Will of Mrs. Gilley Stevens

True copies of wills are often found in chancery court case files. This is useful, especially since court records are sometimes lost. The will of Mrs. Gilley Stevens, wife of General Edward Stevens, was found in the case file of John Roberts and Lucy his wife vs. Lewis Turner, Philip Lightfoot, etc. Digital images of the case, Library of Virginia Chancery Case Index Number 1846-018 Culpeper County can be found online at [1]

Will of Gilley Stevens

I. Gilley Stevens of the County of Culpeper and state of Virginia being in a low state of health but of sound mind and memory do make and ordain this my last will and testament.

I decree that my just debts and funeral expenses be first paid and satisfied.

The following negroes devised to me by the will of my late husband General Edward Stevens, to wit, Charlotte, Edmund, Lucy & Sukey I hereby emancipate and set free to all intents and purposes and to enjoy their liberty in a free and ample a manner as if they had been born free.

I also devise to my executors hereafter named in trust for the said negroes the sum of two hundred dollars to be paid to them at such times & in such proportions as they my said executors may think proper.

I devise that my executors will as soon after my decease as they can with convenience bind the said negroe boy Edmund to learn such trade as they shall best adapted to his constitution & capacity.

I devise that my executors will pay to my sister Frances Crutcher annually the sum of one hundred dollars for her support in case she survives me during her during her natural life.

I give to my niece Lucy C. Strother one thousand dollars.

I give to my niece Gilly McConachie the sum of five hundred dollars.

I give to my niece Betsey C. Strother the sum of five hundred dollars.

I give to my niece Sarah Ann Strother the sum of three hundred dollars.

I give to my friend Margaret Watts the sum of two hundred dollars.

I devise to my executors in trust for my niece Ann C. Strother the wife of Jeremiah Strother the sum of one thousand dollars to be placed by them at interest or in such funds as they my said executors shall think proper which interest or dividend arising therefrom is to be paid over to the said Ann Strother during her natural life and after her death the said one thousand dollars to be equally divided between her children or their representatives.

I give to Gilly Evans the wife of John Evans one thousand dollars.

I give to Lucy Foushaw the wife of Charles Fourshad the sum of five hundred dollars.

I give to Sarah Farushad the widow of John Forushaw the sum of five hundred dollars.

I give to my daughter-in-law Polly Stevens all my household & kitchen furniture.

I give to the Reverend John Woodville the sum of one hundred dollars.

I give to the Reverend Herbert Marshall one hundred dollars.

I devise to my executors the sum of fifteen hundred dollars for the purpose of erecting a permanent enclosure around the family burying ground in the town of Fairfax and am procuring tombstones for such of my family as are now buried there with suitable inscriptions.

I give to my friend Dr. James R. McConachie the sum of five hundred dollars which is to be considered by him if he accept it in full for all services rendered me during my present illness since the 17th day of August last.

I give to Gilly Slaughter, daughter of Francis Slaughter, five hundred dollars.

I devise to my executors the sum of two hundred dollars to be paid by them in aid of building a protestant Episcopal church near the town of Fairfax.

I devise to my friend Mrs. Pollard wife of my nephew Robert Pollard, my daughter-in-law Polly Stevens, my niece Lucy Strother and my niece Susannah McConochie each a mourning ring or locket of the value of twenty dollars.

All the rest and residue of my estate after the payment of my debts and the funeral expenses & legacies aforesaid I devise to my executors in trust for the use and benefit of Polly Gray, wife of Daniel Gray, Coleman Crutcher and Thomas Clayton to be placed at interest or in such funds as they my said executors shall think proper and such interest or dividend to be divided into three equal parts, on third to be paid to the said Polly Gray, one third to Coleman Crutcher and the remainder to Thomas Clayton during their natural lives and on the death of the said Polly Gray, Coleman Crutcher or Thomas Clayton their proportion or one third part of my residuary estate as aforesaid to be equally divided between their children or their legal representatives. Provided a sufficient sum of money should not come to the hands of my executors to pay the legacies before mentioned, the negroes set free are by no means to be liable for them and they are not withstanding to enjoy their liberty & the legacy to them in first to be paid and in case a deficiency should exist with respect to the balance of they legacies they are to be paid in proportion to the quantity of assets coming to the hands of my executors.

Lastly I appoint my nephew Robert Pollard of the city of Richmond and my friend Philip Lightfoot of Culpeper County executors to this my will revoking all others by me heretofore made. In witness whereof I have herunto set my hand and seal this nineteenth day of November one thousand eight hundred and twenty.

Gilly Stevens Witness Thomas Hall and B.C. Hall

Codicil

I give to my friend Philip Lightfoot the sum of one hundred & fifty dollars which he will except as a momento of my regard and that this codicil be take as part of my will. Witness my hand & seal this 19th day of November 1820.Gilly Stevens Witnessed Thos. Hall, B.C. Hall

Codicil 2nd

I devise to Peggy McConochie & Betsey Tutt each a ring or locket of the value of twenty dollars. It is my devise that Jeremiah Strother, Elizabeth Richardson and Lucy A. Roberts participate equally with Polly Gray, Coleman Crutcher and Thomas Clayton in the division of the residue or surplus of my estate after the payment of my debs, funeral expenses & legacies specially devised and that the same be held in trust by my executors for their benefit during their natural lives and after their decease or the decease of any of them, to be equally divided between their children. This codicil to be taken as part of my will. Given under my hand & seal this 21st day of November 1820.

Gilly Stevens Witnesses Thos. Hall, B.C. Hall

Will Proved

At a court held for Culpeper County the 18th day of December 1820.

This last will & testament of Gilly Stevens deceased together with the codicils there on endorsed was proved by the oaths of Thomas Hall and Burgess C. Hall the witnesses thereto and ordered to be recorded. On the motion of Philip Lightfoot one of the executors therein named certificates is granted him for obtaining a probate thereof in due form, he having made oath thereto and giving bond security according to law.