Person:Joseph Mays (8)

Will Transcript

Will of Joseph Mays

In the name of God amen. I Joseph Mays of Amherst County and state of Virginia being of sound mind and memory although weak of body and knowing the uncertainty of life make this my last wil and Testament, revoking all my former wills heretofore made, recommending my soul to almighty God the father of Spirits and my body to be buried according to the rites of the church, in hopes of a blessed resurection through the merets of Jesus Christ. My desire is that all my just debts be paid and whatever remains of such worldy substance as God hath pleased to endow me with to be disposed of after my decease in manner and form following.

Item. I give and bequeath to my son John Mays a negro girl named Winney to him and his heirs forever.

Item. I give and bequeath to my son James Mays a negro girl named Moll to him and his heirs forever.

Item. I give and bequeath to my daughter Lydia Mays the wife of James Walters a feather bed and furniture to her and her heirs forever.

Item. I give and bequeath to my sons Joseph Mays and Elijah Mays a tract of land containing three hundred and seventy acres more or less being in the County of Amherst and lying on the waters of Juniper Creek to them and their heirs forever.

Item. I give and bequeath to my daughter Jemima Hollingsworth a negro girl named Patt to her and her heirs forever.

Item. I give and bequeath to my son Jesse Mays the tract of land whereon he now lives containing one hundred and fifty acres (more or less) to him and his heirs forever, also a negro girl named Luck to him and his heirs forever.

Item. I give and bequeath to my son Charles Mays a negro girl named Dinah, also a tract of land containing two hundred and fifty acres & lying on the waters of Tye river to him and his heirs forever.

Item. I give and bequeath to my son Elijah Mays his equal part of the land above mentioned lying on Juniper Creek, also a negro girl named Cate to him and his heirs forever.

Item I give and bequeath to my son Robert Mays, three negroes (towit) Fanni, Milly & Nick a feather bed and furniture a horse called chester also two hundred and fifty acres of land adjoining Charles Mays tract.

Item. I give and bequeath to my son Moses Mays five negroes (towit) Ben, Charlotte, Fill, Charles & Nan, a feather bed and furniture to him and his heirs forever.

Item. I give and bequeath to my son Lewis Mays four negroes, Nell, Jim, Young Lucy and Will, a feather bed & furniture also a horse called Lovel and a saddle & bridle to him and his heirs forever. I also give and bequeath to my son Robert Mays besides what I have bequeath to him as above a negro names Stephen to him and his heirs forever.

Item I give and bequeath to my beloved wife Sarah Mays during her widowhood or natural life all my land whereon I now live containing three hundred and eighty five acres with all its appurtenanancy also the whole stock of cattle hogs etc. together with any other ____ not heretofor mentioned and these negroes (towit) Jack, Dafney & Old Lucy.

I further desire that after my wifes decease my land with all appuntenances well etc. and the whole stock of cattle hogs etc. may be possessed by my two sons Moses & Louis as joint heirs of land etc to them and their heirs forever. I also desire that after my wifes decease the negro's bequeathed to her should be sold and equally divided among my sons Joseph, Elijah, Jesse & Charles but it is to be observed that old Lucy is to be disposed of as my wife shall thing proper.

I also desire that if Daphny should have any issue after the date of this my will and Testament that issue should be valued after my wifes decease and equally among sons Joseph, Jesse, Charles & Elijah. I desire that my just debts be paid by my sons Moses, Robert & Lewis each contributing an equal part.

[Note that for brevity sake I have hereto omitted making mention of the children or issue the negro's mentioned now have or may have hereafter be it therefore known that my desire is that the persons to whom they are bequeath go to them as above and I do hereby constitute and appoint my good and trusty friends James Edmonds, John Dilland & Charles Wills to execute this my last will and testament given under my hand and seal the seventh day of January one thousand seven hundred and ninety seven.

[Signed] Joseph Mays Sen. (seal)

Signed and Sealed

in presance of

John Cooney

James Edmonds, Jun.

Peter Campbell

Joseph came to Amherst County in 1761/62 along with his brothers, William and Robert.

SOURCE: Amherst Co. Will Book 3, p. 498-500, Gordon Brown, Raleigh, NC.

1.   USGenweb Archives.

   Generation No. 1
   
   1. Joseph7 Mays (John6 Mayes, Jr., John5 Maies/Mays, Sr., Daniel4 Maies/Mayes/Mays, John3, William2 Mease, William1) was born Abt. 1725 in of Stafford Co, Virginia, and died Bef. June 18, 1798 in Will probated, Amherst Co, Virginia. He married Sarah (Sally) Cash, daughter of Robert Cash and Ruth Elphingstone.
   
   Children of Joseph Mays and Sarah Cash are:
   + 2 i. John B.8 Mays, born Abt. 1750 in of Amherst Co, Virginia; died May 16, 1815 in Will probated, Amherst Co, Virginia.
   3 ii. Jesse Mays, born 1752 in Amherst Co, Virginia. He married (1) Susannah Wright December 20, 1785 in Amherst Co, Virginia. He married (2) Frances Hill December 23, 1800 in Amherst Co, Virginia.
   4 iii. James Mays, born February 01, 1751/52 in Overwharton Par, Stafford Co, Virginia. He married Isabella.
   5 iv. Lydia Mays, born February 25, 1754 in Overwharton Par, Stafford Co, Virginia. She married James Walters.
   + 6 v. Joseph Mays, born April 18, 1756 in Overwharton Par, Stafford Co, Virginia.
   7 vi. George Mays, born January 01, 1758 in Overwharton Par, Stafford Co, Virginia; died in Georgia.
   8 vii. Jemima Mays, born 1760 in Overwharton, Stafford Co, Virginia. She married (1) William Hollingsworth 1780 in Amherst Co, Virginia. She married (2) James Kitson January 22, 1795 in Fauquier Co, Virginia.
   + 9 viii. Charles Mays, born 1763 in Amherst Co, Virginia; died 1848 in Amherst Co, Virginia.
   10 ix. Elijah Mays, born 1765 in Amherst Co, Virginia; died in Nelson Co, Virginia. He married Elizabeth Stoneham.
   + 11 x. Robert Mays, born 1767 in Amherst Co, Virginia; died Bef. August 26, 1826 in Amherst Co, Virginia.
   12 xi. Moses Mays, born 1771 in Amherst Co, Virginia. He married Lucy Wright April 09, 1800 in Amherst Co, Virginia.
   13 xii. Lewis Mays, born 1773 in Amherst Co, Virginia. He married Caty Campbell February 17, 1800 in Amherst Co, Virginia.
   
   http://files.usgwarchives.net/va/amherst/bios/mays1.txt