Will of Thomas Cotton - 1779 - Sussex Co.VA

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Will of Thomas Cotton - 1779
(Will Book C, page 318, Sussex Co.VA.)

IN THE NAME OF GOD AMEN I Thomas Cotton of the Parish of Albermarl in
the County of Sussex being aged and infirm but of sound & disposing 
Sence and memory do make and declare this my last Will and Testament in
manner following.
First I bequeath my Soul into the Hands of Almighty God hoping and
believing a remission of my Sins by the Merits & Mediation of Jesus
Christ and my Body I commit to the Earth to be buried at the Discretion
of my Executor herein after mentioned and my worldly Estate I give and
devise as follows after my Debts and funeral charges are paid.
First I give to my Son John Cotton one Shilling current money.
Also I give and bequeath unto my son Thomas Cotton the College Tenament
whereon I now live also one feather Bed and Furniture one Negro Girl
named Amey with her Increase One Negro Boy named Burrel one Negro Boy
named Jemmy one large Chest one large iron Pot & Hooks one small iron
Pot & Hooks one iron Potrack one Plow Hoe one frow two iron Wedges.
Also I give and bequeath unto my Son Nathaniel Cotton one Negro Boy 
named Bob one Negro Girl named Jane one feather Bed and Furniture one
plow Hoe one Iron Potrack one small Chest one small iron Pott.
Also I give unto my Son William Cotton the Use & Labour of my Negro Man
named Absalom during the natural Life of the said William and after the
Decease of said William the said Negro Man Absalom I give unto Wells
Cotton (Son of said William) to him and his Heirs.
Also I give and bequeath unto my Son Richard Cotton one Negro Boy named
Gabriel to him and his Heirs.
Also I give unto my Son David Cotton one feather Bed Also the use &
Labour of my Negro boy named Stephen during the natural Life of said
David and after the Decease of said David the said Negro Boy Stephen I
give unto my Son Thomas Cotton to him and his Heirs.
Also I give unto my Son Isham Cotton one feather Bed.
Also I give unto my Son Drewry Cotton Five Shillings currant money.
Also I give unto my Son Henry Cotton One Negro Boy named Nathan one
feather Bed during the natural Life of the said Henry and after the 
Decease of said Henry the said Negro Boy Nathan and Bed I give unto
Thomas Cotton (Son of Henry) to him & his Heirs.
Also I give and bequeath unto my Sons Thomas and Nathanael my Negro
Woman Hannah with her future Increase.
Also All the rest of my Estate of what Quality soever I give unto my
two Sons Thomas & Nathanael to be equally divided betwixt them.
Lastly I do hereby constitute & appoint my Sons Thomas & Nathanael
Executors of this my last Will & Testament and desire that my Estate
such as it is may not be appraised.
IN WITNESS whereof I have hereunto set my Hand & affixed my Seal this
twenty sixth Day of June Anno Domini One thousand Seven hundred & 
Seventy seven.

Thomas(hisTCmark)Cotton (Seal)

Signd Seal'd and Declared by the said Thomas Cotton as & for his last
Will & Testament in presence of us who in his presence & at his request
subscribed our Names as Witnesses thereto-
John Adkins
Henery Parsons


At a Court held for Sussex County the 18th Day of February 1779.
The last Will & Testament of Thomas Cotton deced. was presented into
Court by Nathaniel Cotton one of the Executors therein named who made
oath thereto as the Law directs & the same was proved by the oaths of
James Adkins & Henry Parsons witnesses thereto & by the Court ordered
to be recorded & on the motion of the said Executor Certificate is
granted him for obtaining a probate thereof in due form.

Teste Will. Claiborne Junr. C.S.C.

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