Will Date 7 Jan 1794, Proved 15 Dec 1794
Updated November 25, 2022
In the name of God amen, I John GILLIAM of Goochland County being of sound and perfect mind and memory do make and ordain this my last will and testament in manner and form following to Wit:
I lend my beloved wife Sarah GILLIAM during her natural life thirteen negroe slaves namely George, Jack, Moses, Dick, Davy, Simon, Lewis, Isaac, Jenny, Mary Rachel, Beck, Tamar and my plantation as it stands with all the stock _____ and with all my furniture and plantation utensils.
Item: My will and desire is that at the death of my said beloved wife my executors hereafter named shall purchase two likely negro girls about the age of fourteen years. One of each I give to my daughter Sarah Snead and the other to my daughter Mary Snead to each of them and their heirs forever
Item: I give unto my son John GILLIAM two negro slaves to wit: Nat and Dinah with their increase they being now in his possession to him and his heirs forever
Item: I give unto my son Jacob GILLIAM one negro boy named Billey now in his possession to him and his heirs forever
Item: I give unto my son James GILLIAM one negroe boy named Bristol to him and his heirs forever
Item: I give unto my son William GILLIAM one negroe girl named Dinah to him and his heirs forever
Item: I give unto my daughter Judith Bailey one negroe man named Tom to her and her heirs forever
Item: I give unto my daughter Martha Drake one negroe woman named Sary and a negroe girl named Delph with their increase to her and her heirs forever
Item: I give unto my daughter Celia Cox one shilling sterling
Item: I give unto my son Taylor GILLIAM one negroe named Charles to him and his heirs forever
Item: I give unto my daughter Agnes GILLIAM one negroe girl named Nanny with her increase to her and her heirs forever
Item: I give unto my daughter Susanna GILLIAM one negroe girl named Betty with her increase to her and her heirs forever
Item: I give and bequeath unto my three sons James GILLIAM, Jacob GILLIAM, and Taylor GILLIAM at the death of their mother all my lands to be equally divided among them which I give to each of them and to their heirs forever
Item: At the death of my beloved wife all the negroes lent to her which may then be living with their increase except the two already directed to be purchased for my two daughters Sarah and Mary Snead I give to be equally divided among my eight children to Wit: John GILLIAM, Sarah Snead, James GILLIAM, Taylor GILLIAM, Jacob GILLIAM, Agnes GILLIAM, Mary Snead, and Susanna GILLIAM which I give to each of them and to their heirs forever.
[This does not imply that John had only eight children (see reference to "all" my children below): William, Judith, Martha and Cicely each mentioned above are not in this list. Elizabeth also does not appear, presumably having predeceased her father.]
Item: I give unto each of my daughters Agnes and Susanna GILLIAM one feather bed and furniture now in their possession
All the rest of my estate not being disposed of I will and desire may be equally divided among all my children except my daughter Cecelia which I give to them and their heirs respectively forever
And lastly I constitute and appoint my two sons John GILLIAM and Jacob GILLIAM Executors to this my last will and testament revoking all other wills hereto fore by me made in witness whereof I have ______ my hand and affixed my seal this 7th day of January 1794.
Sig: John (X) GILLIAM
Wit: Thomas F. Bates
Humphrey Parrish
David Parrish
Dec. 15th Court. Proved on oath of Humphrey Parrish & David Parrish and John and Jacob GILLIAM appt. Execs. With bond of 1750 pounds securities Humphrey Parrish, Smith Payne & Robert Payne
In obedience to the amended* order, we the assignees on the second day of January, in the year of our Lord 1807, met at the dwelling house of John GILLIAM deceased and divided the Negroes mentioned in his last will and testament in eight equal shares agreeably to the directory thereof -- in the following manner
We valued the Negroes at 1270.0 pounds which gave each legatee 158.15 pounds, and then parcelled them out so as to make each lot come as near the shares of each as possible and after this arrangement we made the legatees draw for lots in the usual way:
Humphrey Parrish, guardian for Sally GILLIAM, orphan of Taylor GILLIAM deceased drawed Beck, Hannah, and Judith, which being valued at 28.15 pounds more than her share was charged with the payment of said sum to Jacob GILLIAM.
Jacob GILLIAM drawed Simon at 28.15 pounds less than his share and received the said sum from Sally GILLIAM as aforesaid.
Susanna GILLIAM drawed David and Mary valued at 21.5 pounds more than her share and was made chargeable with the payment of 18.5 pounds to James GILLIAM and 2.10 pounds to John GILLIAM.
James GILLIAM drawed Isaac and 18.15 pounds as aforesaid from Susanna GILLIAM.
John GILLIAM drawed Rachel and Moses and 2.10 pounds payable by Susanna and 1.5 pounds of William Sneed.
William Sneed drawed Dick, Jane, and Jack, chargeable with 1.5 pounds as above mentioned. Agness Clements drawed Tamar Vehito*, also Louisa charged with the payment of 26.5 pounds to Charles Sneed.
Charles Sneed drawed Levi with the 26.5 pounds from Agness Clements as above mentioned.
Given under our hands and seals this day and date above written."
Wm. L. Harris, Josiah Leake, Wm. Turner
Sources
- Goochland County, VA, Will Book 16, Page 362
- Goochland County, VA, Will Book 19, Page 803.