SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY, VA - WILLS AND ESTATES - Benjamin Lewis, 13 Aug 1788 --------------¤¤¤¤¤¤-------------- Wills: Benjamin Lewis, St. Luke Parish, Southampton Co, VA (1790) IN THE NAME OF GOD AMEN, I Benjamin Lewis of the County of Southampton and Parish of St. Luke being in a weak and low state of health but of sound mind and memory do make this my last will and testament in manner and form following, to wit: Item: I lend to my loving wife the plantation whereon I now live with all the lands adjoyning thereto during her natural life. I also lend to my wife the following negroes: Ceasar, Sam, Stephen, Abram, Will, Tom, Rose, Edy, Velet and Priss during her natural life. Item: I give and bequeath to my son Lebulan Lewis my small still that is now in the plantation whereon I now live to him and his heirs forever. Item: I give and bequeath to my son Benjamin Lewis my large still that is now standing on the plantation up the creeks which I shall hereafter give to my son Lebulan which said still I give to my son Benjamin to him and his heirs forever. Item: I give and bequeath to my son Lebulan Lewis my land and plantation lying up the three creeks ajoining Joshua Thorps land also two negroes namely: George and Luke. I also give my son Lebulan Lewis half the stock of cattle, hoggs and sheep on the aforesaid plantation, my sialem? mair and hearod? horse, one feather bed and furniture and walnut desk, and one half of the corn and brandy that is made on the aforesaid plantation this year which said land, negroes, stock, horses, furniture and crop I give to my son Lebulan, to him and his heirs forever. My will and desire is that my estate shall not be appraised. Item: I give and bequeath to my son Benjamin Lewis after the death of my wife the plantation whereon I now live with the lands I purchased of Micajah Harriss to him and his heirs forever, also three negroes, namely: Jimmy, Andrew and Marry and after the death of my wife, I give to my son Benjamin two negroes Ceasar and Stephen, also one half of the stock of cattle, hoggs and sheep that is on the plantation at the death of my wife & then to be the choice ones, also two heifers such as my Executors hereafter named shall think will suit him with all my household and kitchen furniture at the death of my wife that is not given to my other children, also my black n meths? tools crosscut and whip saws which said land, negroes, stock of cattle, hogs and sheep, furniture and tools I give to my son Benjamin Lewis to him and his heirs forever. Item: I give and bequeath to my daughter Elizabeth Butts two negroes namely: Maggy and Silvey, also forty pounds current money which said negroes and money I give to her and her heirs forever. Item: I give and bequeath to my daughter Fanney Butts two negroes namely: Lebulow and Peter and twenty five pounds current money which said negroes and money I give to her and her herirs forever, also one feather bed and furniture, three cows and one bay mair which she has in her possession to her and to her heirs forever. Item: I lend to my daughter Nanney Turner during her natural life two negroes namely: Joshua and Liddy, also four head of cattle, two mairs, one feather bed and furniture which she has now in possession and after her death I give and bequeath the said negroes, mair, cattle and bed after the death of my daughter Nanney to be equally divided between her two children Elizabeth Turner and Edwin Turner to them and their heirs forever. Item: I give and bequeath to my daughter Sally Roohal one horse which she has in her possession to her and her heirs. Item: I lend to my daughter Sally Rotchel three negroes namely: Mingo, Fanney, and Sidney during her natural life and after her death I give and bequeath the said negroes with their increase to be equally divided amongst all the children that she shall leave to them and their heirs forever. Item: I give and bequeath to my daughter Beckey Lewis two negroes Moses and Dareasy with their increase, three cows and calves, one feather bed and furniture, one horse which said negroes, cattle, horse and bed I give to her and her heirs forever. Item: I give and bequeath to my daughter Jenney Lewis three negroes namely: Warick, Molly, and Cherry, one feather bed and furniture, one horse and one mahogoney chest of drawers which said negroes, bed, horse &c I give to her and her heirs forever. My will and desire is that all the estate that I have given to my children that is not married to remain in the possession of my Will untill they marry or come of age for which she is to maintain & support them. Item: I give and bequeath to my loving wife Mary Lewis one negro name Bob to her and her heirs forever. Item: I lend to my wife during her natural life all the remainder of my estate that I have not heretofore given away of what kind or nature soever or wheresoever found and my will and desire is that my wife purchase some land ajoining this plantation for my son Benjamin Lewis if convenient and my will and desire is that after the death of my wife Mary all the estate I have lent her that is not given away be equally divided amongst all my children to them and their heirs forever, and my desire is that my wife make sail of any part of my estate except land or negroes that she think will be to the advantage of the said estate. And lastly, I constitute appoint my wife Mary Lewis, my son Lebulan Lewis and Benjamin Butts my hole and sole Executors to this my Last Will and Testament hereby revoking all other Wills by me heretofore made as I have hereunto set my hand and seal this thirteenth day of August 1788. Benjamin Lewis (seale) Signed, sealed and published by the testator to be his Last Will and Testament in presence of: Etheldred Taylor James McNiel his Henry X Westbrooke mark John Simmons Sr. At a Court held for the County of Southampton the 11th day of October 1790 This Will was presented in Court by Benjamin Butts, the Executor therein named, proved by the oaths of Etheldred Taylor and John Simmons Sr, two of the witnesses thereto and 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 383-385 Note: Paragraphing and some punctuation was added by transcriber for ease in reading. There are no paragraphs in the original. Wills: Joseph Lancaster, Southampton Co, VA (1785) Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Von Mings Stachon, vonstac@comcast.net Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm I Joseph Lancaster of the County of Southampton being of sound mind & memory do make and ordain this to be my Last Will and Testament in manner and form as followeth: Imprimis: I give and bequeath to my wife Mary Lancaster my negro woman Tiny to hold to her and her heirs forever. I also give to my said wife during her widowhood all the rest and remainder of my estate that is not hereafter disposed off in legacies with liberty to sell or dispose of any part of my household goods or stock for the support of herself and family during her widowhood as above. And at her death or marriage my will is that all my estate both real and personal may be sold except what I do give away in legacies and the money arising from such sale to be equally divided between my sons Etheldred and James Lancaster after my son James taking & receiving to himself twenty pounds cash. Item: I give and bequeath to my son Etheldred Lancaster the land and plantation whereon I now dwell containing, containing by estimation, one hundred sixty acres to hold to him and his heirs forever after the death or marriage of my wife Mary. I also give to my said son Etheldred my joiners and Turners tools including one pit.san? after my son James Lancaster taking out of the above tools one joiners tenant san and my best set of bench/lains?. Item: I give and bequeath to my son James Lancaster my negro girl Lucy now in his possession with her increase to hold to him and his heirs forever. Lastly, my will is that my estate be not appraised. I constitute and appoint my two sons Etheldred & James Lancaster to be my whole & sole Executors of this my Last Will. IN WITNESS whereof I have hereunto put my hand and affixed my seal this eighth day of September one thousand seven hundred and eighty three. Joseph Lancaster (seal) Signed, sealed & declared in the presence of us: Richard Edwards William White B. Bailey At a Court held for the County of Southampton the 11th day of May 1785 This Will was presented in Court by Etheldred & James Lancaster, the Executors therein named and proved by the oaths of Richard Edwards & William White, two of the witnesses thereto and ordered to be recorded. And on a motion of the said Executors who made oath according to law, certificate is granted them for obtaining a Probat thereof on due form giving security whereupon &c. Source: Library of Virginia, Will Book 4, 1783-1797 Southampton Co, VA Reel 17, pages 112-113 Note: Spelling is as shown on original. Paragraphing added by transcriber.for ease in reading. There are no paragraph spaces 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 ___________________________________________________________________