[Note: Transcript has not been verified. It was posted to Mathews-Williams Family Genealogy website, last accessed 24 Nov 2012.]
[Loudoun County Will Book A, p 209]
[WILL OF ELIJAH CHINN: Dated 22 Jan 1771. Will proved 11 Mar 1771, Loudon Co., VA.]
In the name of God Amen I ELIJAH CHINN of the county of Loudon and Parish of Shelburn being sick, but of perfect mind and memory do make and ordain this my last will and testament in manner and form following: FIRST, I bequeath my soul to Almighty God who gave it not doubting but at the General Resurrection of the souls to receive it again by the merits of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ and my body I give to the earth to be buried at the direction of my executors hereafter mentioned and as to my worldly estate, I give in manner following.
Imprim. I give and bequeath to my son RAWLEIGH CHINN four hundred acres of land including the plantation whereon I now live and the following negros viz: Guss, Isaac, Nell, Mills, Adam, Nan, Obed, John Guss and Tomm, also a young horse known by the name of Tom and my silver watch to the said RAWLEIGH the heirs of his body lawfully begotten, and on failure of such issue, the afd. land to descend to his brother CHRISTOPHER with half the said negros and to the heirs of his body lawfully begotten, and the other half of the said negros to my daughter ELIZABETH.
Item I give and bequeath to my son CHRISTOPHER CHINN three hundred fifty acres of land including the plantation whereon Samuel Smitherman now lives together with the following negros viz.: Ralph, Sam, Sarah, Bett, Marlborough, Dick, Daniel, sity and James, also a young horse know by the name of Dorrall to the said CHRISTOPHER and the heirs of his body lawfully begotten and on failure of such issue, three hundred and fifty acres of land to descend to his brother RAWLEIGH with half the negros to the heirs of his body lawfully begotten and the other half of sd. negros to my daughter ELIZABETH.
Item I give and bequeath to my daughter ELIZABETH CHINN the following negros viz.: Grars, Stafford, Srilla, George, Karhol, Harry, Judah, Charles and Doll also a young mare known by the name of Bonny with her saddle and bridle to the sd. ELIZ. her heirs and assigns forever.
Item I give and bequeath to RHODA DENT one bed and furniture and cow and calf, my black horse, a pewter dish, 1/2 dozn. pewter plates, two pewter basons one iron pott and one frying pan to the sd. RHODA her heirs and assigns forever.
Item I give and bequeath for the support and maintenance of WILLIAM DENT and MARY DENT children of the afd. RHODA ten barrels of Indian Corn and four hundred weight of pork yearly and every year for the next seven years to come and that the said corn and wheat be paid out of my estate to the afd. RHODA yearly for the term aforesaid provided she doth not apply the same properly towards supporting the said children but if she fail in that performance the sd. corn and wheat shall be delivered to them or paid out of their support according to the decision of my executors hereafter mentioned. I further give and bequeath to the sd. WILLIAM and MARY thirty pound of Curr. money such to be paid them out of my estate when they arrive to the full age and in case they should die before that time that the said money be paid to their mother and that my executors do put the said MARY and WILLIAM to school when they shall be of proper size for that purpose and that my said executors do pay out of my estate for four years of schooling for the said WILLIAM and three years for the said MARY also to provide them proper books and other materials for learning.
Item I give and bequeath all the residue of my estate both real and personal not already bequeathed to be equally divided between my three children - RAWLEIGH, CHRISTOPHER and ELIZABETH to them their heirs and assigns forever.
Provided that if my said three children RAWLEIGH, CHRISTOPHER and ELIZABETH should die without lawful issue that then in that case all the estate afd. be divided between the aforesaid WILLIAM and MARY DENT in the following manner viz: that all my above mentioned lands with half the negros be held and enjoyed by the said WILLIAM DENT and by the heirs of his body legally begotten and the other half of the said negros to his sister MARY and her heirs and assigns forever and that the residue of my estate be equally divided between them.
And I do hereby constitute and appoint THOMAS CHINN and LEVEN POWELL of the county of Loudon executors of this my last Will and Testament hereby ratifying and confirming my last will and testament revoking and disannulling all heretofore made. In withness whereof I have hereunto put my hand and seal this 22 day of January 1771.
ELIJAH CHINN (SS)
(The word land interlined before signed)
Signed, sealed and acknowledged in presence of PEYTON HARRISON and BURR HARRISON [ * ].
At a Court held for Loudon County March the 11th 1771 this will was proved by the oaths of PEYTON HARRISON and BURR HARRISON [ * ] witnesses thereto and ordered to be recorded and on the motion of THOMAS CHINN and LEVEN POWELL executors therein named who made oath according to law, certificate is granted them for obtaining a probate thereof in due form giving security, thereupon they together with James Sam and Thomas Owsley their securities entered into and acknowleged bond to the penalty of two thousand pounds currency with condition as the law merits.
Teste - Chas. Binn Cl. Cur. A copy teste: J.T. Martz - Clerk
[ * cos1776 note of Caution: Witness "Burr Harrison" could be Burr Harrison, Sr. (1699-1790) (father-in-law of Executor Leven Powell) OR his son, Burr Harrison, Jr. (1734-1790) OR even his son Burr Harrison (b abt 1748).]
