REFERENCE: #69 VA Cous
Robert Goode was eldest son and executor of his father's will in 1798.
The will of Robert Goode is recorded at Prince Edward Court House, dated
April 8, 1804. Judge F. N. Watkins writes: - "His will shows great piety,
and is a rare paper. He makes provisions for emancipating his slaves
thereafter born. It was an almost unheard of thing in those days for a
Virginian to favor abolition."
WILL OF ROBERT GOODE
IN THE NAME OF GOD, AMEN, I, Robert Goode, of Prince Edward County,
being, thro the abundant mercy and goodness of God, tho weak in body, yet
of a sound and perfect understanding and memory, do constitute this my
last will and testament, and desire it to be received by all as such.
Imprimis, I most humbly bequeath my soul to God, my maker, beseeching his
most gracious acceptance of it thro the all-sufficient merits and
mediation of my most compassionate Redeemer, Jesus Christ, who gave
himself to be an antonement for my sins, and is able to save to the
uttermost all that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make
intercession for them, and who I trust, will not reject me,a returning,
penitent sinner, when I come to him for mercy. In this hope and
confidence, I render up my soul with comfort, humbly beseeching the Most
Blessed and Glorious Trinity, One God, most holy, merciful and gracious,
to prepare me for this time of my dissolution, and to take me to himself,
unto that peace and rest, and incomparable felicity, which he has
prepared for those that love and fear his holy name, Amen, blessed be God.
Imprimis, I give my body to the earth from whence it was taken, in full
assurance of its resurrection from thence at the last day. As far as my
burial, I desire it may be decent, without pomp or state, at the
discretion of my dear wife and my executors hereafter named, who I doubt
not will manage it with all requisite prudence. As to my worldly estate,
I will and positively order that all my just debts be paid.
Item, I give and bequeath to my son Robert Goode, all my tract of land
lying in the state of Kentucky, upon the Greene River, containing five
hundred acres, be the same more or less, which land I give to him and his
heirs forever.
(Here follow certain special bequests of slaves and money to the
children).
Item, my positive will and desire is that after the death of my wife,
Sally Goode, that the whole of my negroes, together with those that are
or may be lent to any of my children (except all that shall be born of
any of my negroes after this date) with eighty pounds, cash, from my
daughters Polly Brown, and forty pounds, do, from my daughter Susana
Osborne be deposited into one general stock, all of which negroes (to
wit.: Gloster, Pheby, Grace, Isabel, Sancho, Ephraim, Bird, Kit, Isham,
Nat, Hannah, Jack, Patrick, Nathan, Martin, Judy, Nancy, Dilsey, Caty,
and Old Dilsey, Effy, and Dinah,) and sums of money, I give to be equally
divided between my sons and daughters - Susan Osborne, Polly Brown, Lucy
Hatten, Sarah, Frances, Anne, Elizabeth G., Joseph and Thomas Goode, all
of which I give to them and their heirs forever; also after the decease
of my wife, my will and desire is that the whole of my estate, both real
and perishable (not before given or accepted) be sold at the discretion
of my executors hereafter named, and the money arising from such sale,
after paying to John C., Samuel and William Goode the several sums I have
before given them, I give, to be equally divided between my sons and
daughters, Susana Osborne, Polly Brown, Lucy Hatten, Sarah, Frances,
Anne, Elizabeth G., Joseph and Thomas Goode, which legacy I give to them
and their heirs forever.
Item, my positive will and desire is that all the unborn negroes that may
or shall be born of any of my negroes after this date, be born free,
though to be held in servitude by those legatees to whom they may fall
till they ar