Will of George Reeves
Spotsylvania County, Virginia
Will Book B, Pgs 183-184
Written 20 Nov 1753, Probated 5 Mar 1754
Transcription
In the Name of God Amen Novr 20th 1753 I George Reeves of the County of Spotsylvania being sick and weak in Body but of present mind and Memory/Thanks be to God and knowing that it is appointed to all Men once to Die I recommend my soul into the hands of God who Gave it and my Body to the Earth to be buried in a decent Manner and as to my worldly Estate with which it hath pleased god to bless me I give and bequeath it in the following manner ~Imprimus I give and bequeath to my Nephew Thomas Reeves the son of Thomas Reeves all that Tract of Land I now live upon with the Improvements and Buildings thereon to hold him & his heirs forever but if he should die without Issue lawfully begotten then his brother George Reeves to enjoy & possess the said Land he and his heirs forever ~
Item I give and bequeath to my Nephew Henry Reeves the son of Thomas Reeves all the Lands I now hold lying in Essex County to hold him and his Heirs forever and if he should die without Issue lawfully begotten then his Brother John Reeves to Enjoy and possess the said Lands he and his heirs forever Also I give and Bequeath to my Niece Patience Ball the Daughter of Joseph Reeves one Negro Woman Named Nanny and her Increase from this Day to her and her heirs forever ~
Also I give and bequeath to my Sister Elizabeth Allen Three Negroes Namely Kate Harry & Sarah and their Increase from this day to her and her heirs forever
Also I give and bequeath to my Niece Sarah Attwood three Negroes Namely Benedict Sarah & Will and their Increase from this Day to her and her heirs forever If She Should die without Issue lawfully begotten of her Body then my sister Elizabeth Allen to Enjoy & possess the said Negroes she and her heirs forever ~
Also I give and bequeath to my Niece Patience Gatewood two Negroes named Judith and Hannah and their Increase from this Day to her & her heirs forever But if she Should die without Issue lawfully begotten of her Body then her Sister Elizabeth Copland to Enjoy and possess the said Negroes She and her heirs forever ~
Also I give and bequeath to Elizabeth Copland Six Negroes Named Cambridge Nelly Violet Rosse Lucy Barkus and their Increase from this day to her and her heirs forever ~
Also I give and Bequeath unto my Sister Elizabeth Allen my best looking Glass to her and her heirs forever ~
Also I give and Bequeath to Mr. Robert Copeland my Sword & Belt and Silver Cup to him and his heirs forever ~
Also it is my will that my three Negroes named General Dick and Georg together with my whole Moveable Estate shall be sold like wise my crop of corn and Tobacco both in the House and Field and that out of the Money arising therefrom my Debts shall be paid and what may remain after my Debts be paid shall be given to my brother Thomas Reeves to him and his heirs forever ~
Also It is my Will that None of my Negroes shall be removed from the Crop between the last day of March and the twenthieth and fifth Day of December following
Also it is my Will and Desire that my Sister Elizabeth Allen shall have the care of Sarah Atwoods Estate till she arrives at the age of Eighteen of till the day of her Marriage ~
Lastly I constitute and Appoint my Brother Thomas Reeves and Peter Copeland the Exrs of this my last will & Testament in Witness whereof I confirm this to be my last Will and Testament given under my hand and Seal this twentieth Day of November Anno Domini One Thousand Seven hundred and fifty three ~
Signed Sealed & Delivered George (his R mark) Reeves (Seal)
In the presents of us..}
Henry Buchanan
John Crane
Theodore Morrison
At a Court held for Spotsylvania County on Tuesday March the 5th of 1754
The last will and Testament of George Reeves Decd being Exhibited and Sworn to in
Court by (unlisted in original) Peter Copeland Executor therein Named & was proved by the Oaths of Henry Buchanan & Theodore Morison two of the witnesses thereto & Ordered to be Recorded.
Test - W. Waller Cl Crt