Southampton County Virginia USGenWeb Archives Wills.....Drake, Thomas, 1757 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/va/vafiles.htm ************************************************ Thomas DRAKE (1705-1757), will dated 3 Oct 1757, proved 11 May 1758 In the name of God Amen I Thomas Drake of the Parrish (sic) of Nottoway in the County of Southampton being of sound and disposing mind and memory (thanks be to God) do make and ordain this my last will and testament in manner and form following revoking all other wills by me heretofore made. First: I give and devise unto my loving wife Anne Drake the bed and furniture she now lies on also I give her the use of the house she now lives in during her life or widowhood. Secondly: I give and devise unto my son John Drake one negro man slave named Brisco after the decease of my said wife Anne, one buckenear gun, one large iron pott (sic) the largest in the house and the largest trunk in the house to him and his heirs forever. Thirdly: I give and devise to my son Thomas Drake all that tract or parcel of land whereon he now lives containing two hundred and thirty acres lying and being in the parrish (sic) of Nottoway and county aforesaid firmly granted to me by letters of petition thereupon particularly bounded to hold my son Thomas and to his heirs and assigns forever. I also give to my son Thomas Drake after the decease of my said wife Anne one negro girl slave named Sarah, one feather bed and furniture that belongs it to him and his heirs forever. Fourthly: I give and devise to my son William Drake one still cap and worm and that my said son William shall let my said son Thomas have the use of the said still to distill his own liquor with. Also I give and devise to my son William Drake after the death of my wife Anne one negro man slave named Robin. I also give the use of all four of my negroes to my son William Drake to maintain my wife Anne during her life or widowhood without want or drudgery. Likewise I give and devise to my said son William Drake the plantation and lands whereon I now live and all other lands that I have any rite (sic) or title to and I give him one feather bed and the furniture that belongs to it with bedsted (sic) and cord to him and his heirs forever also one pair of hand mill stones to him and his heirs forever. Fifthly: I give and devise to my son Lazarus Drake after the decease of my wife Anne one negro man slave named Jammey one large pine chest one bed and furniture. Sixthly: I give and devise to my daughter Mary the wife of William Williams one side saddle and one small trunk. Lastly: All the rest of my estate of what nature or kind soever to be equally devided (sic) between my three sons viz: John, Thomas and Lazarus and I desire that my two oldest sons may devide (sic) the rest of my estate as above mentioned and I do hereby constitute and appoint my sons Thomas and William my whole and sole executors of this my last will and testament. In witness whereof I have hereunto fixt my seal this 3rd day of October 1757. Thomas (his mark) Drake Witness: Benjamin Williams Jacob Williams Britten Drake At a court held for the county or Southampton on Thursday the 11th day of May 1758 this will was prsented in court by Thomas Drake and William Drake the executors therein named proved by Benjamin Williams and Jacob Williams 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 was granted them for obtaining a probate thereof in due form giving security. R Kello Southampton Co., VA, Will Book 1, 1749-1762, pp. 254-55 The Library of Virginia (LVA), Richmond, VA LVA, Southampton Co. Microfilm Reel 16 images online at The Brantley Family Association Southampton Project: http://www.brantleyassociation.com/southampton_project/southampton_project_list.htm [file transcribed by Dale Whitfield, (Whitfieldroots@aol.com), and re-formatted by File Manager.] [DRAKE, WILLIAMS]