Will of Rev. John Williams

Submitted June 3, 2007 by Jim Dillard

Will dated March 11, 1790
Probate September 10, 1795
Lunenburg County Will Book 4, pg 104-4

Will of the Rev. John Williams of Cornwall Parish , Charlotte County , about to travel a considerable journey to the Southern States, and knowing what a precarious uncertain life this is; pay debts; to Frances & all his children equally (i.e. Henrietta Thompson, Ann Hughes Carrington, Robert Hughes Williams, Martha Hughes Williams, Matthew Jouett Williams, Frances Hairfield Williams, Joseph Williams, David Hughes Williams, Narcissa Williams and Susanna Moore Williams), personal estate of 22 Negroes:
(William, Peter, Wappin, Isham, John, Harry, Billy, Peter, Pompy, Sarah, Jane, Mary, Amy, Frank, Bartlet, Adam, Darius, Tom, Ned, Phillis, Tarlton, Sally, Harry the younger) and the rest of personal estate and money.

Item . To eldest daughters Henrietta & Ann , keep certain property loaned at marriage (each received a feather bed, furniture, beast, saddle and housekeeping articles) and consider as estate the 3 slaves loaned them (Henrietta: Harry, Bartlett, Darcus) and (Ann: Billey, Peter, Frank, Phillis).

Item : To wife during widowhood the use of rest of estate for comfort of his family & raising and educating his children, subject to progressive equal allotment as they marry or come of age. His Lunenburg plantation may be sold if she wishes to move to any part of the continent and his part of land bought with brother Matthew J. Williams in Western part of state on waters of Salt River may be sold to pay debts or to buy other lands as required as estate. If Negroes are sold, should be at private sale and only to those of indisputable human character or such if possible that Negroes should choose to serve. Children should have such education as estate will afford and wife has power to bind out either or all sons to genteel profitable mechanical trades, clerks or other mechanical line of business as she supposes best.

Item . To daughter Ann , same as above

Item : To son Robert , if he proves dutiful and obliging to his Mama, testator's watch, neat Bible such as he shall choose, Watts Psalms and Hymns.

Item : To daughter Martha a neat Bible, Watts Hymns & Lyric Poems.

Item : To son Matthew , testator's Pocket Bible, Crudins' Concordance, Booths' Appology for the Baptists, Booths' Pedobaptism examined and rejected, as many of Gills works as testator has, his Preachers Vade Mecum and Pocket Hymn Book.

Item : To daughter Frances , a neat Bible, Watts Hymns and Lyric Poems.

Item : To son Joseph a neat Bible, Watts Hymns, Burket on the New Testament, testator's stock buckles.

Item : To son David , a neat Bible, Watts Hymns, Flavels' Works, Dictionary, testators' shoe and knee buckles.

Item : To daughter Narcissa , a neat Bible, Watts Hymns and Lyric Poems.

Item : To daughter Susanna a neat Bible, Watts Hymns and Lyric Poems.

Item : To wife rest of books to be disposed of. Also his chair and horse Dolphin to her forever.

Item : I wish for my wife and brother Matthew to search and arrange his sadly confused papers & put them in order for inspection. I wish my funeral to be attended at his dwelling house, sermons to be preached by David Ellington from Deuteronomy 32:9-10, William Creath from 1st Corinthians 9:1ast clause, 24 th verse and each to receive a guinea for their sermons.

I name my wife, Mackeness Goode, Langston Bacon and testator's son Robert Hughes Williams, executors.

Wit: James Watkins
John G. Goode
William Deupree
Delpha Griffin
Received: September 10, 1795