Will of John Mays, 1798
Nottoway County, Will Book 1, Page 299
In the name of Goad Amen, I John May of the
County of Nottoway being very sick and weak of body, but of perfect mind and
memory, thanks be given to god for the same, and calling to mind the mortality
of the body knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die, and as
touching on such worldly goods as it has pleased God to bless me with, Ido
give, bequeath and dispose of the same in the manner and form following, first,
I recommend my soul into the hands of god who gave it me. Item I bequeath my
body to the earth to be buried in a decent manner.
Item I bequeath to my sister in law Priscilla
Aderson (ibid) one negroe girl Jenne one horse bridle and saddle, one bed and
furniture and the increase of sd. Negroe if any to she and her heirs forever.
Item bequeath to my wife during life Eight negros Sandy, Simon, let, tom, Peg,
peter, Jack and dick, to dispose of as she thinks proper also my stock of
horses, cattle, hogs, sheep the land whereon I now live, and household
furniture of all kinds to my said wife Martha May. Item I bequeath to my
brother Henry May at my wifes death one negro boy Jack, and one large gun to
him and his heirs forever. Item I bequeath to my Bro Joseph May one negro boy
dick and one small gun to him and his heirs forever. Item I bequeath to my
Brother William May, the sum of money which he now has in possession, left me
from my fathers estate, to him and his heirs forever. Item I bequeath to my
brother in law Daniel Vaughan two negroes namely Peg and Peter, to him &C.
Item I bequeath to my Brother in law Henry Harp, my still to him and his heirs
forever. Item I bequeath to my brother in law William Anderson one horse bridle
& saddle to him and his heirs &C. Item I bequeath to my sister in law
Priscilla Anderson the land whereon I now live if she is ever possessed of a
lawful heir from her body if not I bequeath it to my brother in law Freeman
Nichols to him and his heirs forever. Also one negro named Simon to him &C.
Item I bequeath to Hannah Rebeckah & Lucy if living Sandy and the rest of
my estate to be equally divided among them the said Hannah Rebecah and Lucy
Anderson or the surviving ones to them and their heirs forever. My Will and
desire is that my estate be not appraised, annual payments to be made of all
just demands last of all nominate & appoint my trusty friends William Moore
& Kennon Harper to be my executors of this my last will and Testament In
Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this sixth day
of October, One Thousand Seven hundred and ninety four. Clement Read, John
Quarles.
John Mays
At a Court held for Nottoway County at the
courthouse on Thursday the first of February 1798 This Last Will and Testament
of John May deceased was offered for proof by William Moore and Kennan Harper
the executors therein named and was proved by the oaths of Clement Read and
John Quarles the Witnesses thereto and is ordered to be recorded and on the
motion of the said executors a certificate is granted them for obtaining a
probat of this will, they having taken the oath of executors and with John
North and John Quarles their securities entered into and acknowledged a bond
according to law. Teste Peter Randolph CLK