applied as assist in the hands of my Exors for purposes hereafter mentioned - It is my will and desire that Jemimah Sorsberry to live on my plantation during her single life or as long as my wife lives or her brother Henry to whom I shall hereafter direct to take the possession of my Estate lent to my wife if the said Henry shall survive her ---- ---- ---- -- The above writing was wrote by the subscriber at the request of Thomas Gilliam decd at his own house on Friday the 27th day of September 1793 the matter & substance was penned down from his own words and after being wrote was distinctly read to him to all which he assented except the preamble which was not read to him Attest M Bailey To the worshipful Court of Southampton County These may Certify that we the subscribers have no objection but a desire that the wrighting which was wrote by Mical Bailey previous to the death of Thos Gilliam decd to be the last will of Thos decd and that the same be admitted to record & Confirmed as the last will & testament of the said Thos Gilliam decd upon the testimony as will be offered you by the said Mical Bailey & Henry Sorsberry Witness our hands this 14 day of Nov 1793 John Simmons Senr Robert Tucker Levy Rochell John Rochell Peter Simmons William Butts Thos Gilliam To the worshipful Court of Sᵒton County. These may certify that I decline taking the administration on the Estate of my decd husband Thos Gilliam decd. Witness my hand this 10th day of December 1793: her her Mary + Sorsberry Cala X Gilliam mark mark Henry Sorsberry At a Court held for the County of Sᵒton the 12 day of December 1793 This writing purporting the last will & testament of Thomas Gilliam Senr decd was this day presented in court whereupon Michael Bailey & Henry Sorsberry being sworn depos'd that the said writing was wrote by the said Michael Bailey at the request of Thomas Gilliam Senr decd at his own house on Friday the 27th day of Sept 1793 The matter & Substance was penn'd down from his own words & after being wrote & distinctly read to him he assented to all Except the preamble which was not read to him On consideration whereof it is the opinion of the court the same be recorded. ---- And on the motion of Certificate is granted him for obtaining letters of Thomas Gilliam junr who made oath according to Law ^ Admin with the Will Annex'd On the Estate of the decedent giving Security whereupon &c. Sam Kello, Cl. ========================================================================================== In the left margin: Joshua Gardner Will In the Name of God Amen I Joshua Gardner of Sᵒton County Virga being perfect health and sound in mind & memory and calling to mind the Mortality of my Body and knowing it is appointed for all to die do make and ordain this my last will and testament in manner & form following Principally & first I recommend my soul into hands of Almighty God who gave it & my body to Earth to be entered decently at the discretion of my Exors & touching such worldly Estate as it hath pleas;d God to bless me with, I Give in the following manner Item: I give unto my loving wife Ann Gardner text Neg. (to wit) cesar, Peter, Sam, Pat, Hannah and Lucy during her natural life to raise & school my children on and after her death the above names Neg. to be equally divided amongst all my surviving Children Henry, Jno, James, Jesse, Ann, Betsy ---- Rhoda, Polly D & Peggy Gardner to them and their heirs forever Item: I give unto my son Henry Gardner the lamb with the appurtenances that I brought of Moses Darden lying on Cedar Swamp containing One hundred & seventeen acres & One hundred acres lying on the east side of Cypress swamp. also one neg. boy name Arthur to him and his heirs forever Item: I give unto my son Jno Gardner the land I bought of Moses Darden lying on the Cypress Swamp as follows one tract of land containing two hundred & sixth nine acres lying on both sides of the said swamp and one track adjacent thereto lying on sᵈ swamp containing fifty three acres with the appurtenances, Also my will and desire is to have a house built on the sᵈ track of land twenty eight feet by sixteen with a partition through it one half plank floor and the other half dirt one chimney at each end, to be built out of the estate left my wife Also ome negro boy named Andrew One Bed and Furniture one Chest, two black walnut chairs & two maple ditto, one dish one bason for Pewter plates & three spoons & three earthern plates, one iron pot, one horse bridal and saddle two cows and calves three sows & piggs five ewes and lambs to him and his heirs forever Item: I give unto my son James Gardner the plantation & land I now live on allowing my wife free privilege on the same during her life also one cyder still planted on the said land One bed & furniture, one black walnut desk six leather chairs, one dish one bason, four pewter plates & three spoons and three earthern plates one iron pot, one Negro boy nam'd Will two Cows & calves three sows and piggs five ewes & Lambs to him and his heirs for ever Item: I give unto my son Jesse Gardner one track of land I bought of Matthew Jones lying on the south side of Blackwater Beginning at the mouth of the Cyder Swamp thence up the various courses of the said swap to John McCabes line best down the said line line to Blackwater thence down the same to the beginning containing fourth acres more or less One Negro man name Pompey (I desire at my death) to be hired until he said child becomes of lawful age and in the money arising therefrom the bee appropriated to the use of the said child do school him &c. And after he becomes of lawful age to take the sᵈ man in possession forever: also one negro girl named Amy one bed & furniture one chest two black Walnut chairs two maple ditto one dish, one bason, four pewter plates three spoons & three earthern plates, One iron Pot 1 horse bridle & saddle 2 cows & calves 3 sows & Piggs 5 ewes & lambs, to him and his heirs forever And in case either of the brothers should die under age my desire is that is Land should be equally divided amongst his other brothers then alive - Item: I give unto my daughter Ann Jones one Neg. Girl nam'd Rose to her during her life and after her death to all her children then alive to them and their heirs forever Item I give onto my daughter Betsy Carr one neg girl named Patience to her and her heirs forever I give unto my daughter Rhoda Gardener one negro girl names Sciley one bed & furniture One woolen wheel One Chest two black walnut chairs two maple ditto one One Dish one bason One bason one iron pot four pewter plates three spoons and three Earthern Plates one womans saddle, two cows & calves three sows & piggs five ewes & lambs to her and her heirs forever Item: I unto my daughter Polly Darden Gardner one negro girl named Millie & twelve pounds current money of Virginia one bed & furniture one woolen wheel one Chest two black walnut chairs two maple ditto one dish one bason four pewter plates three spoons & earthern plates one Iron Pot one womans saddle two calves & calves three sows & piggs five ewes & lambs to her and her heirs forever I give unto my daughter Peggy Gardner one negro girl name China One bed and furniture One Chest two black Walnut Chairs two Maple ditto one Woolen wheel one dish one bason four pewter plates three spoons & three Earthern plates one Iron Pot one womans saddle two cows and calves three sows & piggs five ewes & lambs to her and her heirs forever. And in case either of the daughters should die without lawful issue my will and desire is that her legacy should be equally divided amongst my children than alive -- I give unto my loving wife Ann Gardner for use of my plantation and land whereon I now live and all the residue of my estate of what kind or quality whatsoever during her natural life my will and desire is my estate may be kept together with my wife until my Children Severally comes of age to receive their legacies as above mention'd and my desire is my Estate may not be appraised but only an Inventory return'd - I hearby nominate and appoint my wife Ann Gardner executrix and my son Henry Gardner executor to this my last will and testament revoking all of the wills by me before made Ratifying this and no other to be my last will and Testament In Witness whereof I have set my hand and I affix'd my seal this 4 day of February 1793 Signed Sealed & pronounc'd } in the presence of } Joshua Gardner (seal) Jacob Darden Senr } Jacob Darden Jur } Jonathan Darden } At a Court held for the County of Southampton on 12 day of December 1793 This Will was presented in Court by Ann Gardner & Henry Gardner the Exors therein named and prov'd by the oaths of Jacob Darden Senr & Jacob Darden Jur two of the witnesses thereto and Ordered to be recorded And on the Motion of the said Executors who made oath according to law Certificate is granted them for obtaining a probat thereof in due form giving Security whereupon &c Sam Kello ========================================================================================== In the left margin: Pretlow Mary Will I Mary Pretlow of Southampton County being sound in mind & memory do hereby make and ordain this to be my last will & testament in manner & form following (viz): First, I give and bequeath to Ann Ricks, wife of Robert, ten pounds cash. Second, I give & bequeath to Rebeccah Hunnecutt, widow of James Hunnecutt, deceased, ten pounds cash. Third, I give and bequeath to Sarah Bailey, wife of Samuel Bailey, ten pounds. Fourth, I give & bequeath to the monthly meeting of friends at Black Water ten pounds. Fifth, I give and bequeath to Barnaby Micon of Prince George County ten pounds. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ is to be considered and it is the meaning and intent that they shall receive and be intitled to know more than one of my own children share and taken as one legatee? to them their heirs and assigns forever. - Item: I give and bequeath and it is my will & desire that the remainder of my estate of what nature or kind soever that I have not before devis'd away be after my death equally divided, to wit: neg. young Nann, Ned, Tom, Easter & Patience & all the residue between the same of my children & grand children and under the same direction & meaning as the estate given my wife after her death is to be divided amongst to them their heirs and assigns forever - Lastly, it is my will and desire that my three friends Joshua Gardner Sr, John Carr and Henry Gardner will after my death take so much upon themselves as to state? divide and settle the whole of my estate whenever such division shall happen if the same within their power lies between the persons intitled to receive the same and further I appoint my loving wife Sarah Gardner, my brother Joshua Gardner & my son Jesse Gardner my whole and sole Executors to this my Last Will & Testament revoking & disannulling all former Will or Wills by be hitherto made allowing this and no other to be my Last Will and Testament. In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affix'd my seal this 23 day of August 1784. Sign'd, seal'd, publish'd and declared his in presence of us: James X Gardner (seal) Joshua Gardner mark John Carr } Matthew Gardner} At a Court held for the County of So.ton the 12th day of December 1793 This Henry Gardner } will was presented in court by Jesse Gardner, one of the Executors there in named & prov'd by the oath of Matthew Gardner & Henry Gardner, 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. Sam Kello, Cl.