MySource:Samples 59/John Williams, Sr., Isle of Wight, VA (Last Will & Testament)

John Williams, Sr., (Last Will & Testament)

The Will of John Williams dated 9 March 1692, probated 9 August, 1692, Isle of Wight County, Virginia.

In the name of God Amen I John Williams Senr of the lower parish of the Isle of Wight County in Virginia: being very sick and weak but of perfect mind and memory do give and bequeath all my wordly goods as followeth. Imprimus I give and bequeath my Soul to almighty God my maker hoping through the merits of Jesus Christ my Saviour to obtain remission for my sins through his death and passion and my body to the earth from whence I came to be decently buried by my beloved wife Ann Williams and my children.

Secondly I give my now dwelling & plantation unto my beloved wife Ann Williams during her life with all edifices and buildings thereunto belonging and after her decease the manor plantation be returned unto my eldest sonn John Williams and to the hyers [heirs] of his body and in case he the said John Williams had rather stay in Surrey County on the plantation that he is now seated or then to take the manor plantation then the said manor plantation is to descend to my youngest sonn Theophilus Williams and the hyres of his body truely begotten and in case John Williams wishes to take manor plantation then Theophilus to enjoy the plantation in Surry County that John Williams is now seated containing one hundred and fifty acres

Thirdly I give and bequeath unto my son William one parcel of land lying and being in Newport parish which parcel of land contains two hundred acres lying near Meadows which parcel of land my foursaid Sonn William Williams is to enjoy with all appurtenances thereunto belonging to him and the hyers of his body truly begotten.

4th I give and bequeath unto my next Sonn Thomas Williams and the heyrs of his body truly begotten one hundred and fifty acres of the aforesaid land lying and being in Surry County and part of the same tract where my sonn John William now liveth and he the sayd Thomas Williams and his heirs to enjoy the same with all benefits and appurtenances there unto belonging

5th I give and bequeath unto my next Sonn Nicholas Williams and the heyrs of his body truly begotten one parcel of one hundred and fifty acres of the aforesaid land lying and being in Surry County and part of the same tract of land where my Sonn John Williams now liveth to his heyrs truly begotten with all appurtenances and benefits there unto belonging

6th I give and bequeath unto my Sonn Richard Williams and the heirs of his body truly begotten one parcel of land lying and being in Surry County containing one hundred and fifty acres being part of the same tract of land which my aforesaid Sonn John Williams liveth and to him the sayd Richard Williams and the heirs of his body truly begotten with all benefits and appurtenances there unto belonging and after the possession of the same.

I and in this my last Will and Testament I do bind charge and command all an every of my Sonns from the eldest to the youngest neither to sell lease or morgage any part or parcell of any of the aforesaid tracts of land by any means but to remain unto them and the heirs of their bodys truly begotten and in case that any of these my Sonns decease without Issue that then that parcell of land to whom it belongs shall be bound to the next surviving heir.

7th I give and bequeath unto my daughter Mary one feather Bed and boulster [stufed pillow] one Rugg one blanket one sheet

8th I give and bequeath unto my next daughter Jane Williams one feather bed boulster Rugg one blankett one sheet

9th I give and bequeath unto Anne Brown my grand daughter one yearling heifer [cow]

10th I give and bequeath to my grand daughter Bridgett Brown one yearling heifer,

next I give and bequeath unto my boy William Hickman one yearling heifer,

likewise there is belonging unto Mary Brown one cow and yearling which I order to be delivered to her according to the direction of my wife,

likewise I give and bequeath unto my aforesaid grand daughter Mary Brown one feather bed and boulster,

likewise I give unto my Sonn Thomas Williams the marr [mare] foal which goes with the marr likewise I give all the future increase of my mare among my children and this increase be provided as they fall in course beginning at the eldest and for as they fall to the youngest whether heifer or mare as it happens and after my children and should then my grandchildren to have a part of the increase and

likewise the mare at Thomas Wrights the first foal that she bring I give and bequeath it unto Daniel Long Junior and after Daniell hath his foal the mare and her after issue to be bound to Thomas Wright and the heyrs of his body lawfully begotten and

after all these ligaties [legatees] in this my Will and for the performance of the same I do constitute and appoint my most beloved wife Ann Williams my whole Executrix of this my last Will and Testament to for and endeavour to perform all these many ligaties as they shall be demanded in Course of my children come to age and my aforesaid Wife Ann Williams to enjoy all my proper estate and plantation which is not here exprest as long as they live and for acknowledgement this is my last Will and Testament as Witness my hand this ninth day of March in the year of our lord god 1692 John (F) Williams Senior

Seal Signed sealed and delivered in the presence of us, Boaz Gwine [Gyne Gwin], Thomas (T) Gwynie, Alexander (T) Matthew’s mark.

The witness Boaz Gwin began witnessing land and probate records in Isle of Wight as early as 1679. He witnessed 10 legal documents including the two husbands of Anne Williams and that of Thomas Parnell who was married to a Vasser. There are no records of him owning any property in the county. He died in 1697 and his daughter Sarah married Thomas Summerell son of John Summerell who owned 420 acres on the east side of the Blackwater in the Kingsale area.

Alexander Matthews was the son of Elizabeth Boddie Matthew and grandson of William Boddie.

John Williams’s will was proved in open Court for the Isle of Wight County on August the 9th 1692 by the Witness of the will and was ordered to be recorded which was done by 20 weeks of the death of the deceased at the next County Court session. Therefore it is pretty reliable that John Williams died in late July 1692 or very early August perhaps at the age of 47 years.