Updated November 24, 2022
Background
Lucy Skelton, the daughter of James Skelton and Jane Meriwether married Robert GILLIAM. Lucy is the sister of Bathurst Skelton who married Martha Wayles. Martha married secondly, Thomas Jefferson.
In the name of God, Amen. — Whereas, Meriwether Skelton, Esquire, late of the county of Hanover, deceased, did, by his last will and testament in writing, bearing date the 13th day of March, one thousand seven hundred and seventy-eight, devise his whole estate, therein mentioned to his sisters Jones and Lucy GILLIAM, for life in such proportion as in and by the said will may appear, with power (among other things) to his said sisters to dispose of his estate so devised by will or other writing, particularly to his sister Lucy power to dispose of the whole estate which he possessed in the counties of Goochland and Fluvanna. I, the said Lucy GILLIAM, enabled to do so by the bounty and permission of the Almighty, do, in virtue of the power vested in me aforesaid, make, publish and ordain this my last will and testament, and dispose of the estate aforesaid, in the manner following:
Imprimis: I give to my son John GILLIAM and his heirs forever one moiety, or half part of the tract of land called Elk Island, in James River, in the county of Goochland, and one moiety or half part of a tract of land in the county of Fluvanna adjacent to said Elk Island, both of which said tracts of land whereof the estate of the said Meriwether Skelton, to hold the said moietys, or half parts of the said two tracts of land to him my said son John GILLIAM, and his heirs forever.
Item — I give to my son James Skelton GILLIAM, the other moiety or half part of the said tract of land called Elk Island in James River, in the county of Goochland, and the other moiety, or half part of the tract of land above mentioned, lying in the county of Fluvanna, to hold the said moietys, or half parts of the said two tracts of land to him, my said son, James Skelton GILLIAM, and his heirs forever; but if my said son, James Skelton GILLIAM, should die under twenty-one years of age, and without issue living at the time of his death, then it is my will, and I do hereby order, direct and devise the said moietys, or half parts of the two tracts of land aforesaid to my son Reuben Meriwether GILLIAM and his heirs forever.
Item — I give to my son, John GILLIAM, a bay mare, part of the estate aforesaid, which is now in his possession, and I do hereby give and relinquish to him all my right to the foals she may have from the day of
the date hereof.
Item — I give to my son, James Skelton GILLIAM, a sorrel mare, part of the estate aforesaid, and I do hereby give and relinquish to him all her foals, which are now at Elk Island, or which she may have hereafter.
Item — All the slaves, stocks of cattle, money and whatsoever else of the estate of my said brother Mereweather Skelton, may be in my possession or belonging to me at the time of my death, and was and is intended to be included in the moiety of his said estate subjected to my use and disposal by his will aforesaid I do hereby devise, give, order and direct that the same shall be equally divided among my following children, to-wit: Reuben Mereweather, Elizabeth, Jane Mereweather, Mereweather Skelton, Susanna Bathurst, and Anne, or such of them as shall be living at the time of my death (and the children which either of them who may die in my lifetime) shall leave and be living at my death, the children aforesaid to divide amongst them the share of their deceased ancestor) and the children which may be born after the making of this my will — it being my intent and meaning that such children which I may hereafter have shall take equal shares with my children above named, provided they or either of them be living at the time of my death, such division to be made specifically or by making sale of the said slaves, stocks and personal estate, and dividing the money arising by such sale, at the discretion of my executors hereinafter mentioned, the division to be made as soon as conveniently may be after my death; and finishing the crops on hand, at that time, which crops is to go in the same manner as if this will had never been made.
Lastly, for the due and effectual performance of this my will I do nominate, constitute and appoint my sons John, James Skelton and Rubin Mereweather, executors and trustees thereof, for the purposes aforesaid.
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal, the 23rd day of February, one thousand seven hundred and eighty-four.
Lucy GILLIAM (Seal).
Signed, sealed, published and delivered by the said Lucy I do hereby certify that this GILLIAM, to be her last will will was made with my and Testament, in the consent, presence of us.
William Thomas,
Mary GILLIAM,
John GILLIAM,
Ben. Harrison
John Skelton
I do hereby certify that this will was made with my consent.
Robert GILLIAM,
September 8, 1789
Teste:
Ben. Harrison, Jr.,
John GILLIAM, Jnr., son of Jno. GILLIAM.
At the court held for Prince George county, at the Courthouse, on Tuesday, the eighth day of September, 1789.
The foregoing will and testament of Lucy GILLIAM, deceased, was presented into court by John GILLIAM, junior, one of the executors named therein, who made oath thereto according to law, and the same being proved by the oaths of Benjamin Harrison, Jr., and John GILLIAM, Jr., two of the witnesses thereto, the same is, together with the certificate from Robert GILLIAM respecting the said will, by order of court, truly recorded, and, on motion of the said executor, certificate is granted him for obtaining a probate of the said will in due form.
Teste: C. L. RUSSELL, D. Clerk.
A Copy Teste: H. C. BRITTON, Clerk
Sources
- William and Mary College Quarterly, "Woodhouse - Meriwether - Bathurst - Skelton - GILLIAM. 1904, page 60-64.