1814 WILL OF THOMAS MORGAN

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1814 WILL OF THOMAS MORGAN


Prince Edward County, Virginia
Will Book 4, Page 537

Considering the uncertainty of this mortal life and being of sound mind and memory, Blessed be Almighty God for the same, I do make and publish this my last will and testament in manner and form following. That is to say,

I give and bequeath to my daughter Elizabeth Morgan two negro girls named Sally and Lisa, one yoke of steers and cart, also my hogs (if she chooses them). And, I give her choice of two of my horses except the gray mare. I give to her all my household and kitchen furniture, except what I shall hereafter name. I give to my daughter Elizabeth all the crop of corn and fodder on the plantation; also five head of sheep, four cows and calves, and wheat fan; also my still, but the still only subject to the use of my son James Morgan jointly with herself. I lend to her the tract of land whereon I now live during her natural and single life, but if my daughter Elizabeth should leave the plantation, marry, or died, then my will is that my still should go to Thomas T. Morgan, my grandson, and James Morgan, my son, jointly.

I give to son William Morgan one negro man named Dick, but William Morgan is to pay Robert Morgan five pounds per annum for three years beginning the first day of June after my decease to him and his heirs forever.

I give to my son Joseph H. Morgan one negro man named Jacob, but the said Joseph H. Morgan is to pay my son Robert Morgan five pounds per annum for three years beginning the first day of June after my decease, to him and his heirs forever.

I give to my son James Morgan one tract of land whereon he now lives, and one half of my still to him and his heirs forever.

I give to my son Terrel Morgan one negro man named Ned, but the said Terrel Morgan is to pay my son Robert Morgan five pounds per annum for three years beginning the first day of June after my decease, to him and his heirs forever.

The negro woman Elsa in possession of Benjamin Faris, I lend her and her increase to Benjamin Faris until George B. Faris arrives to age or marries, and then my will is that Elsa and all her increase be equally divided between George B. Faris and Joseph H. Faris, my grandsons, to them and their heirs forever.

I give to Nathaniel Shepperson that married my daughter Nancy one silver dollar, to him and his heirs forever.

I give to my daughter Rebecca Ewing one negro woman named Jane and one negro girl named Rose, to her and her heirs forever.

I give to my grandson Thomas T. Morgan one negro girl named Tillah one gray mare, one cow and calf, one bed and furniture; but upon the receipt of the same he, Thomas T. Morgan, is to pay to his father twenty dollars.

After the death or marriage of my daughter Elizabth Morgan, then and in that case, I give to Thomas T. Morgan, my grandson, with what I have already given him, the tract of land whereon I now live and half of my still jointly with my son James Morgan, to him and his heirs forever.

I give to my grandson George B. Ewing one Negro girl named Mariah, to him and his heirs forever.

My will and desire is that, after all my just debt is paid, all that part of my estate that is not expressly devised (except the money that may be left in my house) should be divided equally among all my surviving children (as following): William Morgan, John Morgan, Robert Morgan, Terrel Morgan, James Morgan, Joseph Morgan, Elizabeth Morgan, and Rebecca Ewing. The money, if there should be any left in my house, my will is that it should be divided so as my daughter Elizabeth Morgan should receive two dollars and the rest of my children one dollar, and so on until the whole of the money is divided.

My will is that after I have made preparation for another crop, that my Negroes and stock should be kept together for that purpose, except the negro man that I have given to my son Joseph.

My will is that my son Joseph should take the Negro man Jacob at my decease as it respects the negroes given to my daughter Rebecca Ewing. My meaning and intention is that my daughter Rebecca Ewing shall have the use of the negroes willed to her during her natural life, and at her death to be equally divided between all her children.

The negro man Dick that I have given to my son William Morgan, my will and intention is that, in all probability, my son William Morgan will never marry and, in that case, after his death, then the negro man Dick to go to Benjamin Faris�s two children heretofore mentioned in my will.

I give to John Morgan the twenty dollars heretofore mentioned to be paid to him by my grandson Thomas T. Morgan when he arrives to age or marries, at which time he, Thomas t. Morgan, will receive his portion of my estate except the land and still heretofore given to him and his heirs forever.

And, lastly, I do hereby appoint James Morgan and James Ewing my executors. My will is that my executors shall not be bound to give security to this my last will and testament, revoking all others heretofore made.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this 5th day of December one thousand eight hundred and fourteen.

Thomas Morgan (his mark)

Signed, sealed and acknowledged in presence of us.

Teste: Archer Womack, Povall Carter, John M. Cunningham, James Hix

At a court held for Prince Edward County, December the 19th, 1814, this last will and testament of Thomas Morgan, deceased, was presented in court and proved by the oaths of Archer Womack, Povall Carter, John M. Cunningham, and James Hix, four witnesses thereto. Ordered that the same be recorded.

On the motion of James Ewing and James Morgan, executors therein named, they entered into and acknowledged their bond for that purpose, in the penalty of seven thousand dollars, conditioned according to law, and took the oath required by law. Certificate for obtaining a probate thereof in due form is granted.

Teste: B.J. Worsham, Deputy Clerk