Will of Mathew MARABLE

1786 Will of Mathew Marable Will Book 2; p. 169-173 Mecklenburg Co, Virginia

"In the name of God Amen. I Matthew Marable of the county of Mecklenburg and state of Virginia, being through the abundant mercy and goodness of God of sound and perfect memory and understanding, constitute and make this my last will and Testament, and desire it may be received by all as such. Imprimis—I most humbly bequeath my soul to God my maker. Beseeching his most gracious Acceptance of it, through the all suffiecient merits and dedications of my most compassionate redeemer Jesus Christ, who gave himself to ba an attonement for my sins, and is able to save tto the Uttermost all that come unto God by him, seeing I ever liveth to make a just Intersession for them, I trust he will not reject me, a returning, penitent, sinner when I come to him for mercy. In this hope and confidence, I render my soul up with comfort, beseeching the blessed and glorious Trinity, one god most holy, most merciful and gracious, to prepare me for the time of my desolution, and then to take me to himself, into that peace and rest, and Incomparable felicity, which he has prepared for all that love and fear his Holy name Amen—Blessed be God. I give my body to the Earth from whence it came, in full assurance of its reserection from thence at the last day; as for my burial, I desire it may be descent and plain at the direction of my beloved wife and my Executors whom I doubt not will manage it with all requisite prudence and discretion. I give and bequeath to my son Mathew and to his heirs forever all my money which he carried away with him which I believe was to the amount of one Thousand pounds— Item; I give and bequeath to David Stokes my son-in-law and his Heirs forever two hundred acres of land in Mecklenburg County and is the same which I bought of Thomas Neal; and so much of my land adjoining to the last mentioned tract which I bought of my Brother John Marable, as is contained between the said Neals upper line and the first branch above running into Finny Wood Creek, bounded by the said branch as it turns out to my back line of the said tract which I had of my said Brother supposing the same to be two hundred acres; I also give and bequeath to the said David Stokes seven Negroes (to wit) Gidd Casar; Brittain, Jane, and Barbary, and Hannah (Cesars wife and child called Alfred son of Jane; the first five has been delivered to him before my death; the slaves last mentioned to be delivered the first news day after my decease, to hold to him and his Heirs forever. I also give and bequeath to the said Stokes my studd Horse bay Collons and a black mare named Robertson which have been also delivered—all of which I value to one Thousand Pounds the portion I ever intended for my Daughter when she married. Item: I give and bequeath to my Daughter Elizabeth and her Heirs forever seven hundred acres of Land (to wit, three hundred acres that residue of the land which I bought of my Brother John as aforesaid which I value at forty shillings an acre; and four hundred acres which I bought of Branch Tanner adjoining upon the north side of the last mentioned three hundred acres, and lying on both sides oof the Carpenters branch; both tracts in the County of Mecklenburg. I also give and bequeath to my Daughter Elizabeth and her Heirs forever one thousand acres of land in the said County of Mecklenburg which I also bought of Branch Tanner of the value of four pounds an acre distinct and separate from any of the above mentioned tracts but uoining the land I bought of Tanner. I also give and bequeath to my said Daughter Elizabeth a new single chair which is now at Petersburg unfinished but which I desire may be finished at the charge of my Estate before it is delivered to her. Also my old grey mare and harnesses. I also give and bequeath to my said Daughter and her Heirs one Negroe Girl named Sarah and two hundred pounds Cash. It is my will and desire that my Esecutors choose a place for her residence during her minority and particularly at Mrs. Murrays in Mecklenburg if it can be conveniently affected— Item; I give and bequeath to my sons Richard and his heirs forever four hundred and twenty five acres of Land which I had of my father, and known by the name of Fowlers— Also I give and bequeath to my said son Richard and his heirs forever another tract of land containing four hundred acres which I had also of my father and called the Pine Woods. I also give and bequeath to the said Richard my son and his heirs forever a new survey in my own name of three hundred and forty five and a half acres adjoining the north line of my aforesaid tract called Pine Woods. The three aforesaid tracts lying in the County of Mecklenburg. Item; I give and bequeath to my son Champion and his heirs forever all of the lands which I have in the County of Charlotte, (to wit) The tract which I bought of William Read containing Eight hundred acres, more or less—I also bequeath to the said Champion my son another tract of land in the said County of Charlotte containing one hundred acres which I bought of William Willis to him and his heirs forever. I also give and bequeath to my son Champion and his heirs forever another tract of land in the count of Charlotte containing two hundred acres and which I bought of William Willis. Item: I give and bequeath to my son John and his Heirs forever the land I bought of Richard Kennon containing one thousand acres more or less lying in the County of Mecklenburg-- And as a "judgement" (?) is now depending in the General Court concerning the title to the said land and a doubt has arisen whether Kennon was capable of making me a good title to the aforesaid tract, therefore my further desire and orders are; that in case the said Kennon should be found incapable of making a right to the said land, that then a suit or suits shall be brought for a recovery of the money back which I have paid him and for such damages as my Estate may have sustained by means of the nonperformance of his Covenant; all which monies so recovered back and damages upon the Breach of Contract, I give and bequeath to my said son John and his Heirs forever. It is my will and desire that my sons John, Richard and Champion shall not take possession or be entitled to the profits of their lands above desired to them until they respectively arrive to the age of twenty one years and as they severally arrive to the age of twenty one years I desire that my Executor shall give them possession of their lands. But not to render the profits of the said lands to them which shall be raised from my death to those respective periods. It is also my will and desire that my Daughter Elizabeth shall be entitled to the lands above desired her until she arrives to the age of Eighteen years or marriage.. Item; It is my will and desire that my wife Mary should reside on the plantation whereon I now live during her natural life. In witness whereof I hereunto set my hand & seal this twelfth day of the March 1786. In presence of Paul Carrington, Jr. James Mayne William Burn Edward (Xmark) Hogains Mathew Marable LS

I Mathew Marable being of sound and perfect mind and memory do continue (?) to make and publish this my last will and testament in manner following (to wit, It is my will and desire that instead or in (___) of Dower, My Dear Wife shall occupy and possess the Plantation whereon I now live—during her Natural life with all the advantages and "____" as she would be entitled to were she to hold it by Tenancy in " Favo—" Item: It is my will and desire that my wife should have and possess during her natural life one third of my Negroes not before bequeathed. Also one third of my stockes of horses, hogs, neat Cattle to her own proper use and behoof. It is also my sill and desire that my wife should retain to her own proper use all my household furniture of every kind and nature whatsoever. It is further my will and desire that all the rest and residue of my Negroes and Personal Estate shall be sold by my Executors upon twelve months credit, and the money arising therefrom to be applied to the purpose hereafter mentioned (to wit) First all my Just Debts I desire may be discharged as soon as convenience will permit; and after they are discharged I desire that my money which arises from the sale of all my personal Estate of every nature and kind whatsoever shall be put out on loans upon interest with such security as my Executors may direct. It is also my desire that my Executors commence suits sfor the recovery of all debts due to me and the money recovered be put to its interest on loans at the discretion of my Executors. BUT I cannot forbear expressing my particular desire that my son Richard should be Educated to be an Attorney, and my son Champion as soon as his strength will permit to be bound to a Carpenter until he arrives to the age of twenty one years. It is also my will and desire that the money which shall remain after all charges and incumbrances are discharged in the hands of myn Executors whall be divided equally amongst all my children except my daughter Mary Meriweather Stokes and George Marable. I nominate and appoint Paul Carrington of the County of Charlotte and Paul Carrington Junior, Thompson Fowlkes, Edward Almond, Thomas Shore and Christopher McConnico Executors of this my last will and Testament.

In presence of James Mayne Wm. Burn Matthew Marable LS

p..175 At a court held for Mecklenburg County the 12th day of June 1786 This will and the codicil annexed were proved by the Oaths of James Mayne and Edward Hogan. Witnesses thereto and Ordered to be recorded. And on the motion of Thompson, Fowlkes and Christopher McConnico two of the executors therein named who made Oath thereto and together with Henry Speed, David Stokes, William Hunley, William Tobertson, and William GlanvilleBaptist their securities ordered into and acknowledged their bond in the penalty of twenty five thousand pounds Conditioned as the Law directs Certificate was granted them for obtaining approval thereof in due form Liberty being reserved for the other executors therin named to join in the probate when they shall think fit. Test John Brown,"( )"

Submitted May 31, 2002 by Sue Ellen Marable