Will of John Rivers - 1774 - 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 Russell L. Lawrence *********************************************************************** Will of John Rivers - 1774 (Will Book C, page 141, Sussex Co.VA.) In the name of God Amen. I John Rivers of the Parish of Albemarle & County of Sussex being sick & weak but of sound mind & memory do make & ordain this to be my last Will & Testament in manner and form as followeth Viz't. First & princially I give my Soul to Almighty God who gave it to me in Humble hopes of a joyful Resurrection through the imputation of the righteousness of my Blessed Saviour the Lord Jesus Christ exclusive of my merits or deservings of my own, and my Body to the Earth from whence it came, and as touching worldly Estate wherewith it hath pleased Almighty God to Bless me I Bestow in manner and form as followeth. First I desire that my Executors hereafter named may dispose of such part of my Estate as they shall think most proper for the discharging of my debts and Funeral Expences. Item. I lend unto my Loveing wife during her natural Life one Negro Girl called Dilea also one third part of the remainder of my Estate during the said term and after her decease I desire what remaineth thereof may be equally divided between my six children named William Harper Frances Mildred Huldah & Hannah I also Lend unto my said wife the whole use of my Land & plantation whereon I now live so long as she shall make use of it as her settled home, but in case my said wife should remove therefrom or die then it is my desire that my Executors should make sale thereof and the money arising thereby I desire may be equally divided among my children as above mentioned. Item. As for the remainder of my Estate I desire it may remain the hands of my Executors to be improved in a manner as they shall think best and of necessity require the profits thereof to be applied to the support of any of my said children that they shall think most kneedy until such time as my said children shall arrive to the age of twenty _____ years or marriage, at which time I desire my said Executors may pay each child his equal proportion of the said remaining part of my Estate as well as of the profits that may arise therefrom at the time of the said childs arriving to the above said age or marriage I also leave the care of my said Children until they shall arrive to the above age to my Executors hereafter named leaving them the same power to provide for their bringing up as if I myself were present. Lastly. I leave my well Beloved Friends & Brothers namely William Harper John Harper Thomas Rivers Thomas Saunders & James Bell whole & sole Executors of this my last Will & Testament Ratifying & confirming this and no other to be my said last Will & Testament. In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my Seal this seventeenth day of April in the year of our Lord Christ one thousand and seven hundred and seventy three. John Rivers (Seal) Signed & Sealed published & declared to be the last Will & Testament of the said testator in presence of.- Philip Burrow Thomas Butler Thomas Butler Jun'r. At a Court held for Sussex County the 20th day of October 1774. The within written last Will & Testament of John Rivers Deceased was presented into Court by James Bell one of the Executors therein named who made oath thereto according to Law and the same was proved by the oaths of Thomas Butler & Thomas Butler Jun'r. two of the witnesses thereto and by the Court ordered to be Recorded. And on the motion of the said Executor certificate is granted him for obtaining a probate thereof in due form. Test A. Claiborne CSC -----------------------------------------------------------