Southampton County Virginia USGenWeb Archives Wills.....Hart, Robert, 1862 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/va/vafiles.htm ************************************************ Robert HART (abt 1780-1861), will dated 13 Jun 1857, presented 21 Oct 1861, admitted 20 Jan 1862 I Robert Hart of the County of Southampton do on this 13th day of June in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty-seven, make, constitute _ appoint this my last will and testament in manner and form as follows - First. I give to my wife Charity Hart, one dollar pr. day for and during her natural life, and twenty dollars to pay her burying and funeral expenses, all of which is to be paid out of my estate by my executors, one feather bed and furniture and one chest. Second. I give to my grand-daughter Mary Louisa Hart all my land and Plantation whereon I now live, lying on the South Side of a line of marked trees leading from William Beales line to Thomas Drewrys _ Two thousand dollars in money, two negroes, Henry and Rachal[sic], and their future increase, one feather bed and furniture (the bed that was made by her Mother). My negro man Dawson having served me faithfully my desire is my executors sell him to Wilborn Stephenson, as he owns his wife, for any Price that Allen Edwards, Alfred T. Stephenson, Thomas J. Brister may think a fair neighborhood price, but if the said Wilborn Stephenson should refuse to buy the said negro Dawson, I give him the said negro Dawson to my grand daughter Mary Louisa Hart, but if the said Wilborn Stephenson should buy the said negro I give to my grand daughter Mary Louisa Hart the amount of money for which he may sell, and one chest and clothes therein contained. My desire is that my negro woman Matilda have the liberty of selecting her own Master or Mistress, as the case may be, and I authorize my executors to sell the said negro to such person to whom she may select for fifty dollars less that Allen Edwards, Alfred T. Stephenson, Thomas J. Brister may think to be her fair value in the neighborhood. Third. I lend to my daughter Silvy Johnson all of my land and Plantation called the Bailey place all on the North side of the line above mentioned, for and during her natural life, but no timber is to be cut off the said land during the time of the loan only for the use of the Plantation. At the death of my daughter Silvy Johnson I give all my land lent to her to my grand-daughter Sarah Johnson if living, if not, I give said land to my grand daughter Mary Louisa Hart. Fourth. The balance of my estate not heretofore mentioned I dispose of as follows; to my daughter Nancy Whitfield and her four children John, Robert, George & Lucy Ann Hart, I lend one third part for and during the natural life of the said Nancy Whitfield and at her death I give the same to her four Children above named to be equally divided between them _ To Silvy Johnson and her daughter Sarah Johnson one third part to be kept by my Executors and Paid out to them as they may need, for and during the natural life of the said Silvy Johnson, and at her death I give the balance that may be remaining in the hands of my Executors to my grand daughter Sarah Johnson if living, if not, my desire is that it be equally divided among all my then living grand children. One third part to Mary Louisa Hart, but if she should die before she arrives to the age of twenty one years my desire is that all the Property that I have given her both real and Personal be equally divided among my then living grand children. Fifth. I nominate and appoint my friends Allen Edwards, Alfred T. Stephenson and James Jones, Executors to this my last Will and Testament revoking all other will or wills by me heretofore named. Given under my hand and seal this day and date above written. Robert (hismark) Hart ĪSealĪ In presence of Wilbon Stephenson Benja. Crumpler Nicholas M. Jones, At a court held for the County of Southampton on the 21st day of October 1861. This writing bearing date the 13th day of June 1857 purporting to be the last Will and testament of Robert Hart decd. was produced to the Court and continued till the next Court to be protested. And at a Court held for the said County on the 18th day of November 1861 the said last Will and testament was again produced in Court and was proved by the oath of Wilbon Stephenson one of the subscribing witnesses thereto and continued for further proof. And at a Court held for the said County on the 20th day of January 1862 the said last Will and testament was again produced in court, and Benja. Crumpler one of the subscribing witnesses being decd., E.L. Crumpler being sworn deposed and says he is well acquainted with the hand writing of the said Benj- Crumpler and verily believes that the name of the said Benja. Crumpler to the said Will subscribed is in the proper hand writing of the said Benja. Crumpler, and the said Will having been before proved by the oath of Wilbon Stephenson a subscribing witness thereto is ordered to be recorded. Teste. L.R. Edwards CC Transcribers note: Referring to children of his daughter Nancy that married Elisha Whitfield he mentioned the children by given name and used the surname of Hart -- surname should have been Whitfield Southampton Co., VA, Will Book 17, 1860-1863, pp. 421-22 The Library of Virginia (LVA), Richmond, VA LVA, Southampton Co. Microfilm Reel 23 images online at The Brantley Family Association Southampton Project: http://www.brantleyassociation.com/southampton_project/southampton_project_list.htm [Transcribed by Dale Whitfield (whitfieldroots@aol.com), and re-formatted by File Manager.] [BRISTER, CRUMPLER, DREWRY, EDWARDS, HART, JOHNSON, JONES, STEPHENSON, WHITFIELD]