1746 Will - George Rives
Introduction
Surry County, VirginiaWill and Deed Book 9, p535
14 May 1746
Transcript
In the name of God, Amen, I George Rives of the Parish of Albemarle in the County of Surry in the Colony of Virginia, Planter, being some what indisposed in health of body but of sound, perfect and disposing mind and memory (Blessed be God) do this the fourteenth day of May in the year of Our Lord Christ, one thousand seven hundred and forty six make and publish this my last will and testament in manner following, vizt:Imprimis, I give unto my loving wife Frances Rives the use of and labor of one negro man slave called Andrew and one negro woman slave called Hannah during her widowhood and in case she marries or dies then the interest and property of the sd slaves shall remain to my son George Rives and as his proper slaves forever.
Item. I devise unto my son John Rives and to the heirs of his body lawfully begotten a parcel or tract of land lying on the north side of Jones Hole Swamp, beginning at the county line at Thweats Branch, thence along the county line to the south fork of the Cherry Orchard Branch, thence down the said Branch to my old line thence through the said Branch to a corner tree thence down the main Branch to Jones Hole Swamp to the mouth of Thweate’s Branch, thence up Thweate’s Branch to the beginning and from the mouth of Thweate’s Branch down Jones Hole swamp to Pasmore’s line thence along Pasmore’s line to a corner road oak, from thence a straight course to the county line.
I likewise give to my son John Rives my negro man slave named Tom and my negro woman slave named Fanny, one negro boy named Robin and one negro girl named Dina and one feather bed and furniture and four pewter dishes and six plates and six spoons and one iron pot and twenty head of cattle and one large hogshead, twenty smaller and my whipsaw and two iron wedges and my sorrel mairs colt and twenty pounds current money.
Item. I devise unto my son George Rives and to the heirs of his body lawfully begotten the land & plantation where I now live containing two hundred acres more or less with all buildings and appurtenances thereto belonging and two hundred and seventy-five acres of land in Prince George county and one negro man slave named Mingo and negro woman slave named Jenny and a negro boy named Mat and a negro girl named Dot and my gun and twenty pounds current money.
Item. I devise to my son Christopher Rives and to the heirs of his body lawfully begotten four hundred acres of land more or less bounded as followeth beginning at the old road on Henry Mitchells line thence down Bigsbys line to the back meadow thence along my line to the fork of the road, thence along the old road to the beginning and two hundred and thirty five acres of land which I have in Brunswick county on the south side of Notoway River. I likewise give my son Christopher Rives a negro man named Roger and a negro woman named Betty and a negro boy named Toney and a negro girl named Kate and one feather bed and furniture and four pewter dishes & six plates and one iron pot and my Trooper’s Arms and twenty pounds current money.
Item. I devise unto my son Timothy Rives and to the heirs of his body lawfully begotten four hundred acres of land more or less bounded as followeth beginning at the fork of the road in the county line and running along the road to my son John’s line at Pasmore's corner tree and down Pasmore’s line to Cotashura Branch thence along Henry Mitchell's line to the old road and along the old road to the beginning. I likewise give my son Timothy Rives one negro man named Peter and my negro boy named Dick and my negro girl Nan and my negro girl Sue and thirty pounds current money.
Item. I give unto my daughter Judith Rives two negro boys named Andrew and Jack and two negro girls Sarah and Phillis and one feather bed and furniture and four dishes and six plates and one iron pot and twenty pounds current money.
Item. I give unto my daughter Frances Rives two negro boys named Little Tom and Ned and two negro girls named Pat & Fanny and one feather bed & furniture and four dishes and six plates and an iron pot and twenty pounds current money.
Item. I devise unto my loving Brother Timothy Rives, and his heirs forever one parcel or tract of land containing two hundred and twenty-five acres more or less in the main fork of the Cherry Orchard Branch where he now lives.
Item, I devise unto my loving Brother William Rives and his heirs forever one parcel or tract of land containing fifty acres more or less where he now lives.
I give unto my loving wife Frances Rives the use and profits of all the rest of my estate during her widowhood and if she marries then that part of my estate to be equally divided between her three sons George, Christopher and Timothy and if she dies to be equally divided between her three sons aforesaid. I likewise give her the use and profit of her children's estate for the bringing them up until she marries or they come to the age of eighteen years at which time my will and desire is that they shall be put in full possession of their estate and if she dies or marries again my desire is my son John Rives shall take care of them and their estates until they come to the age aforesaid and I do appoint my son John Rives sole executor of this my last will and testament in witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal the day and year above written.
Signed sealed published & declared by
the said George Rives as & for his lastGeorge Rives (LS)
will & testament in presence thereof of us
Thomas (his x mark) Davis
Peter Hawthorn
Christopher Tatum
At a court held for Surry County the 20th Day of August 1746 the above Last Will and Testament of George Rives decd was presented in court by John Rives son and heir of the said testator and executor therein named (who refused to take up on himself the said executorship) whereupon Francis Rives widow & relict of the sd Testator made oath thereto according to law and the same being proved by the oaths of Thos Davis Peter Hawthorne & Christopher Tatum the witnesses thereto is by the court ordered to be recorded and on the motion of the sd Francis certificate is granted her for obtaining letter of administration of the said Decedents Estate with the sd Will annexd in due form
Test
Augt Claiborne Clk