SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY, VA - WILLS AND ESTATES - James Lancaster, 12 Mar 1796 --------------¤¤¤¤¤¤-------------- I, James Lancaster of Southampton County and state of Virginia, being weak in body but of sound mind and memory, and in order to prevent disputes which may happen about the division of the estate I may leave at my death, do make and ordain this my last will and testament in manner and form following (to wit): 1. I give to my beloved wife Rebeckah Lancaster the use of my land and plantation whereon I now dwell during her life. I also give my said wife the profits arising from the mill built in the County of Southampton in conjunction with Samuel Bailey, except as much thereof as will be sufficient to pay damages, keep the said mill in repair, or rebuild her if required, during her natural life. I also lend to my said wife the use of my negro man Lewis & Silvy and all her future increase, Jeremiah & Clarissa and all her future increase, also one good feather bed and furniture during her life. 2. I give to my daughters Mildred & Jerusha Lancaster my half of the mill built in the County of Isles of Wight in conjunction with Samuel Bailey reserving in my Executors hands hereafter named as much of the profits arising therefrom as will be sufficient to finish, pay damages and keep in repair, the said mill till my daughter Jerusha Lancaster becomes of age or marry, to them and their heirs forever, except either should die without lawful issue in which case it is my will & desire that the surviving one shall enjoy the others part. 3. I give to my daughters Polly and Zilla Lancaster my half of the mill built in conjunction with Samuel Bailey in the County of Southampton at the death of my wife, to them and their heirs forever, except either of them should die without lawful issue, in which case it is my will and desire that the surviving one may enjoy the others part. 4. I give to my daughter Mildred Lancaster one negro woman Sucy and all her future increase and one negro boy Ben, also one good feather bed and furniture, to her and her heirs forever, except she should die without lawful issue, in which case, I give the same to my daughters Jerusha, Polly and Zilly Lancaster and my grand daughter Eliza Champion Bell to be equally divided among them or the survivors of them. 5. I give to my daughter Jerusha Lancaster two negro (to wit): Eady and all her future increase and Richard, also one good feather bed and furniture to here and her heirs forever, except she should die without lawful issue, in which case, I give the same to my daughters Mildred, Polly and Zilla Lancastereand my grand daughter Eliza C. Bell, to be equally divided among them or the survivors of them. 6. I give to my daughters Polly and Zilla Lancaster equally the negroes I have lent my wife the use of, after her death and all their increase, to them and their heirs forever, with a feather bed & furniture apiece, except either should die without lawful issue, in which case it is my will and desire that the surviving one, together with my daughters Mildred & Jerusha Lancaster & my grand daughter Eliza C. Bell shall enjoy the same equally. 7. I give to my grand daughter Eliza C. Bella one negro boy David to her and her heirs forever, except she shoud die without lawful issue, in which case it is my will and desire that he shall be equally divided among my daughters Mildred Lancaster, Jerusha, Polly and Zilly Lancaster or to the survivors of them. 8. It is my will & desire after the death of my wife, that the land and plantation lent her be sold, and the profits arising by such sale be equally divided among my forementioned children (to wit): Mildred, Jerusha, Polly & Zilla Lancaster and my grand daughter Eliza C. Bell or the survivors of them or their heirs. 9. It is my desire that my negro man Jack should be sold together with all the rest of my estate which I have not otherwise disposed of either at public or private sale as my Executors hereafter name'd shall see cause, to satisfy all lawful debts against me, and the balance, if any, the one half I lend to my wife during her widowhood after which I give the same to my two daughters Polly & Zilla Lancaster, to them & their heirs forever. The other half I give to my daughters Mildred & Jerusha Lancaster & my grand daughter Eliza C. Bell to them & their heirs forever. 10. I appoint my friend John Guantney guardian for my daughters Jerusha Lancaster without giving security to the court for the performance of the same. I also give him the power to buy at the sale of my estate any thing he shall see, cause and judge necessary for her. 11. I appoint my wife Rebeckah Lancaster guardian for my two daughters Polly & Zilla Lancaster without giving security to the court for the performance of the same. Also I give her the power to buy at the sale of my estate any thing as she shall see, cause and judge necessary for them. 12. I appoint my son in law James P. Bell guardian for my grand daughter Eliza C. Bell without giving security for the performnance of the same. I also give him the power to buy at the sale of my estate any thing as he shall see cause and judge necessary for her. 13. I constitute and appoint my friend John Guattny (Gerathy?) my whole and sole Executor to this my Last Will and Testament utterly revoking & disannulling all other Wills by me made without being obliged to give security for the performance of the same. IN WITNESS whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this twelfth day of March one thousand seven hundred and ninety six. James Lancaster (seal) Signed, seal'd & acknowledged in presence of: James Delk David Davis Herbert Hedge his John X Bryant mark At a Court held for the County of Southampton the 13th day of October 1796 This Will was presented in court by John Gwattney?, the Executor therein named, prov'd by the oaths of James Delk, David Davis and Herbert Hedge, three 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 (the Testator by this Will directing that his Executor shall not be obliged to give security). Sam Kello, Cl.(clerk) Source: Library of Virginia, Will Book 4, 1783-1797 Southampton Co, VA Reel 17, pages 763-765 Note: Paragraphing and some punctuation was added by transcriber for ease in reading. There are no paragraphs in the original. ___________________________________________________________________ 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 ___________________________________________________________________