SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY, VA - WILLS AND ESTATES - John Edwards, 13 Jun 1789 --------------¤¤¤¤¤¤-------------- Wills: John Edwards, Southampton Co, VA (1789) Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Von Mings Stachon, vonstac@comcast.net Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm IN THE NAME OF GOD AMEN, I John Edwards of Southampton County and state of Virginia being sick and weak in body but in perfect mind & memory, thanks be to God for it, and calling to mind the mortality of my body knowing it is appointed for all men once to die do make and ordain this my last will and testament. Imprimis: Principally and first of all reminding and commanding my soul to almighty God trusting in a glorious resurrection and my body to the ground to be buried in a christian manner, and is touching such worldly estate as it hath pleased almighty God to bless me with in this life, I give in the following manner and form, viz: Item: I give to my son Micajah Edwards the plantation he now lives on containing one hundred and ninety acres more or less lying on the eastside of Little Swamp and bounded as follows: beginning at again in the said swamp thence nearly east corner to a line of mark'd trees to the head of Rushings Swamp thence down the various courses of the said swamp to a red oak thence along a line of mark'd trees to a white oak in middle Eavsey Pond thence along a line of mark'd trees nearly west course to a pine a corner tree thence by a line of mark'd trees to the Little Swamp to a cypress corner tree thence up the various courses of the said swamp to the begining; also one negro boy named Luke to him and his heirs forever. Item: I give to my son Newit Edwards the plantation where he now lives containing two hundred and fifty acres more or less and bounded as followeth: beginning at a cypress in the Little Swamp in William Simmons line thence along the said line to a hickory thence in a line of mark'd trees nearly a east course to a small cypress near the run of the Little Swamp thence up the various courses of the said swamp to Micajah Edward's line thence along his line to a white oak a corner thence along a line of mark'd trees to a red oak in Rushing's Swamp a dividing line between the aforesaid Micajah and Newit Edwards thence down the various courses of the said swamp to the cypress road thence up the said road to Emdus Derring's line to William Jackson's line thence along Jackson's line to Matthew Williams'ess line thence on his line to the Little Swamp then. Thence down the said swamp to the begining; also two negro boys known by the names of Jacob and Finchen to him and his heirs forever. Item: I give to my son Joel Edwards the plantation whereon he now lives containing two hundred acres more or less and bounded as follows, viz: Begining at a gum in the Little Swamp in Micajah Edward's line thence along the said to John Woodward's old line thence along that line to a light wood stake in Benjamin Whitfield's line thence along the said line to Robert Fergunson's line thence along his line to Espaphrad at sis? Williams line thence on his line to Ephraim Williams line thence on his line to the Little Swamp thence down the various courses of the said swamp to the begining; also all my rite to an intry of land I owning the aforesaid land; also two negro boys known by the names of Martin and Giles to him & his heirs forever. Item: I give to my son James Edwards to plantation he now has in possession containing two hundred and twenty acres more or less and bounded as followeth, viz: begining at a gum in Little Swamp thence along a line of new mark'd trees to the Purcosan then through the Puxcauson to the head line thence along the head line to a pine corner in James Barnes line then along said Barnes line to a white oak then along the said line to a pine thence along this pine to Jordan Vicks line along the said Vicks line to the Little Swamp down the various courses of the said swamp to the begining; also one negroe boy named Matthew, one feather bed and furniture, also a sorrel mare which I gave him and ten pounds cash to him & his heirs forever. Item: I give to my son West Edwards the neck of land lying between Newit Edwards and the lane on the plantation whereon I now live including the fresh field containing twenty acres more or less; one negro boy called Tony, one feather bed and furniture also a horse that I gave him by the name of Damond and one room of the house I now live in the said room to receive at my death to him and his heirs forever. Item: I lend to my daughter Mary Whitfield two negroes called and known by the name of Jonas and Jack during her natural life and after her decease I give the said negroes to my grandson George Whitfield to him and his heirs forever. Likewise I give to my daughter Mary Whitfield one feather bed and furniture which she now hath in possession to her & her heirs forever. Item: I give to my daughter Elizabeth Everit two negroes known by the names of Isabel and Jafery. Likewise one feather bed & furniture which she now hath in possession to her and her heirs forever. Item: I give to my daughter Lilly Birdsong two negroes called and known by the names of Edmund and Anclby?; likewise one feather bed and furniture which she now has in possession to her and her heirs forever. Item: I give to my loving wife Anne Edwards the use of residue of my land which is not already given including the plantation I now live on to her during her natural life and at her decease I give the said land I now live on to my son West Edwards to him and his heirs forever. I likewise give to my loving wife during her natural life seven negroes by the names as follows, viz: Flora, Dinah, Lucy, Dick, Frank, Jesse, & little Cate and forty barrels of corn of the nint? crop and the use of my stock of all kinds and all the plantation utensils in and out doors except my stock of sheep and the mare and colt which I desire to be sold after my death, three negroes to the use of my wife during life after wards to be divided as followeth hereafter: Item: I give to my son Micajah Edwards after the decease of his mother a negroe wench called Lucy being one left to his mother during her life with her increase to him and his heirs forever. Item: I give to my son James Edwards after the decease of his mother one negro known by the name of Dinah with her increase to him and his heirs forever, being part of the negroes left his mother during her natural life. Item: I give to my son West Edwards one negro cald Flora with her increase to him and his heirs forever, she being one of those negroes left his mother during her life. Item: I leave a negro called Syfax to be sold at my death in the family among my children to discharge my just debts and expences & the residue of my estate which is not already given both real and personal I lend to my loving wife during her natural life all except my old slave Cate which I give to her freedom after the first day of January rent? clear of all bondage and slavery from me and my heirs forever and after my wifes decease all my estate thats not otherwise confind or given I desire it may be equally divided between all my children or their legal representatives. I do likewise appoint my sons Micajah Edwards and Newit Edwards my whole and sole Executors to this my Last Will and Testament in hereunto I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this thirteenth day of June 178 nine John Edwards (seal) Signed, sealed & delivered in presence of: James Tester William Simmons his John X Cook mark At a Court held for the County of Southampton the 10th day of December 1789 The Will was presented in Court by Newit Edwards and Micajah Edwards, Executors therein named, proved by the oaths of William Simmons and Johhn Cook, witnesses thereto and ordered to be recorded and on the motion of the said Executor who made oath according to law, certificate is granted them for obtaining a Probat thereof in due form giving security whereupon &c. H. Kello Source: Library of Virginia, Will Book 4, 1783-1797 Southampton Co, VA Reel 17, pages 346-349 Note: Spelling is as shown on original. Paragraphing added by transcriber.for ease in reading & some punctuation. There are no paragraphs in the document. ___________________________________________________________________ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Von Mings Stachon vonstac@comcast.net ___________________________________________________________________