In the Name of God Amen, I Elisha Darden of Southampton County Virginia being in low state of health at present but thanks be to God sound in mind and memory and calling to mind the mortality of my body do make and ordain this my last will and testament in manner and form following, viz First I desire that all my just debts be paid and in order thereto do leave all my Stock in trade and such other of my personal estate of any kind / the fishery excepted / as my Executors hereafter named shall advise or think can best be spard / agreeable to the intention and meaning of this Will to be sold for twelve months credit Bonds taken to bear Interest from Date if not punctually paid and should it be so that the above together with my bonds Notes accounts and Mortgages, should not be sufficient to discharge my debts I desire that no more of my personal estate may be sold. but do leave in the power of my Executors and do hereby impower them and each of them to sell such Negro or Negroes either male or female that are not named in this Will for twelve months credit/bonds taken as above to raise a sufficiency of money for the above purpose. Item: I leave to my loving wife Pheribe Darden the use of all my lands & appurtenances until January 1791 and afterwards full liberty to get fire wood or timber for plantation use in the Cypress Swamp land during her life in widowhood further after the above mentioned period I leave to my said loving Wife the use of my plantation and lands adjoining with the appurtenances/on her giving my son Jacob Darden the lower part of the plantation which lies on the marsh over the branch and below the lane to his own use without interruption during her life in widowhood, and in case she should Marry I then leave her only the use of one third part of Plantation lands adjoining and appurtenances during her natural life. --- Continues on Page 320 Item: I give to my son Jacob Darden all my lands plantation and appurtenances which lies in Southampton County one Negro Boy named Toney and one bed and furniture to him and his heirs forever Item: I desire that my son Jonah Darden may be schooled till he is fourteen years old, at every convenient opportunity and then bound to learn the trades of a house Carpenter and Shop Joyner and on my said Son Jonah coming to the age of Twenty one years. I give unto him my two lots in Murfreesborough [sic] on Meherrin River, and one Negro boy / or rather Mulattoe / named Will & Sett or Setts of tools suitable to his trades to him and his heirs. Item: I lend to my daughter Sally Barnes one Negro Girl named Rose for and during her natural life and after her decease I give the said Negro Girl Rose and increase if any to all the Children of the said Sally Barnes then living to them and their heirs Item: I lend to my Daughter Esther Darden one Negro Girl named Sarah for and during her natural life and after her decease I give the said Negro Sarah and increase if any to all the Children of the said Esther Darden then liveing [sic] to them & their heirs Item: I lend to my Daughter Betsey Darden one Negro Girl named Lucy to be delivered to her on her marrying or coming to the age of Twenty one years for and during her natural life and after her decease I give the said Negro Lucey and increase if any to all the children of the said Betsey Darden lawfully begotten of her body then living to them and their heirs. I likewise give to my siad daughter Betsey Darden on her marrying or coming to the aforesaid age of twenty one years. Two cows and calves one chest one trunk and one bed and furniture to her own disposal. Item: I leave all the residue of my estate of any kind or quality whatsoever to be kept and continued together with my wife during her life in widowhood for the purpose of schooling and raising my young children but in case she should Marry I leave her the use of three Negroes (to wit) Daniel Selah and Cherry during her natural life and give unto her ten pounds cash to raised out of my estate to her and her disposal and the residue I desire may be equally divided Between and amongst three of my children (to wit) my son Jonas and my two daughters Clotilda and Milley and after my wife decease I give to my said three Young Children the three Negroes Daniel Selah and Cherry and increase to them and their heirs / an equal division. / Item: I desire my estate may not be appraised only Inventory returned. Lastly: I hereby nominate and appoint my Son Jacob Darden and my trusty friends John Bowers and David Barron Executors to this my Last Will and testament revoking & disannulling all other Wills by me heretofore made ratifying and confirming this and no other to be my last Will and Testament In Witness whereof I the said Elisha Darden, have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this 3rd day of December 1788. Signed, sealed, published and pronounced } Elisha Darden (seal) in presence of } James Loggins Charles Hedgpeth Polly Glover Continues on Page 320 At a Court held for the County of Southampton this 9th day of July 1789 This Will was presented in Court by Jacob Darden the Executor therein named proved by the oaths of James Loggins and Charles Hedgpeth two of the witnesses thereto and ordered to be recorded and on the motion of the said Executor who made oath according to law Certificate is granted him for obtaining a Probat thereof in due form giving security whereupon &c. ========================================================================================== -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------> [In the left margin] Daniel Hines Inv & Appt An inventory and Appraisement of Daniel Hines Estate taken 21st March 1789 ========================================================================================== ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ [In the left margin] Vicks Will In the Name of God amen I Richard Vick of the Parish of Nottoway and County of Southampton being weak in body but san of sound and perfect sense and memory do make and ordain this writing as and for my last will and testament and manner that is to say ~ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Source: Southampton County Will Book 4, 1783-1797 pages 319-321