John Morgan Will-1781 - Sussex Co., VA ************************************************************************ USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. ************************************************************************ Contributed by Helen Pate Ross ************************************************************* Sussex County Virginia Will Book C page 420 & 421 IN THE NAME OF GOD AMEN, I JOHN MORGAN being of perfect health & memory thanks be to God but remembering that we must at some time depart this life and thinking proper to make my Will to settle my affairs to prevent any disputs amongst my ---Children after my death, do make this my last Will and testamentin manner following, I commit my soul to the hands of Almighty God that gave it me and my body the earth to be decently buried and as to my worldly goods I dispose of them in the following manner. INPRIMIS, I give and bequeath unto my beloved son MATTHEW MARGAN all my land and plantation is herein I now live containing by estimation one hundred and seventy six acres be it more or less lying in the countys of Sussex and Southampton, also my Still and grindstone on the plantation I also give to said son my MIll and the land thereunto belonging all which I give to my said son to him and his heirs forever. ITEM, I give and bequeath unto my beloved son JOHN MORGAN (alias JOHN MARTIN) all that part of my land lying in Southampton County on the South side of Rawling's road which Is conveyed and a _____ a patent for containing by estimeation one hundred and seventy five acres be the same more or less and in case my said son JOHN MORGAN should died with any child living or without Will, then I give the said land to my son KINCHEN MORGAN (alias KINCHEN FELTS) and his heirs but in case my said son shall have a child a live at his death or Wills the same to any other person then I give it to him and his heirs and assigns forever, ITEM, I give & bequeath unto my beloved son PHILLIP MORGAN (alias PHILLIP FELTS) son of my last Wife all that tract or parcel of land lying in Sussex and Southampton and on the North side of Rawlilngs road it being the land bought of VAUGHN AMMON and is case my said so should not have any child alive at his death, I then give it my son KENCHEN MORGAN (alias KENCHEN FELTS , brother to the said PHILLIP ) to him and his heirs but in case my said son PHILLIP should have a child at his death then I give to him the said PHILLIP his heirs and assigns. ITEM, I give and bequeath unto my beloved daughter AMY MORGAN (alias AMY FELTS), my negroe girl Jugg also one other that was called her Mothers to her heirs and assigns ITEM, I give and bequeath unto my beloved daughter ALSE MORGAN (alias ALSE FELTS), one negro girl called Hannah, also one bed and furniture, the bed I sleep on , also two trunks called hers with whatever befound in them at my death. ITEM, I give and bequeath unto my beloved daughter SARAH MORGAN (alias SARAH FELTS), one feather bed and furniture, Six pewter plates call hers, one iron pot next to the larges and one chest called hers. ITEM, I give to my two sons KINCHEN MORGAN and NATHANIEL MORGAN alias KINCHEN & NATHANIEL FELTS my set of Black Smith tools to be delivered to them when the eldest of the shall arrive to the age of Eighteen years and until that time I lend the said to be continued in the shop they are now in to my son MATTHEW MORGAN and PHILLIP MORGAN alias PHILLIP FELTS to be used as they may think best to their advantage. ITEM, It is my Will and desire that my three friends LEWIS THORP, WILLIAM LONGBOTTOM and LITTLEBERRY MASON settle the value of my Joyners, Carpenters, Tuners Shoemakers and Coopers Tools and after so setting the value thereof to divide them amongst my sons MATTHEW MORGAN, JOHN MORGAN alias JOHN MARTIN, PHILLIP, KINCHEN and NATHANIEL MORGAN alias PHILLIP, KINCHEN and NATHANIEL FELTS by having regard to seniority in choice and the difference in price to be paid by them that shall have the tools of the most value -- The Crops, cut saw and Whipsaw and broad axe to be placed in the set of tools as my friends may think best and in case either of my friends should died or refuse to value the things desired by my Will then the two that will act have a right to chose another or more if they thing proper. ITEM, It is my Will and desire that after my friends shall have made an equal division of my Estate as equally as they can they then the rest shall be sold be it of what kind so ever and the money arising from such sale to be equally divided amonst all my children to wit, MATTHEW MORGAN, JOHN MORGAN, CELIA MORGAN ( alias JOHN MARTIN and CELIA MARTIN, PHILLIP MORGAN, KINCHEN MORGAN, NATHAIEL MORGAN, ALSE MORGAN, SARAH MORGAN and AMY MORGAN alias, PHILLIP, KINCHEN, NATHANIEL, SARAH, ALSE and AMY FELTS, to them and each of them and their heirs and it's my desire that my daughter MEDIA IVEY, have an equal part with the rest of my children above named. LASTLY, I do nominate & appoint my beloved son MATTHEW MORGAN , WILLIAM LONGBOTTOM,LEWIS THORP and LITTLEBERRY MASON Executors of this my last Will and Testament making the and no othe to be my last Will and Testament--- In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand an seal this 14th day of April 1781. Sealed and acknowledged in his presence of ---- JOHN _ MORGAN LITTLEBERRY MASON mark JOHN PATE WILLIAM GRIZZARD At a Court for Sessex County the 16th day of August 1781 The last Will and testamen of JOHN MORGAN dec'd was exhibited in Court by MATTHEW MORGAN one of the Executors therein named proved by the oaths of LITTLEBERRY MASON & JOHN PATE two of the witnesses thereto and ordered to be recorded & on the motion of the said Executor who made oath according to Law certificate allowed for obtainin a probate thereof in due form be giving Bond with JOHN AVENT and RICHARD MASONS his security in the penalty of Five hundred thousand pounds at the next court Teste JOHN COCKE CSC At Court held for Sussex County the 18th day of October 1781 MATTHEW MORGAN with JOH AVENT & JOHN SLEDGE his security approved by the Court entered into law Their Bond in te penalty of one million pounds conditioned as the law directs, wherepon certificate granted the said MORGAN, for obtaining a probate of the Testor JOHN MORGAN Will in due form Teste JOHN COCKE C C