I give the aforesaid land and also the following negroes: Peter, Aggai, Lewis and Chloe and after the death of my wife, a negro woman Amy to him and his heirs forever - I give to my son Thomas a tract of land I purchased of Anthony Colthorp containing by estimation four hundred acres and bounded as is expressed in the deed, also the following negroes: Tad, Judy, York and Berico and after the death of his mother, a negro woman Rachel to him and his heirs forever - I give to my son Edwin after the death of my wife, four hundred acres of land more or less with water grist mill, a still and the following negroes: Ben, Anthony, Moses and Dick and Frank to him and his heirs forever the negroes except Frank he is to possess immediately and Frank after the Seath of his mother - I give to my son Henry two hundred and fifty acres of land to be laid of by the following bounds begining [sic] at a hickory on Benjamin Ruffins line near the road where it crosses the Town Branch thence up the said Town Branch to the mouth of Loggins Branch thence up Loggins branch to the mouth of a miry branch thence up the said branch to the head thence along a strait line to the reedy branch to be laid off so as to in- clude the said two hundred and fifty acres thence down the reedy branch to Benjamin Ruffins line thence along the said line to the begining [sic]; also the following negroes Jess, Abram and Tom, and after the death of my wife, Sam and Moll with her future increase from this day to him and his heirs forever - I give to my daughter Mary the following negroes Edy, Mary, Sarah and James, also a boy Filley to her and her heirs forever. I give unto my wife the use of the plantation (together with a water grist mill and still, four hundred acres whereon I now live during her life or until my sons Joseph, Thomas and Edwin shall build a house as will be hereafter directed on the land herein given to my son Henry and then she may take choice on which tract she will reside either of them she is to have during her life; also the use and labour of the following slaves: Frank Sam Moll, Rachel and Angie. It is my desire that my said wife do retain for her use during her life so much of my stock of all kinds so much of my household furniture kitchen and plantation utensils as she chooses and that she make an equitable division of the surplus amongst all my children or she may direct the sale of it for the payment of my debts as her prudence may suggest - I give to my wife also a post chaise and harness to her and her assigns forever - As I consider the lands given my three oldest sons are of more value than the tract given to my son Henry I desire the said three sons to build, at their equal joint expense a dwelling house twenty feet by sixteen with a ten foot shed, up stairs, and to be finished in a plain workmanlike manner with two back chimneys and plaistered [page break] and white washed and a kitchen twelve and fifteen with a back chimney, also a smoke house. And whereas some years ago I jointly, with my brother James Gray, purchased several tracts of land in the County of Nansemond on one of the said tracts we have created at our joint and equal expense a saw and grist mill and other valuable building and whereas a tract of land purchased by us of Wills Cowper and Coy was conveyed to me alone and whereas I gave my said brother my bond for the conveyance of an equal dividend of the said tract and no bonds or division having been agreed on between us. I do hereby impower my executors when such division is agreed on or made to convey one moiety of the said tract unto my said Brother or to his assign to Join him in the sale of all the property we jointly hold in the said County of Nansemond - And for the payment of my debts I do hereby direct my Executors to sell my proportion of lands and all my interest in the saw and grist mill which I hold jointly with my brother James and they are hereby fully impowered and authorised to convey the same to any purchaser or purchasers - and whereas there are since the joint purchase of the lands as above expressed various expenditures of money both by my brother and myself and the accounts of which have not been bequeath- ed or settled and as I conceive them to be very complicated and perplexed and having the fullest confidence of the integrity and Justice of my said brother, I desire that his settlement of the expences [sic] may be admitted and passed by my Executors and the court without the formality of an oath - And lastly, I do hereby constitute and appoint my brother James Gray, my sons Joseph Thomas and Edwin and my friend Daniel Simmons Executors of this my Last Will and Testament recommending to them in a particular manner the education of my little son Henry - In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this twenty third day of September in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty eight. Signed sealed ratified published and declared by the Testator as his last will and testament Benja Ruffin Benja Ruffin junr Edwin Gray Samuel Kello At a Court held for the County of Southampton the day of June 1790 This Will was presented in Court by Edwin Gray, the Executor therein named, proved by the oath of Samuel Kello one of the witnesses thereto, and cond and at a court held for the said County of Southampton the 11th day of October 1790 this Will was further proved - [page break] of Beryl Ruffin, another witness thereto and having been before proved by the other witness is 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 -