Will of William Shelton, 1800 - LOUISA COUNTY VIRGINIA
October 31, 1800
In the name of God amen, I William Shelton of the County of Louisa being of
sound and disposing mind, do make this my last Will and Testament in the
manner following. I lend unto my wife during her natural life all that part
of the tract of land I live on, lying on the north side of Owen Creek with
the appurtenances, also the following Negroes, Dinah, Bellar, Esther, Rachel.
Fanny, Daniel, Charles and Moses, and the present and future increase of
Esther and Rachel, except Marcus and Stephen, children of Rachel, also half
my stock of horses, cattle, sheep, and hogs, and one half of my household and
kitchen furniture.
Item - I give to my son John two Negroes, Patrick and Susannah and the
increase of Susannah to him and his heirs.
Item - I lend unto my daughter Martha Lucas, three Negroes, Mentes, Isaac and
Tabb. and her increase after my decease, also ten head of cattle a feather
bed and furniture, also one half of the tract of land I purchased of James
Heron (to be taken off of the lower part of the tract) during her natural
life and at her decease the land Negroes etc. to revert to my estate and be
divided as hereafter directed.
Item - I lend to my son William, the land I live on after my wife decease, in
lieu of the land I sold of his in Prince Edward County with the liberty of
working immediately that part of the land lying on the South side of Owensâ
Creek. I also lend him three Negroes, Marcus, Watt, and Judd and the
increase of Judd, also ten head of cattle, a feather bed and furniture during
his natural life and at his decease, the land lent him, I give to my son John
and his heirs the Negroes etc. to revert to my estate and be divided as
herein after directed. I direct my son William shall not rent the aforesaid
land, or any part thereof. I also appoint my executors hereafter named,
Trustees to my son William.
Item - I give to my son Jesse, three Negroes, Simon, Judd and Fanny and the
increase of Judd and Fanny to him and his heirs.
Item - I give to my son James, three Negroes, Bob, Matt, and Dorcas and the
increase of Dorcas. Cato and Fanny excepted to him and his heirs.
Item - I give to my daughter Susanna Farrar, three Negroes, Jacob, Sampson,
and Rachel and the increase of Rachel to her and her heirs.
Item - I give to my daughter Ann Woodson, four Negroes, Isaac, Harry, Dilcy
and Nelly to her and her heirs. But in case she should die, not leaving
lawful issue at the time of her death, the Negroes, Isaac, and Dilcy excepted
to revert to my estate and be divided as hereafter directed.
Item - I give to my daughter Sally Grubbs,(wife of Matthew Grubbs?) three
Negroes Sawny, Davy and Anny and the increase of Anny, Mourning excepted to
her and her heirs. I lend unto my daughter aforesaid during her natural life
one hundred and fifty acres land of the land I bought of James Heron to be
taken from the upper part of the tract and after her death I give the said
land to her children and their heirs, but it is to be understood that the
value of the land aforesaid is to be deducted from her proportion of my
estate in the general division thereof, and I direct accordingly.
Item - I give to the children of Peter Crawford by his first
wife(grandchildren?) three Negroes, Frank, Betsy and Jany and the increase
of Betsy and Jany to them and their heirs. I also give them one hundred and
five pounds, which I lent their father Peter Crawford in October one thousand
seven hundred and eighty four, with the legal interest thereon from that
period; be considered and taken as so much of their proportion of my estate
in the general division thereof.
Item - I give to my granddaughter Elizabeth Shelton, daughter of my son
Robert, one Negro girl Lucy and her increase to her and her heirs.
Item - I give to my grandson William Shelton, son of my son Robert, one Negro
boy Charles to him and his heirs.
Item - I give to my grandson James Shelton, son of my son Robert, one Negro
girl Polly and her increase to him and his heirs.
Item - I give the residue of my estate including the Negroes and personal
estate lent my wife, weather real or personal to my children namely John,
Martha Lucas, Susanna Farrar, William, James, Jesse, Ann Woodson, Sally
Grubbs and the children of Peter Crawford by his first wife, the latter
meaning the children of the said Crawford to inherit by stock and not by
heads, in other words they are jointly to have but one share of my estate in
the clause mentioned, but in case any of my children named in this clause die
not leaving lawful issue at the time of their death, that then that part of
my estate specified in this clause to be divided between the survivors, or
the legal representatives of those that had lawful issue at the time of their
death, but no division of that part of my estate lent my wife to take place
before her death. I direct that the Negroes given my daughters Martha Lucas
and Ann Woodson shall not be carried out of this State. I direct that no
security be given or required of my executors for the faithful discharge of
the trust I hereby repose in them. And lastly I do hereby nominate and
appoint my son John and James and my son in law Peter Crawford my executors.
In witness where of I have hereunto set my hand and seal this thirty first
day of October 1800.
William Shelton - seal
Signed sealed and declared to be the last Will and testament of William
Shelton in presence of Cornelius Dabney, Richard Johnson, Reuben Sanders
At a Court held for Louisa County on the 12th day of January 1801. This Will
was this day in open Court exhibited by John Shelton, James Shelton and Peter
Crawford the executors therein named and was proved by the oaths of Cornelius
Dabney and Richard Johnson two of the witness thereto, and by the Court
ordered to be recorded. And the said executors having made oath thereto
according to law on this motion certificate is granted them for obtaining a
probate thereof in due form without giving security.
Teste - Jn. Poindextor, C.L.C.
Will submitted by Wayne Shelton for transcription by Eileen Coppola <E5jc6@@aol.com>
Dec. 1999