SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY, VA - WILLS AND ESTATES - Robert Lawrence, 29 Dec 1791 --------------¤¤¤¤¤¤-------------- IN THE NAME OF GOD AMEN, I Robert Lawrence of Virginia, County of Southampton being sick and weak in body but in perfect mind & memory, thanks be to God for it, knowing it is appointed for all to die do make and ordain this my Last Will & Testament in the following manner & form. I give to my loving wife Priscilla Lawrence the use of one half of my land & orchard & one room of my dwelling house & one room of my kitchin & one half of my other house which was formerly in Nansemond County but now in Southampton, also three negros, viz: Dick, Cherry & Fib during her natural life in widowhood. I also give to my loving wife Priscilla Lawrence one negro called Harry, two feather beds & furniture, one square table, one safe, two work horses, one chest, also one fourth part of my cattle & sheep, one third part of my hoggs & one third part of what corn may be left at my death to her own disposal. I give to my son Josiah Lawrence three negroes (viz) Will & Hannah, which he has now in possession & Jimmy & all the stock & household furniture which he has now in possession to him & his heirs forever. I give to my son Jesse Lawrence three negros (viz) Tom, Sam & Lucy & all the stock & household furniture which he has now in possession to him & his heirs forever. I give and devise to my son Jacob Lawrence all my land which was formerly in Sohm? (ltrs written over each other) joining the land of Nicholas Maget. Also one half my land which was formerly in Nansemond with the appurtenances and the other half at the deth or marriage of his mother which includes all the lands I hold in Virginia. Also seven negros (viz) Mingo, Alce, Damey, Bristol, Dick, Cherry & Fib, three of which I have left my wife the use of during her natural life in widowhood, also all the remainder part of my stock, eight head of cattle, except household & kitchen furniture & plantation utensils which I have not already given away to him & his heirs forever. I give to my daughter Sarah Williams all the negros, and every other article which I have put in the possession of Isaac Williams to her and her heirs forever. I give to my daughter Mary Foreman all the negros & other estate which I have put in the possession of John Foreman to her & her heirs forever. I give to my son in law Benjamin Ellis two negros (viz) Grace & Ned and every other article which he has now in possession to him & his heirs forever. I give to my daughter Priscilla Allen three negros (viz) Creary, Bott & Ephraim, eight head of cattel & every other article which I have put in the possession of Richard Allen to her & her heirs forever. I leave one hundred pounds Virginia money to be equally divided amongst my sons Josiah & Jesse, my daughters Sarah, Mary, Priscilla & my (son in law) Lawrence Ellis to them & their heirs forever. As to all the residue of my estate be it in any kind or quallity whatsoever I give to my son Jacob Lawrence to him and his heirs forever. I do hereby appoint my two sons Josiah Lawrence & Jacob Lawrence my hole & sole Executors of this my Last Will & Testament revoking all other wills by me before made. IN WITNESS whereof I the said Robert Lawrence hath hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this 29th day of December Anno Domini one thousand seven hundred & ninety one. his Robert R Lawrence (seal) mark Signed, sealed, published and declared in presence of: Sam Maget John Bishop Nathan Land Lawrence Williams At a Court held for the County of Southampton the 12th day of September 1793 This Will was presented in court by Jacob Lawrence, one of the Executors therin named (time being allowed for the other to qualify) proved by the oaths of John Bishop, Nathan Land & Lawrence Williams, three of the witnesses thereto and ordered to be recorded, and on the motion of the said Executor who made oath according to law, Certidicate is granted him for obtaining a Probat thereof in due form giving security whereupon &c. Sam Kello Cl. Source: Library of Virginia, Will Book 4, 1783-1797 Southampton Co, VA Reel 17, pages 566-568 Note: Paragraphing and some punctuation was added by transcriber for ease in reading. There are no paragraphs in the original. Note: the "R" in his signature is not a middle initial but his mark. ___________________________________________________________________ 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 ___________________________________________________________________