I Robert Hicks of the County of Greensville and State of Virginia being weak
in Body but of perfect mind and memory do make this my last Will and Testament
in manner and form following vizt. Item I lend unto my trusty friend John Watson
during his natural life my plantation named New market in South Carolina with
fifty Acres of Land on Raeford Creek bought of Frederick Spagner Also nine
Negroes and their increase vizt Jack, Pamela, Cyrus, Toney, Jenny, Charlotte,
Robin, Sizey and Delsey, also my young black mare and bay Horse named Parker
together with the Stock of Cattle and Household furniture for the use & benefit
and support of himself my daughter Mary the daughter of my first wife Angelina
Hicks deceased, and Children if there should be any surviving begotten of her
Body. If John Watson should decease before my daughter Mary I leave the Estate
in the hands of Hicks Chappell and John Hopkins as Trustees for my Daughter Mary
and Children if there be any. After the death of John Watson and my Daughter
Mary if my daughter should have any Children that should live to Lawful Age
begotten of her Body my will and desire is that Estate shall belong to them
share and share alike to them and their heirs and assigns forever. if there is
not any Children that survives, the Issues of my Daughter Mary, My will and
desire is that the above Estate shall belong to my Daughter Martha Dixon
Greenway Hicks and the Child my wife Mary Hicks is pregnant with, to them their
heirs and Assigns forever. Item I lend unto my loving wife Mary Hicks all my
Estate both real and personal not heretofore lent nor given during her widowhood
for the benefit and support of her and her Children. If she should mary (sic) I
lend her one third part of the Estate during her natural life, and the remainder
of the Estate both real and personal I give to my Daughter Martha Dixon Greenway
Hicks and the Child that my wife is pregnant with and if either of them should
die before they comes of lawful Age the surviving one of the two it shall belong
to, to them their heirs and Assigns forever. My will and desire is that if both
my Children of the wife of Mary Hicks should die before they comes of lawful age
that the Estate may descend unto my Grand Children if they be any surviving one
of my Daughter Mary's to them their heirs and Assigns forever. I do appoint my
friends Winfield Mason, and James Parham, and my wife Mary Hicks Executors, and
Executrix of this my last Will and Testament. In Witness whereof I have hereunto
set my Hand and affixed my Seal this first Day of March being in the Year of our
Lord One Thousand Seven Hundred and Ninety Six.
Signed Sealed delivered & acknowledged Robt. Hicks (L.S.)
in the presence of
Jas. Parham
Eliza Parham Dolly Peterson
Greensville County Court June 1798. This Will was proved according to Law by
James Parham and Eliza Parham, Witnesses thereto and ordered to be recorded and
on the Motion of Mary Hicks the Executrix therein named who qualified thereto
according to Law and with Martha Greenway and John Blunt Turner her Securities
acknowledged Bond in the Penalty of Twenty Thousand Dollars with Condition as
the Law directs Certificate was granted her for obtaining a probate thereof in
due form. Liberty being reserved for the Executors therein named to qualify
thereto when they think fit.
Teste P. Pelham
Will Book 1, page 378-379, Greensville County, Virginia