Will of Robert Edmonds, Lancaster County, Virginia 11 November 1750

Copies of wills are often found in Chancery Court case files. The will of Robert Edmonds, Lancaster County, Virginia, is found in the files of Rawleigh Carter, Thomasie Chowning, William Chowning, Anne Lewis, William Lewis, Admr. of Elizabeth Sydnor and Fortunatus Sydnor Vs. James Ball and Sarah Bond. The court records are online at the Library of Virginia's Chancery Records Digital Collection, Index Number 1787-001, and the images can be found at this link: [1]

The case was filed by the daughters of Thomas Sharp against the administrator of their father's estate, James Ball, and their mother, Sarah Bond. According to the case file, Thomas Sharp died shortly after making his will 3 March 1750. His wife Sarah married John Bond in 1753, and the daughters (or rather their husbands) accuse Sarah Sharp Bond of using their father's estate for her and her new husband's benefit. The women also had a brother, Elias Edmonds Sharp, who suffered from convulsions from infancy and was ultimately declared a lunatic. This boy died before the case was filed, but was to inherit all the land under their father's will. Adding complications were the slaves the children inherited from their uncle, Robert Edmonds.

The children of Thomas Sharp were:

Thomasie Sharp, married William Chowning

Ann Sharp, married William Lewis

Sarah Sharp, married Rawleigh Carter

Elizabeth Sharp, married Fortunatus Sydor, and had died before the case was filed.

Elias Edmonds Sharp, died 15 March 1772 intestate without having been married

A final decree was issued 23 August 1787

It is clear from the will of Robert Edmonds that the Sarah Bond they sued was Sarah Edmonds before she married.

Will of Robert Edmonds

In the name of God A.

men, I Robert Edmonds of the Parish of Christ Church in the County of Lancaster Gent. being very sick & weak in body but of perfect sense and memory do make and ordain this my last will and testament in manner following, first, I give my soul to God and my Body to the Earth and to a decent Burial at the direction of my excrs. hereafter named.

Item I give and bequeath to my kinsman Elias Edmonds Jr., son of my brother Elias Edmonds, dec'd, one parcel of land bought of Edward Michan on the east-side of Corstomon River containing forty acres more or less to him and his heirs for ever.

Item I give and bequeath to my kinsman John Edmonds son of my brother William Edmonds my parcel of land bought of Samuel Mahoney containing eighty acres more or less to him and his heirs forever.

Item I give and bequeath to my kinsman William Edmonds son of my brother Elias Edmonds, Dec'd, my parcel of land bought of the aforesaid Samuel Mahoney containing seventy acres more or less to him and his heirs forever.

Item My will is that my loving wife have the use of my dwelling plantation and my negro slaves, stock, household goods & utensils thereto belonging during her widowhood. If in case she marry that she be entitled to her widow's dower in my real and personal estate as the Law provides and in no other manner, but if she departs this life before marriage that she have leave to dispose of the one half of my personal estate as she pleases.

Item I give and bequeath to my kinsman Robert Edmonds, son of my brother Elias Edmonds dec'd, my aforesaid dwelling plantation containing two hundred and fifty acres more or less after my wife's term therein shall be expired to himself and his heirs for ever.

Item My will is that my just debts be satisfied and paid so soon as possible after my decease.

Item The negroes before lent to my loving wife and all the rest & residue of my negroes and personal estate of what nature so ever, I give to be equally divided between the children of my deceased brothers & sister WIliam Edmonds, Elias Edmonds and Ann Wharton and the children of my sisters Hanner Payne, Elizabeth Penchard and Sarah Sharpe share and share alike.

Lastly I do hereby revoke all former wills by me made and do appoint my aforesaid wife Ann Edmonds and my brother-in-law George Payne gent. and W. Thomas Sharpe to be exers. of this my last will and testament. In witness whereof I have herunto set my hand and seal this 11th day of November Anno Dom. 1750.

Negro slaves in the bequest to Wm. Ann Edmonds interlined before signed & sealed and published by the before named Robt. Edmonds to be his last will. In presence of T. Edwards, Hannah C. Edwards (her mark), Judith E. Miller (her mark), John Edwards.

Will Proved

At a court held for Lancaster County on the 10th day of May 1751. This will was proved in open court by the aforesaid Thomas Edwards, Hannah Edwards, Judith Miller and John Edwards & ordered to be recorded.