The
Rodgers Family |
 |
Will of James Rodgers, "Sr."
In the Name of
God, Amen. I, James Rodgers Junr. of Green County and Western Territory south
of the Ohio, being very sick and weak in body but of perfect mind and memory,
thanks be given unto God, calling unto mind the mortality of my body and knowing
that it is appointed for all men once to die, do make and ordain this my last
Will and Testament. That is to say, principally, and first of all, I give
and recommend my soul into the hand of Almighty God that gave it, and my body
I recommend to the Earth, to be buried in a decent Christian manner at the
discretion of my Executors. And as touching such wordly estate wherewith it
hath pleased God in bless me in this life, I give and dispose of the same
in the following manner, Viz, after defraying funeral expenses and discharging
all just debts, I will bequeath unto my dearly beloved wife Margaret, a Negro
girl named Esther, one sorrel mare seven or eight years old with saddle and
bridle, two cows, on bed and beddings, wit the third of all my movable property,
to her, her heirs and assignees forever. I likewise will that she shall have
the use of the Plantation I now live on during her widowhood, for the support
of her and her children, with all necessary farming utensils.
Item. I likewise will and bequeath to my son Joseph on hundred and fifty acres
of land to be cut of the upper end of my Plantation with five pounds of Virginia
currency to be paid in cash.
Item. I will and bequeath to my son John, and my son Samuel, the plantation I now live on in the following manner, and my son John to have upper end joining my son Joseph, and my son Samuel the lower end, to be divided equally betwixt them in quantity and quality, not withstanding should my son John, or my son Samuel, or either of them, come of age during my wife's widowhood, that they then shall have liberty of improving the woodland belonging to their part as they think proper.
Item. I will and bequeath to my son James and Thomas, the sum of fifty pounds Virginia currency each, to be paid by my sons John and Samuel two years after full possession of their land each paying an equal part.
Item. I will and bequeath to my daughter Sarah on sorrel mare three or four years old with saddle and bridle.
Item. I will and bequeath to my daughter Margaret the sum of fifteen pounds Virginia currency to purchase a horse at her discretion with her saddle and bridle.
Item. I will and bequeath to my daughter Jean, one Negro girl named Hannah, to be her property during said Jean's life and at her death my executors to sell said Negro and after paying the person who had the care of her during her life, what they think sufficient for their trouble, that then the remainder to be divided equally amongst my Legatees. I likewise constitute and appoint my loving wife Margaret my executrix and my Trusty Friends David Fleming and Samuel Froesure my executors to this my Last Will and Testament and I do hereby utterly disallow, revoke and dismal all and every other former Testaments, Wills, Legacies, Bequeasts and Executors by me, in any ways before named, willed and bequeathed; Ratifying and confirming this and no other to be my Last Will and Testament in witness whereof I have herein to set my hand and seal this fifth day of July, in this year of our Lord, one thousand seven hundred and ninety four.
Test.
Signed and Sealed
- James Rodgers
Thomas Rodgers
James Dinwiddie
John Armstrong
