SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY, VA - WILLS AND ESTATES - Edwin Gray, 23 Sep 1788
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Wills: Edwin Gray, Southampton Co, VA (1790)

IN THE NAME OF GOD AMEN I Edwin Gray of the County of 
Southampton do make and ordain this my last will and testament
revoking all former wills by me made in manner and form following:

First, I give unto my son Joseph four hundred acres of land
more or less bounded by the main road on our side on another
side by Charles Briggs line to where it joins the tract
formerly purchased of Col Thorpe thence along the old dividing
line between Col Thorps tract to the Indian Branch thench
down that a small space to a black gum a cersier tree formerly
of the Nottoway Indians thence the dividing line between the 
said Indians and Col thorps untill it strikes the dividing line
between the tract I now live on & the said Col Thorps from
thence by a tract line to be made to a white oak stump
standin in the old road in the line between John Cobbs and my
land thence along the said Cobbs line to the road aforesaid.
Note: thirty acres of this land I purchased of the Nottoway
Indians for the conveyance of which an act of assembly has
passed appointing trustees to convey the same to me but not
having obtained a deed, I desire the trustees may convey the 
said thirty acres to my son Joseph to wherein I give the
aforesaid land and also the following negroes: Peter, Aggai,
Lewis and Chloe and after the death of my wife, a negro woman 
Amy to him and his heirs forever.

I give to my son Thomas a tract of land I purchased of
Anthony Cole Thorp containing by estimation four hundred
acres and bounded as is expressed in the deed, also the
following negroes: Tad, Judy, York and Bonico and after
the death of his mother, a negro woman Rachel to him and
his heirs forever.

I give to my son Edwin after the death of my wife, four hundred 
acres of land more or less with water grist mill, a still and 
the following negroes: Ben, Anthony, Moses and Dick and Frank 
to him and his heirs forever.  The negroes except Frank he is
to possess immediately and Frank after the death of his mother.

I give to my son Henry two hundred and fifty acres of land
to be laid of (off) by the following bounds begining at a
hickory on Benjamin Ruffins line near the road where it crosses
the Town Branch thence up the said Town Branch to the mouth
of Loggins Branch thence up Loggins Branch to the mouth of
a miry  branch thence up the said branch to the head thence
along a strait line to the reedy branch to be laid off so
as to include the said two hundred and fifty acres thence
down the reedy branch to Benjamin Ruffins line thence along
the said line to the begining; also the following negroes:
Jess, Abram and Tom, and after the death of my wife, Sam
and Moll with her future increase from this day to him and
his heirs forever.

I give to my daughter Mary the following negroes: Edy, Mary, Sarah
and James, also a boy Filley to her and her heirs forever.

I give unto my wife the use of the plantation (together with
a water grist mill and still, four hundred acres whereon I
now live during her life or until my sons Joseph, Thomas and
Edwin shall build a house as will be hereafter directed on
the land herein given to my son Henry and then she may take
choice on which tract she will reside either of them she is to
have during her life; also the use and labour of the following
slaves: Frank, Sam, Moll, Rachel and Angie.  It is my desire
that my said wife do retain for her use during her life so much
of my stock of all kinds so much of my household furniture,
kitchen and plantation utensils as she chooses and that she
make an equitable division of the surplus amongst all my
children as she may direct the sale of it for the payment of my 
debts as her prudence may suggest. I give to my wife also a 
post chaise and harness to her and her assigns forever.

As I consider the lands given my three oldest sons are of
more value than the tract given to my son Henry, I desire the
said three sons to build, at their equal joint expense, a
dwelling house twenty feet by sixteen with a ten foot shed,
up stairs, and to be finished in a plain workmanlike manner
with two back chimneys and plaistered and white washed and a
kitchen twelve and fifteen with a back chimney, also a
smoke house.  And whereas some years ago I jointly, with 
my brother James Gray, purchased several tracts of land in
the County of Nansemond on one of the said tracts we have
created at our joint and equal expense a saw and grist
mill and other valuable building and whereas a tract of
land purchased by us of Wills Cowper and Coy was conveyed 
to me alone and whereas I gave my said brother my bond for
the conveyance of an equal dividend of the said tract and 
no bonds or division having been agreed on between us, I
do hereby impower my executors when such consideriscon
is agreed on or made to convey one moiety of the said tract
unto my said brother or to his assignor to join him in the
sale of all the property we jointly hold in the said County
of Nansemond.  And for the payment of my debts, I do 
hereby direct my Executors to sell my proportion of lands
and all my interest in the saw and grist mill which I hold
jointly with my brother James and they are hereby fully
impowered and authorised to convey the same to any purchaser
or purchasers and whereas there are since the joint
purchase of the lands as above expressed various 
expenditures of money both by my brother and myself and the
accounts of which have not been bequeathed or willed and as
I conceive them to be very complicated and perplexed and
having the fullest confidence of the integrity and justice
of my said brother, I desire that his settlement of the
expences may be admitted and passed to my Executors and
the court without the formality of an oath.

And lastly, I do hereby constitute and appoint my brother
James Gray, my sons Joseph Thomas and Edwin and my friend
Daniel Simmons Executors of this my Last Will and
Testament recommending to them in a particular manner
the education of my little son Henry.

IN WITNESS whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal
this twenty third day of September in the year of our
Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty eight. 

                                      Edwin Gray (seale)
In presence of:

Benjamin Ruffin
Benjamin Ruffin Jr.
Samuel Kitta

               At a Court held for the County of Southampton
                      the .... day of June 1790

This Will was presented in Court by Edwin Gray, the Executor therein
named, proved by the oath of Samuel Kitta, one of thewitnesses 
thereto, and con'd and at a court held for the said County of
Southampton the 11th day of October 1790 this Will was further 
proved by the oaths of Beryl Ruffin, another witness thereto and
having been before proved by the other witness is 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. 

Source: Library of Virginia,
Will Book 4, 1783-1797
Southampton Co, VA
Reel 17, pages 380-383

Note: Paragraphing and some punctuation was added 
by transcriber for ease in reading. There are no paragraphs 
in the original. In the 8th paragraph above the word
"plaistered" could be "plantered".


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