Dated 20 Nov 1821, Probated 20 Jun 1825
Updated November 25, 2022
In the name of God amen. I John GILLIAM Senr. Of the county of Goochland & State of Virginia being of sound mind and of disposing memory (for which I thank the Almighty God) and calling to mind the uncertainty of human life, and being desirous to dispose of all such worldly estate as it hath pleased God to bless me with, I give and bequeath the same in the manner following. That is to say. . .
1st. After my just debts & funeral expenses shall be paid, I give and bequeathe unto my daughter Martha T. Parrish all that parcel of land included in the following boundarys & is supposed to contain one hundred and sixty acres be the same more or less Beginning at tree standing on the North east side of my garden in Sarah Bowles line, thence a North West direction until it intersects a gully or drain thence with the several meanders of said drain to a walnut tree on the South side of said gully, thence a Southwestern course to Holland’s line thence with said line, so far as it continues with my line to the Carters ferry road, thence with said road to the road leading from the Carters ferry road to my house & on to the Beginning including all the buildings, also I give her three negroes Viz. Edmund, Judy and an old woman named Nanny, also one feather bed & furniture, corner cupboard standing in the big room, any horse that she shall make choice of which I may possess at my death, one cart & one yoke of oxen.
Item 2nd. I give unto my son-in-law Tarlton F. Payne all the tract of land I now possess except the lands above described given unto my daughter Martha T. Parrish & the tract which I purchased of Flemming Payne both of which is excepted the said tract of parcel of land given to Tarlton F. Payne I value at the price of ten dollars per acres which sum shall be considered as the legacy given to said T. F. Payne with this proviso. That in case the amt of the said lands should exceed his proportion on an equal distribution with my other children here after to be named he shall pay such excess to my executors to be subject to the same as my other estate not particularly mentioned.
Item 3rd. I give unto my son-in-law David P. Cocke for the benefit of his wife Elizabeth Cocke my daughter one cow & calf to be valued at ten dollars.
Item 4th. I give unto John C. GILLIAM my son one negro man now in his possession by the name of Peter, one Desk which I now have.
Item 5th. I give unto George Layne my son-in-law one cow to be valued at ten dollars.
Item 6th. I give unto all the female children of my daughter Elizabeth Cock which shall be alive & not married at my death, one equal share in my estate not already given, but to make my intentions more full & plain to be understood, it is my full wish & desire that the children of David P. Cock & Elizabeth Cocke my daughter namely Eliza Cocke, Constant Cock, Elizabeth Cocke, Sarah Cocke, Mary Cocke & Susan Cocke shall be entitled to such part of my estate as I should otherwise have given to their mother Elizabeth Cocke my daughter.
Item 7th. I give unto Charles May my son-in-law & Jane his wife one dollar.
Item 8th. I give unto my Grandson Ferdinand Gustavus Frederick May one dollar.
Lastly, It is my will & desire that after the aforesaid legacies are made that the whole of my estate both real & personal including the lands called Cheathams & a small tract near D. P. Cock’s tract which I purchased of Daniel Ford on the Carters ferry road shall be sold on twelve months credit and the amt. Of such sale shall be by my executors equally divided between my children Mary Payne, Sally Layne, Constant Norris & my grandson Ferdinand Gustavus Frederick May have the amt of such part as shall be allotted unto the said F. G. F. May with such other children as my daughter may have shall be put to interest by my executors until the said children shall arrive at mature age & the interest arising thereon shall be yearly paid to his or their mother Jane May.
I so hereby constitute & appoint my sons-in-law Daniel Norris & George Layne executors of this my last will & testament hereby revoking all other or former wills or testaments by me here to fore made. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed my seal this 20th day of November in the year of our Lord 1821.
Sig: John GILLIAM
Signed, sealed, published & declared as & for the last will & testament of the above name John GILLIAM in the presence of us Henry Massie, Wm Williams, John D. Mitchell, Charles Cornelius, John Morrison
Sources
- Goochland County, VA, Book 26, Page 160