Will Book 4, Page 306, Mecklenburg Co., VA

In the Name of God Amen. I John Mayes of the County of Mecklenburg and Parish of saint James's and State of Virginia being sick and weak in body but of a sound disposing mind and Memory thanks be to God for the same and knowing the uncertainty of this life do make and declare this to be my last Will and Testament in the form and manner following to wit: I commit my Body to the Earth and my Soul to the hands of my Creator to be Intered as my Executors hereafter mentioned shall think Proper. First my desire is that all my Just debts be paid as my Executors shall think best to Raise. The money - Itim I lend my beloved wife Elizabeth Mayes the land and Plantation whereon I now live during her natural life or widowhood and after that I leave it to be sold and the money to be Equally divided between John G. Mayes, Thomas H. Mayes and Charles Mays to them and their heirs forever. I lend to my beloved wife one negroe man named French for the term of six years and at the expiration of that time I give him the said Negroe to John G. Mayes and his heirs forever. Itim I lend to my beloved wife one Negroe girl named Rose untill my daughter Dolley comes of age or marries and then I give the said Rose and her Increase to my daughter but if the said Dolley dies before the Expiration of that time my desire is that the said negroe and her Increase if any be equally divided between Thomas H. Mayes, Salley Mayes and Charles Mayes or their Heirs. Itim I lend to my beloved wife Elizabeth Mayes three Negroes Esbel, young Rachel and Gilbert untill Thomas H. Mayes arrives to the age of twenty-one years and then my Desire is that the above mentioned be Equally divided between Thomas H. Mayes, Salley Mayes and Charles Mayes to them and their heirs forever. Itim I give to my Son Bozeman Mayes one negro man named Tom who has been in the possession of the said Bozeman for a term of years and one desk I give them to him and his heirs forever. Itim I give and bequeth to my Son Stith Mayes one negroe boy named Emanuel and one cow and calf to him and his Heirs forever. Itim I give and bequath to my daughter Nancy Taney two Negroes namely old Rachel and Oney to her and her heirs forever. Itim I give and bequath to my Daughter Mary Carter two negroes namely Sarah and Rhoda to her and her heirs forever. Itim I lend to my daughter Elizabeth Hall two negroes namely Edie and Vacney during her natural life and after her death I give the said negroes and their Increase to her Children Lawfully begotten of her body and to their Heirs forever. Itim I lend to my beloved wife Elizabeth Mayes two Negroes namely Judie and Dinah and their Increase with all the remaining Part of my Estate as it not yet disposed of whither real or Personal during her natural life and after her death I leave it to be sold and the Money to be Equally divided between John G. Mayes, Thomas H. Mayes, Salley Mayes, Charles Mayes and Dolley Mays to them and their heirs forever. Itim I constitute and appoint Zachariah Yancey and Charles Hamblin Executors to this my last will and Testament hereby revoking and disannulling all other Wills hereto fore by me made and Confirm this to be my last Will and Testament. As witness my hand and Seal the twenty- seventh of Nov 1800. Signed Sealed and delivered. John Mayes

Recorded July 1801