Will of Pleasant BURNETT

Mecklenburg County, Virginia, Circuit Court, Will Book 1, pg 127, will of Pleasant BURNETT

In the name of God amen, I Pleasant Burnett of the county of Mecklenburg Virginia, being of sound mind and memory do make and ordain this my last will and testament in manner and form as follows,

ITEM 1st I give and bequeath to my brother William Burnett all my lands with the exception of fifty acres to be cut off east of Norton's Tract which I give to William Evans and also except the Tunstall tract all on the east side of Allen's Creek as far as Fe-vnells bridge, and down to Simmons(?) line which latter I wish to be sold.

Item 2nd I loan to my brother William so long as he lives the following slaves viz.: Big Peter, Robert, Isaac, Granderson, Lucinda, John, Rivers, Minerva, Lucy, Emily, Mary, Phoebe Ann, Douglas, David, Jim, Ann Eliza, Clarisa, Sylva, Tom and Davy the miller and at his death I wish them to be liberated and sent to the state of Ohio

Item 3rd. I wish Little Peter to be liberated and sent to the state of Ohio.

Item 4th ~ I wish the following[1] slaves, George, Gilbert, Hercules, Jordan, Orange, Ross, Jinny, Martha, Prudence, Niecy and the three children Henry, Melinda and John to be valued allowed to select masters and sold at that valuation.

Item 5th ~ Out of my money, I give to my sister Jane Oliver one Thousand Dollars and to my sister Nancy Thompson I give Fifteen Hundred Dollars. To each of my nephews Jese Brown George Brown, Washington Brown, Alexander Brown and Patrick Burnett I give Seven Hundred Dollars. Item 6th, I wish my brother William Burnett to appropriate the sum of Three Thousand Dollars to the transportation of negros named in Item 2nd to Ohio and the purchase of land for them when there.

Item 7 ~ I wish my brother William Burnett to give to little Peter the sum of Two Hundred and Fifty Dollars whenever he is prepared to move to Ohio.

Item 8. I give to Polly Evans and Rebecca Johnson each the sum of one hundred Dollars.

Lastly I hereby constitute ordain and appoint my brother William Burnett my executor declaring that he is fully empowered to act without giving Bond & security as is directed by the laws of the state respecting wills,

In Testimony whereof I have hereunder set my hand and affixed my seal this 2nd day of March 1852.
This my Last will and Testament
Signed sealed published and declared
Pleasant Burnett

In the presence of
Chas S. Hutcheson
Howell Mallett
James Mallett

Mecklenburg Circuit Court, March Term 1858

The foregoing last will and testament of Pleasant Burnett Deceased was this day produced in court and proved by oath of Chas S. Hutchinson Howell Mallett and Jas Mallett, the subscribing witnesses thereto ~ and the same being contested by Patrick H. Burnet & others and various witnesses being heard for and against the will the court is of the opinion that the said paper writing is the true last will and testament of the said Pleasant Burnett and therefore it is ordered to be Received and on motion of Jese S. Brown and Robt M Hutchison who made oath thereto and entered into and acknowledged their bond in the penalty of Fifty Thousand Dollars with J. J. Daly Edwd. R Chambers and Chas. S. Hutcheson, their securities, who were first justified as to their sufficiency, leave is granted them to obtain letters of administration on the said estate with the aforementioned will annexed in due form.

Test R.B. Baptist. C

ESTATE of PLEASANT BURNETT INVENTORY of SLAVES

This is the inventory filed by the curator of the Estate. There is some variation from the names as listed in the will.

MALES	INVENTORY VALUE	FEMALES	INVENTORY VALUE
Big Peter	$1200	Minerva	$1000
John	1050	Lucy	1000
Ralph (Ross?)	900	Emily	1000
Gilbert	1000	Prudence	800
Isaac	1100	Martha Jane	900
Robert	1000	Mary Jane	950
Granderson	1100	Necy	750
Orange	850	Clarisy	850
Jordan	850	Angelina	450
Harkles (Hercules?)	450	Linda	350
George	200	Pheba Ann (Phoebe)	750
David	200	Eliza child	250
Rivers	600	Jinny	450
Douglas	500	Sylva	100
Little Dave	350	Lucinda	100
James	150	Little Peter	850
Henry	400	Old man Tom	000
Little John	200

Transcribed from Mecklenburg Circuit Court, Will Book 1, pg 127, By Deborah Clark