Southampton County Virginia USGenWeb Archives Wills.....Drake, Thomas, 1783 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/va/vafiles.htm ************************************************ Thomas DRAKE (1725-1783), will dated 6 Mar 1783, proved 10 Apr 1783 In the name of God amen I Thomas Drake of the county of Southampton in Virginia being sick and weak of body but of sound perfect and disposing mind and memory and knowing that all men must die and that the term of this transitory life is very uncertain, do therefore think proper to make my last will and testament in manner and form following to wit: First: Whereas I did some time past sell to Jordan Denson a certain fifty acres of land part of the tract whereon I now live the situation and intended bounds thereof being described in the bond which I gave him for to ensure to him and his heirs and assigns the title for the same, and for which the said Jordan Denson paid and satisfied me at the time the contract was made, but having never made him a deed for it, I do hereby give devise and bequeath to the said Jordan Denson and to his heirs and assigns forever fifty acres of land part of the tract whereon I now live and bounded in the following manner to wit, beginning at the upper corner of my land adjoining Absalom or Lewis Joyner's land and the said Denson's land that Timothy Drake now lives on and to extend and(sic) equal distance along each of the said lines viz: Joyner's and Jordan Denson's so far as shall comprise and include fifty acres of land and I do hereby direct Absalom Joyner to run the dividing line which I do establish and confirm to all intents and purposes as fully as if I had laid out the same myself and conveyed the land and premises to the said Jordan Denson his heirs and assigns by deed in my life time. Secondly: I leave to my dear and loving wife Sarah Drake the use and profits of all and every part of my estate real, personal, or mixt (sic) whether in possession, remainder or reversion for and during the term of her natural life. Thirdly: I leave to my daughter Mary Drake after the death of my wife the use and profits of my plantation and all my lands except the fifty acres which I have already devised to Jordan Denson his heirs etc. for and during the term of her natural life. I also give her my negro woman Sarah, my negro man Jim and my negro boy Bob and one moiety or equal half part of all my other estate not herein otherwise particularly disposed off (sic) to her and to her heirs and assigns. Fourthly:I give devise and bequeath to my daughter Celia Joyner and to my grandson Joseph Joyner after the death of my wife my negro woman Cale, my negro girls Venus and Phillis and one moiety or equal half part of all my personal estate and after the death of my daughter Mary Drake and my wife the plantation and lands where on I now live, which I believe will be (after the fifty acres devised already to Jordan Denson is laid off) one hundred and eighty acres or thereabouts, to them and to their heirs and assigns forever. I do desire that my grandson the aforesaid Joseph Joyner shall have an education suitable to his station of life out of the profits of this legacy. Lastly I do hereby nominate depute, authorize and appoint my wife Sarah Drake and my son in law Absalom Joiner as executrix and executor to this my last will and testament, and I do revoke and disannul all other or former wills by me heretofore made hereby establishing and confirming this and no other to be my last will and testament. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this sixth day of March in the year of our Lord Christ one thousand seven hundred eighty and three. Thomas Drake Witness: Lewis Joyner Jr Lewis (his mark) Joyner Sr Joseph Denson Jr At a court held for the County of Southampton on the 10th day of April 1783 this will was presented in court by Absalom Joyner one of the executors therein named, the widow Sarah refusing and proved by the oaths of Lewis Joyner Jr and Lewis Joiner Sr two of the witnesses thereto and ordered to be recorded. And on the motion of Absalom Joyner the executor therein named who made oath according to law a certificate is granted him for probat in due form giving security. Whereupon etc. Southampton Co., VA, Will Book 4, 1783-1797, pp. 9-10 The Library of Virginia (LVA), Richmond, VA LVA, Southampton Co. Microfilm Reel 17 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.] [DENSON, DRAKE, JOINER, JOYNER]