January the 19th 1855
I James Sykes of Russell County and State of Virginia being weak in body but of sound and disposing mind and memory do dispose of my worldly estate which it hath pleased God to bless me with in manner and form following
Item - I give and bequeath to my son Levi Sykes & Caty his preasant wife the land he now lives on during their lives, and at their deaths the said tract of land to be equally divided between his three sons Newbourn William and Major to them and their heirs forever.
Item - I give and bequeath to my daughter Polley a tract of land whereon Franklin Wallace now lives on, the half of the mill side excepted and a conditional time to run across said tract of land beginnning on the top of a clift near ajoining hollow and running strait across said tract also one Negro boy named Lemie to her and her heirs forever.
Item - I give and bequeath to my daughter Lizaanne a certain tract of land lying joining the land I now live on a part of a tract already disposed of to her and her heirs forvever.
Item - All the rest of my household and kitchen furniture cattle, sheep and hogs, one Negro girl named Dinah, after my just debts are paid, I give to my beloved wife during her life then to be equally divided by my executor between my three children, my desire is for the Negro girl not to be sold nor her increase which I want divided in like manner.
And I do lastly annominate and appoint my son Levi Sykes to be my whole and sole executor in this my last Will and Testament, revoking all other wills or bequeaths but not defying this and this only to be my last Will and Testament whanse unto I have set my hand and affixed my seal this day and date first written
James Sykes (seal)
Teste
John Sykes
Noah Sykes
At a Court held in Russell County the 3rd day of April 1855
The last Will and Testament of James Sykes dec’d was produced in Court and proved by the oath of John Sykes and Noah Sykes the subscribing witnesses thereto and ordered to be recorded - And on the motion of Levi Sykes the executor therein named who took the oath of an executor prescibed by law and entered into and acknowledged his bond in the sum of Twenty five hundred dollars with Robert Boyd and James T Litton as his securities conditioned as the law directs. A certificate is therefore granted him for obtaining probate of said Will in due form.
Teste
R. H. Lynch C.C.