SOUTHAMPTON COUNTY, VA - WILLS AND ESTATES - Matthew Vick, Sr, 26 Sep 1788 --------------¤¤¤¤¤¤-------------- Wills: Matthew Vick, Sr, Southampton Co, VA (1788) IN THE NAME OF GOD AMEN, I Matthew Vick, Senior of Southampton County and State of Virginia, being sick and weak of body but of sound and disposing mind and memory, thanks be to almighty God for the same and calling to mind the uncertainty of this life and knowing that it is appointed once for all men to die, do make and ordain this my Last Will and Testament in manner and form following: Imprimis: I give and bequeath to my son Simmons Vick the land and its appurtenances that may be above a line to be drawn by Executors herein after named begining where the foot of the three cypress bridge now stands and runing from thence such a course to the back of my line in the hog flash as will in their judgment be the one half of the tract whereon I now live to him and his heirs and assigns forever. Item: I give and bequeath unto my son Kirby Vick the lower and other part of any said land and its appurtenances to him and to his heirs and assigns forever. Item: I lend to my loving wife Sarah Vick during her natural life the use and labor of my negro wench Patience and her children Mason and Peter and after her death, I give the said negro wench Patience and all of her increase to my daughters Milly Porter, Winny Carter, Lydia Vaughan and Isabell Vick to be equally divided between them to them and to their heirs and assigns forever hoping that each of my said daughters will find within themselves the liberty of conscience to set the said negro wench Patience at her own liberty and discharge her from the service of any person whatsoever before she arrives at a period of life to late to make provision for her future support and all of her increase as they may arrive to the age of twenty five years. Item: I give and bequeath unto my sons Council, Matthew and Joseph Vick the sum of ten shillings each having heretofore given them their portions. Item: I leave under the direction and management of my Executors hereafter named the labour of my two negros fellows, Sharper and Simon either for them to be employed on the plantation whereon I now live or to be hired out for the best price that can begot for them from those whom they may choose to live with until their labour shall together with what part of my estate I have directed to be sold and my now outstanding debts be full enoughf and sufficient to pay and discharge all my just debts and the legacies herein contained and assign as that may happen that my said negroes Sharper and Simon immediately be set at liberty and discharged from the service of any person whatsoever and enjoy the benefit of freedom forever afterwards in the same manner as if they had been naturally born free. Item: I give and bequeath unto my son Knowell Vick all the land and appurtenances lying on the south side of Nottoway Swamp, the run to be the lines as I purchased of Hardy Johnson to him and to his heirs and assigns forever. Item: I give and bequeath unto my son Joel Vick all the land and appurtenances lying of the North side of Nottoway Swamp as I purchased of Hardy Johnson to him and his heirs and assigns forever. Item: I leave all rest of my estate of whatever nature or kind soever not herein otherwise given away to be immediately after my death sold at public sale on such credit as my Executors may judge for the best should they not think proper to continue my negro Sharper and Simon on the plantation but in case they should, then they are at free liberty to retain such of the horses, stock of cattle, sheep and hogs and plantation utensils as in their opinion will be sufficient for the purpose of working the said negroes to the best advantage and at the time fixed for their discontinuance to sell in like manner whatever they may have retained and the increase. Item: Should it so happen that my estate directed to be sold and my now outstanding debt should prove sufficient to pay all my just debts and the legacies herein contained and their should remain any surplus, I give such surplus to my sons Knowell, Joel, Simmons and Kirby Vick, to them and to their heirs and assigns forever and that upon such certainty the clause relating to the freedom of my negroes Sharper and Simon immediately have its operation in their favour. Lastly, I constitute and appoint my friends Jesse Vick and Shad Lewis my whole and sole Executors to this my Last Will and Testament revoking and disannulling all former Wills by me heretofor made and calling this and no other to be my Last Will and Testament. IN WITNESS whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this twenty sixth day of September 178 eight. his Matthew X Vick Sr (seal) mark Signed, sealed published and declared in presence of: Joseph Vick Hardy Johnson her Martha Doyel mark At a Court held for the County of Southampton the 9th day of October This Will was proved by the oaths of Henry Johnson and Martha Doyel, two of the witnesses thereto and ordered to be recorded and at a court held for the said County of Southampton the 11th day of December in the motion of Josiah Vick, who made oath according to law, certificate is granted for obtaining letters of administration with the said Will annexed on the estate of the said deceased giving security (the Executors in the said named refusing the burthen of the Execution) thereof whereupon &c. Source: Library of Virginia, Will Book 4, 1783-1797 Southampton Co, VA Reel 17, pages 284-286 Note: Spelling is as shown on original. Paragraphing added by transcriber.for ease in reading. There are no paragraphs 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 ___________________________________________________________________