SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY, VA - WILLS AND ESTATES - John Cobb, 1 Oct 1792 --------------¤¤¤¤¤¤-------------- Will: John Cobb, Nottoway Parish, Southampton Co, VA IN THE NAME OF GOD AMEN, I John Cobb of the Parish of Notoway in the County of Southampton being in bad state of bodily health but being of sound mind & perfect memory do make and ordain this for my last will and testament as followeth hereby revoking and disannulling all former Wills whatsoever by me made. First, I desire that all my negroes, except such as are hereinafter mentioned may be valued and equally divided amongst my six sons, to wit: Eacum Cobb, Michael Cobb, Jeremiah Cobb, Benjamin Cobb, Thomas Cobb and George Blue? Cobb and in case any of my sons should die under the age of twenty one years, I desire that their dividend may be equally divided amongst my surviving sons. Secondly, I lend unto my daughter Rebecca Mecomi one tract or parcel of land known by the name of Clarks during her natural life or absence from Samuel Mecomi, but should she return to him or cohabit with him or live with him as his wife or suffer him to live with her, I then give the said tract of land to my son Michael in the same manner & on the same conditions. I give him my other lands as is hereafter mentioned. I also lend unto my daughter Reccoe Mecomi my negro Sam during her natural life on the same conditions. I lend her my land & at her death I desire my negro Sam be given to my son Thomas Cobb and his heirs forever. I also lend unto my daughter Rebecca Mecomi my negro boy Charles on the same conditions I lend her my land & at her death I give the said negro boy Charles to my grandson Matthew Mecomi on his arrival at the age of twenty one years and in case of his death before he arrive at the age of twenty one years, I give my said boy Charles to my grand daughter Polly Welcome on her arrival at the age of twenty one years but should both my grandchildren (Matthew & Polly) die under the age of twenty one years of ageI then give & bequeath my said boy Charles unto my son George Blow? Cobb to him and his heirs forever - But should my daughter Rebecca Mecomi die before my grand children arrive at twenty one years of age or that comply or in any wise infring the conditions on which I have lent her my property aforesaid, I desire that immediately (in such case) my negro Sam be hired out and the money arriving from his hire be kept for the use & behoof of my son Thomas Cobb and that my negro Charles be also hired immediately and the money arising from his hire applied to the use of my grandchildren Matthew & Polly Mecomi but should they die under the age of twenty one years, the money arising from the hire of my negro Charles I desire to be applied as I have in such case directed my said negro to be given ...... (word blacked out). I furthermore also lend unto my daughter Rebecca Mecomi during her natural life on the same conditions I lend her my other property, my loom, half my loom, harness, half my slays?, one cow and calf, four ewes, one sow & pigs & one iron pot of all of which I desire she may take her choice, also ten barrels of corn but in cse of an infringment of the conditiions on which I lend her this property, I then give my loom, harness, slays, cow & calf, sow & pigs, and iron pot, to my son Michael. Thirdly, I give unto my son Exum Cobb one feather bed and furniture and suit of bed curtains to him & his heirs forever. Fourthly,I give unto my son Michael Cobb my plantation whereon I now live with all my other lands, except a tract known by the name of Clarks & that I also give him immediately on the death of my daughter Rebecca Mecomi or upon her cohabiting with Samuel Mecomi or living with him or suffering him to live with her. I also give him my still and apparatus belonging whereto & all my cider casks & barrels and one feather bed & furniture of which he is now possessed (on conditions that he does pay to Capt. Charles Briggs the sum of ninety pounds & int. & maintain my four youngest sons, namely: Jeremiah, Benjamin, Thomas & George until they arrive at the age of fifteen years, and in the interim to give them an education suitable to the trades they may be bound to at that age of which trade. I wish them to choose, and have them taught to read & to write and as for in arithimitic as the rule of three or farther if necessary to him & his heirs forever. Fifthly, I lend unto my daughter Elizabeth Wootten my negro woman named Anaky, my negro boys Ned & Jeffery, one feather bed & furniture, one large chest, one flax huckle, half my loom, harness, and slays, my grey mare & a side saddle & bridle, during her natural life & immediately on her death, I desire that all my property I have lent unto my daughter Elizabeth may be sold by my Executor and the money arising from the sale put out to int. for use and behoof of myt grand daughter Jane Exum Wootten to whom on her arrival at the age of twenty one years, I give the amount of the said sales principal & int. but should my grand daughter die under or before the age of twenty one years, I then desire that the money aforesaid accruing from the sale of my property lent my daughter Elizabeth should be equally divided amongst my sons to whom I, in such case, give it in the same manner as I give them my negroes. Sixthly, My will and desire is that my sons Exum & Michael, at their joint expence shall build for their sister Rebecca Mecomi a good log house sixteen feet square with plank floors & a shingled roof on the land I have alotted for her to live. I also desire that all and every part of my estate not herein devised, or lent or given away may after my death be set up and sold to the best bidders and the money arising from the sales after my just debts & furneral expence are paid, be equally divided amongst my six sons as aforesaid ..med in same manner as I have given them my negroes - to whom I give it & my negros not herein particularly named in manner aforesaid to my sons forever. Lastly, I constitute and appoint my friends William Hines (sheriff) and son Michael Cobb and Thomas Gray, Executors of this my Last Will and Testament and desire that they will act as trustees for my daughter Rebecca Mecomi and hereby leave to them in trust my grey horse Dart for her use and further desire that all I have lent her shall be held by them as her trustees for her use only in such manner that Samuel Mecomi shall not possess or receive or in any manner be benefitted by any part of my estate and at the sale thereof I desire that he may not be suffered to buy anything that has life. I furthermore desire that all my negroes not herein mention may be equally divided amongst my six sons as is before mentioned in same manner as before said on the day of the sale of my estate. IN WITNESS whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affix my seal this first day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred & ninety two. his John X Cobb (seal) mark Signed, sealed, published, declared and delivered in presence of: Lucy Lane Richard Land Sr Drewry Land At a Court held for the County of Southampton the 8th day of November 1792 This Will was presented in Court by Michael Cobb & William Hines, two of the Executors therein named, proved by the oaths of Richard Land Sr & Drewry Land, two of the witnesses thereto, and ordered to be recorded, and on the motion of the said Executors who made oath according to law, Certificate is granted them for obtaining a Probat thereof in the due form giving security whereupon &c. Samuel Kello C? Source: Library of Virginia, Will Book 4, 1783-1797 Southampton Co, VA Reel 17, page Note: Paragraphing and some punctuation was added by transcriber for ease in reading. 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