Will of Edward Champion Travis, 1779, York Co. VA photocopy from the York County Courthouse, transcribed by Sue Musette, July 1999, In the name of God Amen. I Edward Champion Travis of the Parish of Bruton in the County of York, being of sound and disposing mind and memory, but knowing it appointed for all men to die, do make and Ordain this my last Will & Testament in manner & form following - First I give and Devise to my son Champion Travis all my Lands and Tenements with the Appurtenances lying and being in the County of James City to my said son Champion and to his Heirs forever, he my said son Champion paying or causing to be paid to Joseph Smith the Legacy of two hundred and sixty two pounds, ten shillings Current money, being so much due to me for the land I purchased of Turner Henley -- Item I give devise and bequeath unto my son Edward Travis and to his heirs and Assigns forever all my Lands and Tenements with the Appurtenances lying and being in the Counties of Brunswick and Surry -- Item I give devise and bequeath to my son John Travis and to his heirs and Assigns forever my Tract or parcel of land lying and being in the Parish of Bruton and County of York whereon I now live, called Timson's Neck, containing in the whole five hundred and eighty seven Acres more or less 480 whereof I purchased of Orlando Jones Volhers[?] and were conveyed to me by Deed or Deeds recorded in York and the General Court and 107 Acres the residue thereof I purchased of Doctor James Carter and are conveyed me by Deeds recorded in York Court - I also give and devise to my said son John my Lot of land in the town of Portsmouth to him and his heirs forever - I also give to my said son John the following negro slaves, to wit, Moses, Aaron, Isham, being three of Cuba's children, Sylvia and her children, Sukey, Jenny and Nat three of Jenny's children, Jacob the child of Priscilla, Indy, Dick, Rowland, Nero, Bitty and her children, together with all the stocks of Horses, Cattle, Sheep and hogs on the plantation herein before divided to him, and all the household and kitchen furniture and implements of Husbandry which may be on the plantation at the time of my Death, also the Crops made or unmade which shall then be on the same land -- Item I give and bequeath to my said son John Travis one thousand pounds Current money - Item I give and bequeath unto my daughter Susanna Hutchings Armistead two thousand pounds Current money including therein five hundred pounds already advanced her - Item My Will and desire is, that in case my son John shall die before he comes of Age or marries, that then his slaves and personal Estate shall be equally divided among my surviving Children - It is also my Will that the Guardian of my said Son may dispose of any part of the personal Estate of my said son which he shall think will be for his Advantage - Item I give and bequeath to my Daughter Susanna Hutchings Armistead my silver cup purchased of William Drummond, my Gold Watch, her Mother’s dressing table, and a bed bedstead and furniture - I give the remainder of my plate to my son Champion he paying to his Brothers & Sister when they shall respectively come of Age the sum of fifty pounds each - Item I give and bequeath unto Joseph Smith son of Elizabeth Smith of James City Parish when he arrives to the Age of twenty one years or shall be married, two hundred and sixty two pounds ten shillings, being the sum I have directed my son Champion to pay: and also the further sum of three hundred and thirty seven pounds, ten shillings to be paid out of my Estate; the Interest to be laid out yearly in the said Joseph’s maintenance and schooling; but if her should depart his life under Age, the Legacies aforesaid given him are to be equally divided among my Children who may then be alive - I do also direct that the above sums of money remain in my son Champion’s hands for the purposes above mentioned, and I request he will see the said Joseph properly schooled and clothed and when he is of a proper Age, hand out to some usefull Trade to be made choice of by the said Joseph - Item I give, devise and bequeath all the rest of my slaves, not herein before devised, to be equally divided between my two sons Champion and Edward and their Heirs forever; and that all the rest and residue of my personal Estate, not yet disposed of, be also equally divided between my two said sons, after all the Legacies aforesaid are paid and satisfied and in the description of the rest of my Personal Estate, I mean to include the Bonds given me by my said sons Champion and Edward, the Intention of which will appear from the Certificates and Indorsements thereon - By all the rest of my slaves, I mean as well as those I now possess or own, and have not already devised, as their future Increase to the time of my Death - Lastly, I do constitute, nominate, and appoint my son Champion Travis, Executor of this my last Will and Testament and my friend John Tazewell Guardian to my son John - In Witness thereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal, this fifteenth day of December in the year of our lord, one thousand, seven hundred and seventy eight Edward C Travis Signed, sealed, published and declared by the Testator as ___ for his last Will and Testament in presence of us who at his request have subscribed our names as witnesses John Tazewell Charles Orrell James Hill Jno P__ Posey Since the above Will was wrote I find I have given my two eldest sons a much greater number of negroes than I have given to my son John, and in order that Justice should be done to all my Children I therefore give and bequeath to my son John Travis the following - Negroes, exclusive of those already given in my aforesaid Will as follows, Moses a negro ladd I bought of Capt. Alexander Walker, Old Ben & Sarah his wife & Daphney the cook to him and his Heirs forever As Witness my hand this 22nd March 1779 Test J.M. Galt Edward C Travis At a Court held for York County the 20th Day of September 1779 This Will was proved according to law by the oaths of Charles Orrell and James Hill Witnesses thereto & the Codicil was also proved by the Oath of John Minson Galt the Witness thereto & Ordered to be Recorded. And on the Motion of Champion Travis the Executor therein named who made Oath thereto and together with James Southall & Edward Travis his Securities ___unto and acknowledged Bond as the Law directs Certificate was granted him for obtaining a Probat in due form Teste Thos. E___ Submitted by Sue Musette **************************************************************** USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. 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