sense & memory, thanks be to God for the same, &
calling to mind the certainty of death do think this the most proper time to
make, constitute and ordain this my last will and testament.  And first, I 
recommend my soul to God who gave it me hoping he will receive it through the
merits of a crucified redemeer, and as to my worldy good which it hath pleas'd
God to bless me with, I dispose of in manner & form following, viz:

Imprimis: I give and bequeath to my loving daughter Sally Ivy one bed & 
furniture, one cow and calf, three sheep, which she has now in possession and
five shillings to be paid in twelve months after my death to her & her heirs
forever.

Item: I give and bequeath to my loving daughter Priscilla Prince, one feather
bed & furniture, one cow & calf & three sheep which I have given her possession
of & also 5/ (I presume this is 5 shillings) to be paid to her in 12 months
after my death to her & her heirs forever.

Item: I lend to my loving wife Margaret Adams during her natural life the use 
of my plantation whereon I now live also my negro man Will, one feather bed
& furniture, my bay mare, two cows & calves, two sows & shoats or piggs, one
table, & all my pewter & corn & meat to support her twelve months after my
death & all my shuk? & all my kitchen furniture & the loom & harness & all
the cards & wheel I have, all my sides & brandy casks & barrels, two axes,
two hoes & 1 plow, hostn.? side saddle & bridle.

Item: I give and bequeath to my loving daughter Charlott Adams one feather
bed & furniture, one cow & calf & four dollars to be paid in twelve months
after my death to her & her heirs forever.

Item: I give & bequeath to my loving daughter Nancy Adams, one feather bed
and furniture, one cow & calf & four dollars to be paid in twelve months
after my death to her & her heirs forever.

Item: I give & bequeath to my loving son Arthur Adams all the land I own but
reserve the use of the plantation whereon I live for his mother during her
natural life , also I give him one feather bed & furniture all my carpenters
& coopers tools & my bay filly & saddle & my gun & four pounds to be paid in
twelve months after my death to him & his heirs & assigns forever.

Item: I give & bequeath to my loving daughter Betsy Adams sixteen pounds to
her and her heirs forever.

Item: I give & beequeath to my loving grand daughter Sally Adams ten pounds
to her & her heirs forever.

Item: My will and desire is that after the death of my loving wife aforesaid
that all the personal estate & negro lent her be sold & after the legacies are
paid which I have given away, then I desire that the overplus be equally divided
amongst all my loving children or their heirs.

Item: And lastly, I do nominate & appoint my loving wife Margaret Adams
Executrix and my son in law Joseph Prince, Executor to this my Last Will &
Testament.

IN WITNESS whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affix'd my seal this 30 day
of October 1794.
                                                         his
                                                 Benjamin BA Adams (seal)
                                                         mark
Sign'd, seal'd and acknowledg'd
in presence of:

Harbert Pate
    his
Jordan X Pate
    mark
Richard Mason
               At a Court held for the County of Southampton
                      the 12th day of March 1795

This Will was presented in court by Joseph Prince, one of the Executors therein
named, prov'd by the oaths of Jordan Pate & Richard Mason, two of the
witnesses thereto and ordered to be recorded, and on the motion of the said
Executor who made oath according to law, Certificate is granted him for
obtaining a Probat thereof in due form giving security whereupon &c, time
being allowed for the Executrix to qualify.
                                                Sam Kello, Cl.
Source: Library of Virginia,
Will Book 4, 1783-1797
Southampton Co, VA
Reel 17, pages 676-677

Note: Paragraphing and some punctuation was added by transcriber
for ease in reading. There are no paragraphs in the original. Benjamin's
mark is "BA".  A shoat is a young hog. Viz stands for videlicet meaning:
"that is to say, namely".


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