Lancaster County Virginia

LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT OF THE REV. BENJAMIN DOGGETT
Recorded 10 January 1682/83 in Lancaster County, Virginia, Will Book 5, Page 82
(Spelling and punctuation modernized)

In the name of God Amen: I, Benjamin Doggett, Minister of Lancaster County, being sick and weak in body, but of sound and perfect memory, do make this my last will and testament, as followeth:

1st. I bequeath my soul and body to God that gave it. My body to be decently buried before the pulpit in White Chapel Church.

2ly. I give unto my eldest son Benjamine Doggett a hundred and fifty acres of land beginning at the waterside and to run right across from the line that parts me and Thomas Thomson to Jon. Crooke, and in case he dies without issue male then the land to be equally divided with the orchard between my two sons Richard and William, and in case my son Benjamin shall marry before he arrives to the age of two and twenty he shall thereby forfeit all his title and interest in the said land and the land to be divided as above mentioned.

3ly. I give unto my son Richard Doggett one hundred acres of land, and in case he dies without issue male or marries before he arrives to the age of 22, the the land to descend to my son Wm. Doggett. That there be sold as much out of his share in my personal estate as will purchase him a servant, the land to be seated for him, servants afterward to be bought for him as his estate will admit of. If servants cannot be purchased, the tobacco to be disposed of to the best advantage.

4ly. I give to my son Wm. Doggett one hundred acres of land and in case he dies without issue male or marries before he arrives to the age of 22, then the land to be divided between my two daughters Jane and Anne Doggett. A servant to be purchased for him out of his share in my personal estate, the land seated and other servants to be bought for him as his estate will admit of. If servants cannot be purchased then the tobacco to be disposed of to the best advantage. These 2 hundred acres given between my two sons Richard and William to be divided at the discretion of my executors

5ly. I give unto my daughter Jane Doggett in England Twenty Shillings and no more because she hath been detained from me and is there provided for.

6ly. I give unto my daughter Anne Doggett fifteen thousand pounds of tobaccož six young cows, six breeding sows, to paid her by my three sons, Benjamin, Richard and William, provided she doth not marry before she arrives to the age of 18. The tobacco to be at two yearly payments, one half the first year and the other half the next year. Her name and age are to be registered in the book of Christ Church Parish and likewise my 2 sons born in Virginia. Their age you must have from their mother.

7ly. Because there remains six thousand pounds of tobacco to be paid Mr. Flower, and some other tobacco, if the tobacco allowed me by the parishes and what my servants make will not discharge them, then so much to be sold out of my personal estate, to be equally divided between my wife and children, only debarring my son Benjamin any share in the cattle because he hath a good stock of his own.

8ly. My wife to have her accomodation as long as she continues a widow, but if she marries she shall desert the plantation. My two sons and my daughter Anne to have their accomodation with my son Benjamin till they are capable to live on their own.

9ly. The pipe staves to be sold for money Sterling. Sawyers to be employed to saw two inch planks to be sold for monies to pay Mr. Griggs.

10th. My books to be appraised; a great chest to be bought, the books to be packed up and sent for England to be sold. The overplus of monies that remains when Mr. Griggs is paid I give unto my loving wife Jane Doggett desiring her to buy a mourning ring with this posey: Follow Me.

11th. I do constitue and appoint Mr. Sheapheard, Mr. Furnefold, Mr. Atkins, Mr. Wilkes, the appraisers of my estate. Mr. Thomas Martin, Mr. Jon. Mullis executors to this my last will and testament, and for their trouble I give unto both my executors 20s. to buy them mourning rings.

In witness whereof I have hereunto put my hand and seal this 14 day of March in the year 1681.

Benjamine Doggett the testator

Signed, sealed and delivered in the presence of us:

Jon. Davis P Sig.

Schellian Kelly P Sig.

P'bat fuitt himoc testam. in Cur. Com. Lancastr. Decime Die Januari 1862 sacramt Jon. Davis ett Schellian Kelly Jun: in Cur:

Teste: Tho: Marshall Cle. Cur. Record duodecimo sequntur Tho: Marshall

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