1 Nov 1799
Updated November 25, 2022
Indicates that I have on file a copy of the original document.Overview:
William GILLIAM married Christian Eppes and lived at Weston.
In the name of God amen, I William Gilliam of the Parish of Bristol and County of Prince George do make and ordain this to be my last Will and Testament vizt
Imprimis: I give and bequeath unto my wife Christian the plantation whereon I now live with the negroes except those hereafter mentioned and stocks and every kind also every other article appertaining or belonging thereto during her natural life.
Item I give unto my wife Christian all my Negroes, stocks and crops at Flow de Hundred during her natural life and also one-third of the profits of my vessels during their continuance in the employment they now are in.
Item I give unto my wife Christian all the negroes I received with her and their increase to be disposed of in what manner she may please to my children and their heirs forever.
Item I give and bequeath unto my son John after his mother’s death and after marries or arrives to the age of twenty-one years the plantation whereon I now live with all the stocks of every kind to him and his heirs forever with all the household furniture.
I give unto my son John my water lott in that part of Petersburg called Blandford lately occupied by Harris and Sturdivant and John Green and my Lott at Broadway to him and his heirs forever.
Item I give to my youngest son, not yet Christened, my plantation in Amelia County after he arrives to the age of twenty on or marries with the stocks of every kind thereon to him and his heirs forever.
Item I give to my youngest son above mentioned my lott No 16 in that part of Petersburg called new Blandford to him and his heirs forever.
Item I give unto my son, John, two negroe boys Paul and one form Amelia plantation as near his age as may be which are to be bound some trade by executors and when they have served their time are to be delivered to him and his heirs forever.
Item I give unto my youngest son two negroe boys Tom and a boy from my Amealy [sic] plantation as near his age as may be to be bound in the same manner as the other two above mentioned to him and his heirs forever.
Item it is my Will and I do order that my estate not given my wife be kept together by my executors and the profits thereof be applied to the support and education of my children in the manner my executors may think best.
Item I give unto my son John and my youngest son and my daughters Elizabeth and Jane all my negroes not before devised in fee simple to be equally divided between them and their heirs forever.
Item it is further my Will and desire that my vessels be kept in the same employ they are present are in as long as my executors think it profitable and that they allow John Blackwell fifty pounds per annum to super___ them as long as they find him attentive and the business will admit of it and the profits arising from them except the one third before given my wife be applied to the support and education of my children in what ever manner my executors may think best in case after a trial my vessels should be thought by my executors un_____ to my estate and not worth the trouble that they must be at to keep them in the employment they now are in they shall be at liberty to sell them and apply the money arising form the sale to the support and education of my children and I do order that my watermen be kept in my vessels until such sale does take place they being always excepted in the devise made my wife.
Item it is my Will land I do order that my executors finish the vessel I am now building in partnership with Mr. Robert Maitland and that he shall have the sole management and direction of her so long as he holds a part of her and that he pay annually my proportion of profits to my executors for the benefit of my children but if Mr. Maitland should sell his part of the vessel then mine is to be sold and the money to be applied as provided in the sale of my other vessels.
Item It is my will that of the provision herein made for the support of my children should not be found sufficient for that purpose my executors may sell any part of my estate they may think proper for their support and education.
Item it is further my will that if either of my sons should die under the age of twenty one and with a child living at the time of such death then I give all the land herein given to the survivor and his heirs forever.
Lastly I do appoint my wife Christian, my brother-in-law Archibald Eppes and my nephew Benjamin Harrison and John Gilliam executors of this my last Will and Testament and I do order that no appraisement of my estate be made. I hope my executors will not refuse me the favour to act.
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this 1st day of November seventeen hundred and ninety-nine, 1799.
William Gilliam
Signed, sealed and acknowledged in presence of us:
Walter McIndoe
Robertson Eppes
At a court of quarterly sessions continued and held for Prince George County at the Courthouse on Thursday the 13th day of March 1800.
This last Will and Testament of William Gilliam dec’d was presented into Court and proved by the oaths of Walter McIndoe and Robertson Eppes, the Witnesses thereto and by order of the Court it is truly recorded.
Teste Peter Williams, Clk
A copy Teste Jno Jas. Thweatt, CPGC
2nd June 1813
Sources
- Virginia Museum of History and Culture. Friend, Benjamin Carter Minge, 1846-1926. Friend family. Papers, 1792-1871 (bulk 1839-1871). Section 5. Mss1 F9156 a 5, Commonplace book, 1792-1860, kept by Benjamin Carter Minge Friend containing wills (copies) probated in Prince George County, Va., of Archibald Eppes [pp. 22-23], Christian (Robertson) Eppes [pp. 6-7], Richard Eppes (1736-1792) [pp. 3-5], Robertson Eppes [p. 18], John Gilliam (1712-1774) [pp. 1-2], John Gilliam (1761-1823) [p. 24], and William Gilliam (d. 1800) [pp. 19-21].