In the Name of God Amen I James Fletcher in the Parish of
ST. Andrews in the County of Brunswick being weak in Body but of a Sound &
perfect & disposing mind & memory thanks be given to almight God for the Same &
calling to mind the Mortality of my Body & knowing that it is appointed for all
persons [__] to dye do make ordain this my Last Will & testament by me
heretofore mad First I recommend my Soul into the hands of God that gave it and
for my body I recomend to the Earth to be buried a desent and Christian manner
by my Executors hereafter named. As touching the diposition of all Such
temporall Estate as it hath please Almight God to bestow upon me I d[__] devise
& dispose as followeth IMPRIMIS I will that my [__] Funeral Expenses be duly
paid and discharged. Item I give to my son Richard Fletcher one Writing Slate
and [__] Item I give to my Daughter Mary Fletcher one [____] prayer book &
choice of any one of my bed with Bolster Rug Blanket and Sheet & bed Steed which
was left her by her Frandfather. Item I give to my Daughter Sarah Nichols five
Shillings. Item I give to my Daugher Eliz. Fletcher ten Shillings. Item I will
that my Estate Vizt. negros horses Mares Chattels Hogs & household Good and all
my f[___] Cloaths as [____] wollen cotton [___] and all other apparrel be
appraised & Sold by my Exors. to pay my creditors. Item I give to my Son John
Fletcher the upper half of the Entry of Land lying upon Moor Swamp. Item I give
to my Son Mathew Fletcher the other part of the Sd. Entry. Item I will that the
Sd. Entry of Land be paid for the Survey out of my Estate by my Exors. Item I
will [__] Executors do Enter two hundred acres of Land and pay the Same out of
my Estate for my Sons John Fletcher. Item I give to my wife Amy Fletcher one bed
bolster Rug blanket & a par of Sheets to her till my Son Wm. Fletcher is Sixteen
years of Age and then he Shall be free and receive the Sd. Bed and beding or if
his Mother Should dye then to Recive the same above mentioned Item I will that
all the Remining part of my Estate after my debts is pay'd be Equally divided
between my Wife and my four youngest Children Vizt James John Nathan and William
Fletcher And I do hereby Nominate and appoint Joseph Harwood & Phillip Harrwood
full & Sole Execus. of this my Last will & Testament In Witness whereof I have
hereunto Set my hand & affixed my Seal this twenty first day of may in the year
of our Lord Christ one thousand Seven hundred and thirty three. Signed by James
Fletcher.
Signed Seal'd and published by the named James Fletcher the Testator as his Last
Will & Testament [torn].
At a Court held for Brunswick County the 5th day of October 1733- -This Will was
proved in Court by Joseph Harwood and Philip Harwood [___] (they giving Security
for the Same) made Oath thereto according to Law and the same being proved by
Willm. [___] Eliz. Tapeley? and Lucy Duke witnesses thereto it is admitted to
Record. Test. Drury Stith, CC.
Wills & Deed Book 1, page 74, Brunswick County, Virginia