SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY, VA - WILLS AND ESTATES - Benajmin Ruffin, 12 Jan 1801 --------------¤¤¤¤¤¤-------------- IN THE NAME OF GOD AMEN, I Benjamin Ruffin of the county of Southampton in the state of Virginia do make this my last will and testament in manner and form following: Imprimis: I give and bequeath to my son Joseph Ruffin all my lands which I now live on or may possess at the time of my death, also my negro man Charles and Anthony with all my stock of every kind with crops of cain, wheat, fodder, tobacco, pork, & bacon, also all my plantation utensils with all my house hold and kitchen furniture, except such as may be herein after excepted. I give the above articles to my said son Joseph Ruffin and to his heirs forever, and it is my will and desire that he shall not be accountable for any former gifts. Item: I give to my daughter Sarah Fenn Ruffin my negro woman Charlotte and my negro girls Milly and Easter and their increase, also two feather beds and furniture, one chest of drawers now called hers, one mahogany tea chest, all my tea and table spoons, one woman's saddle and bridle, also all that part of the debts of the United States standing in my name or in the name of my dec'd mother Lucy Ruffin in the books of the continental loan office, I give the above articles to my said daughter Sarah and her heirs forever. But if my said daughter Sarah should die before she arives to the age of twenty one years or without leaving issue of her body lawfully begotten, then my will is that the whole legacy which I have devised to her may revert to my son Joseph Ruffin and to his heirs forever. Item: It is my will and desire that all my negroes may be sold after my death, except such as are herein excepted and the monneys arising from the sale thereof to be equally divided between my son Joseph and my daughter Sarah but should my said daughter Sarah die before she arives at the age of twenty one years or without leaving issue of her body lawfully begotten, then it is my will and desire that her part of the money arising as aforesaid should revert to my son Joseph and to his heirs forever. Item: It is my will and desire that my negro man Tom in consideration of his long and faithful services may have his freedom after my death. Item: It is my will and desire that my negro man York may have his freedom after my death. Item: I appoint my son Joseph Ruffin to be guardian to my daughter Sarah during her minority. Item: My will and desire is that no person may wear black on my account and that there may be no serman at my funerell. Item: My will is that my estate may not be appraised. Item: I constitute and appoint my son Joseph Ruffin to execute this my Last Will hereof? ratifying and confirming this and no other to be my true Last Will. IN TESTIMONY whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal this 12th day of January in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and one. Benjamin Ruffin (seal) Witnesses: Thomas Butts Daniel Stanton Thomas D. Hecth At a Court held for the County of Southampton the 20th day of April 1801 This Will was proved by the oaths of Thomas Butts and Thomas D. Heeth, two of the witnesses thereto and ordered to be recorded. And on the motion of Joseph Ruffin, the Executor therein named, who made oath according to law, Probat is granted him in due form giving security. Whereupon &c&c. Samuel Kello, Cl. (clerk) Source: Library of Virginia, Will Book 5, 1797-1804 Southampton Co, VA Reel 17, pages 251-252 Note: Spelling was not corrected. Paragraphing and some punctuation were added by transcriber for ease in reading. There are no paragraphs in the original. Viz & vizt are abbreviations for videlicet which means "that is to say, namely". ___________________________________________________________________ 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 ___________________________________________________________________