SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY, VA - WILLS AND ESTATES - Moses Thorpe, 1 Dec 1786 --------------¤¤¤¤¤¤-------------- Wills: Moses Thorpe, Southampton Co, VA (1790) IN THE NAME OF GOD AMEN I Moses Thorpe of the County of Southampton being of sound mind and memory do make and ordain this to be my last will and testament as follows Viz: Imprimis: After my funeral expences are defrayed and my just debts are paid, I dispose of the remainder part of my worldly goods as follows (to wit): Item: I give to my loving wife during her natural life or widowhood the use of one third part of my land whereon I now live to her & heirs and the other two thirds to my son John Thorpe in consideration that he will settle and live on the same, also two thirds of my orchard and still and the other one third I give to my wife during her natural life but if my son John Thorp refuses to settle on the said land aforementioned, I give the use thereof with the orchard and still to my wife during her natural life or widowhood and after her death my desire and my will is that all my said tract of land may be sold to the highest bidder and that the money arising from the said sale to be divided as follows: one half thereof to my son John Thorpe if he lives after the death of my wife, but if he should die before my wife, my will is that this son Aaron Thorpe should heir? the said abovementioned money and the other two thirds of the money arising from said sale of land I will that it may be equally divided between my two daughters, to wit: to Elizabeth Harris and Sarah Briggs Thorpe. I also give to my said wife during her natural life one negro man named Will and after her decease to be equally divided between my three children above named also one negro woman named Sarah and after her decease to my daughter Sarah Briggs Thorp and if my daughter Sarah Briggs Thorpe should die without lawfull issue my will is that the said negro woman Sarah be equally divided between my other two aforenamed children; also I give to my wife five head of cattle to her choice, fifteen head of hoggs to her choice, fifteen barrels of corn, two ewes and lambs to her choice, and all the household and kitchen furniture I had togher (together?) at my marriage with her, also two beds and furniture during her natural life and after her decease, to my daughter Sarah Briggs Thorp; also the use of all the new feathers in the house to make a third bed till my said daughter marries or comes of age to possess it, then to be given to my said daughter Sarah Briggs Thorp; also I give to my wife my old black mare and my gray mare; also one frying pan and one pott and six table spoons. Item: I give and bequeath to my daughter Elizabeth Harris one mulatto girl named Sarah till Moses Harris two sons come of age then to said sons, & if the die without issue to return to Elizabeth Harris; one boy named Reddick during her natural life and after her death to Moses Harris's two sons if she has no other issue and if Moses Harrises two sons die without lawfull heir, then the said negro Reddick to be equally divided between my son John Thorpe and my daughter Sarah Briggs Thorp. I also give my daughter Elizabeth Harriss one negro boy named Tarlton and one negro woman named Venus during her natural life and if she has no other issue after decease to be divided between Moses Harris's two sons and Fellasses Harriss two sons should die without lawfull heir then the said Tarlton and Venus to be equally divided between my son John Thorpe and my daughter Sarah Briggs Thorpe. I also give my daughter Elizabeth Harris one bed and furniture. Item: I give and bequeath to my son John Thorpe the tract of land lying in North Carolina whereon he now lives to him and his heirs forever. I also give to my son John Thorpe one negro man named Mark to him and his heirs forever; also I lend my said son one negro man named Byrd during his natural life and after his decease to be equally divided amongst his then surviving children. I also lend him one negro boy named Ben during his natural life and after his decease to be equally divided amongst his then surviving children; also one negro woman named Susannah during his natural life and after his decease to be equally divided between his then surviving children; also a negro girl named Lucy which I bought of Benjamin Barham; also one bed and furniture in English pounds. Item: I give and bequeath to my daughter Sarah Briggs Thorp three negroes as follows: Sam, Tom and Penny to her and her heirs lawfully begotten of her body and if she dies without such lawfull heir then the said negroes to be equally divided between my son John Thorp and my daughter Elizabeth Harris. I also give my daughter Sarah Briggs Thorpe my black filley, one woman saddle and bridle to her & her heirs forever; also twelve pounds current money of Virginia. Item: I give and bequeath unto Jordin Bass, son of Tabitha Bass one negro boy named Wallice to him and his heirs forever. And lastly, I do constitute and appoint my son John Thorpe, Se..in? (Lewis?) Thorpe and John Williamson to be the Executors of this my Last Will and Testament. IN WITNESS whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this 1st day of December 1786. Moses Thorp (seal) Sign'd, seal'd and acknowledged in presence of: Mike Ivey John Williamson I also acknowledge the alteration in the clause of the within Will relating to my son John Thorp legacy and also the interlining of the same as witness my hand and seal this 7th day of January 1788. Moses Thorp (seal) In presence of: John Williamson his Charles X Southward mark At a Court held for the County of Southampton the 10th day of January 1790 This Will was presented in Court by John Thorp, the Executor therein named, proved by the oaths of Mike Ivy and John Williamson, witnesses thereto and ordered to be recorded and on the motion of the said Executor, who made oath according to law, certificate is given to 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 366-369 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 ___________________________________________________________________