Surry Co., VA Probate Records 1687-1694
(C. Avis Catalog entry #515)
SURRY COUNTY, VIRGINIA PROBATE RECORDS
L.D.S. Film #034100 - Deeds and Wills No. 4, 1687-1694
Page 340
Will of William Simmons
In the Name of God Amen
I William Simons of Southwarke Parish in the County of Surry being very sick and weake of body, but by the grace of God of sound and pfect memory do constitute and ordain this to be my last will and testament, hereby makeing null and void all former wills or testaments which I have made. I give my Soul to God that gave it hopeing for salvation through the merrits of our blessed Saviour, my body I committ to the Earth from whence it was taken to be decently interred at the discretion of my dear wife, and for my worldly goods which it hath pleased God at his mercy to bless me with, my just and lawful debts being first timely & honestly paid, I dispose of them in manner as followeth
ImpsAll my land lyeing on the north side of the Birching Swamp and also all my land lyeing on the south side of the head of the said swamp down as far as the branch on which Owen Miricks Tan yard lyes, and also two hundred and fifty acres of land bounding on the north side line of my land at the Bowling Alley, I give both these pcells of land to my sonn William Simmons and to his heirs forever. I do also give him six cows, one young mare called by the name of Fanny, three steeres of five years old each, five breeding sows, one good feather bed & boulster with curtains & vallens, one worsted Rugg, one prblanketts, two prof sheetes, one Elm chest, one eight square barreled gunn and one negro boy named Cain, all to be delivered when my said sonn comes to lawful age
Item All the remaining part of that dividend of land whereon I now live begining at the branch on which Owen Miricks Tan yard lyes and so down the swamp on the south side, and two hundred and fifty acres of land being the remaining part of my land at the Bowling Alley, I give to my sonn John Simmons and to his heirs forever. I do also give my said sonn one feather bed & boulster with curtains and vallens, one Rugg and prof blanketts, two prsheets, five young cows, three steeres each five or six years old, five breeding sows, one musket, one wainscote? chest, one Gray mare with her increase, one black young horse and one negro girle named Nan, to be delivered to my said sonn at lawful age
Item I give to my Daughter Elizabeth five thousand pounds of tobacco to be paid when she comes to full age or on the day of marryage
Item I give to my Daughter Mary Mooring four ewes and Ram
Item I give to my Daughter Sarah Simmons five thousand pounds of tobacco to be paid when she comes to full age or on the day of marryage
Item Whereas I am Guardian in trust of Mary Haviland, it is my will that when my son William comes to lawful age, he keepe and maintain her during her naturall life, and untill my said son shall come to such age, it is my will that she remain with my wife, but if my wife dye before my said son comes to such age, then my desire is that the said Mary Haviland be bounded out at the discretion of my overseers hereafter named
Item When my son William comes to lawful age, I give to him & his heirs during the natural life of Mary Haviland the water mill which is now building, and after the decease of the said Mary Haviland, I give the said mill and proffitts thereof equally between my sons William and John, to them and their heirs forever
Item If my son William dyes before he comes to lawful age, then all the land together with the mill and all the personal estate which I have given to my said son William, I give to my son John and his heirs forever, and I do will that in such case, my said son John shall keep Mary Haviland in manner as is before directed to my son William
Item If my son John dyes before he comes to lawful age, then all the land together with the part of the mill and all the personal Estate which I have given to my son John, I give to my son William and to his heirs forever
Item All my other Estate I give to my Dear wife, to her only use and behoof whom I do also make sole Executrix of this my last will and testament
Item I do appoint and desire that MrBenjamin Harrison and MrChristopher Mooring be overseers of this my last will and testament, In witness whereof I have hereunto put my hand and seale this 15thof April 1693
signed & sealed in presence of
BenjaHarrison Junr
Maximilian Mansell William Simmons seale
Thomas Sowersby
Proved in court by oath of BenjaHarrison Jr 2 May 1693