Dated 21 Sep 1771, Recorded 18 Mar 1773
Updated November 24, 2022
In the Name of God Amen. I Faithy Roberts of Sussex County being of perfect mind and Memory thanks be to Almighty God and calling to Remembrance the Uncertainty of human life and that all flesh must yield to death do make this my last will and Testament in manner and form following first I commend my soul to Almighty God who gave it me trusting in the merits of my Crucified Saviour for the remission of my Sins and as to settling what temporal Estate It hath pleased Almighty God to Bestow upon me I dispose of as follows (to wit)
Imprimis I give and bequeath unto my son Willut Robarts one Iron Pott to him and his Heirs for ever
Item I give and bequeath to my son Benjamin Robarts all my Stock of Cattle Sheep and Geese one Feather Bed and Furniture one Bell Mettle Skillet and half a Dozen Chairs also all my Crop of Tobacco after paying the sheriff my Dues to John GILLIAM what I owe him and to William Robarts Twenty shillings worth of Cloth out of a Store all this I give to him and his Heirs for ever
Item I give and bequeath to my Daughters Mary and Sarah Roberts and son Benjamin Roberts three Sows and her five year old Hogs to be equally divided this I give to them and their Heirs for ever.
Item I give and bequeath to my Daughter Mary Roberts my best Spinning Wheel and Side Saddle to her and her Heirs for ever.
Item I give and bequeath to my Daughter Mary Robarts and son Benjamin Robarts all my Cotton after the Cotton towe is paid to be equally divided to them and their Heirs for ever
Item I give and bequeath to my Daughters Mary and Sarah Roberts all my Crop of Wheat my wearing apparel and New Cloth to them and their Heirs for ever
Item I give and bequeath to my Children John GILLIAM Ann Jones Mary Roberts Sarah Roberts William Roberts and Benjamin Roberts all my Crop of Corn and Peas to be Equally divided to them and their Heirs for ever
Item my Crop of Fodder I desire may be left for the use of Mary Roberts Sarah Roberts & Benjamin Roberts according as they shall have need for wintering their Creatures
Item all the rest residue and Remainder of my Estate after my debts are paid I desire may be sold and Equally divided amongst my Six following Children to wit, John GILLIAM, Ann Jones, Mary Robarts, Sarah Robarts, Willut Robarts and my will and desire is that my said Estate may not be appraised
Lastly I appoint my Son Benjamin Roberts my whole and sole Executor of this my last Will and Testament In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my Seal this Twenty first day of September Anno Domini One Thousand Seven Hundred and Seventy one
Signed Sealed and Acknowledged
Sig: Faithy Robarts
in the presence of us
Wit: Patrick Lashley, John Wesson
At a Court held for Sussex County the 18 day of March 1773
The last Will and Testament of Faithy Roberts deceased was presented this Court by Benjamin Roberts the Executor therein Named who made Oath thereto as the Law directs and the Same was passed by the Oath of Patrick Lashley one of the Witnesses thereto and by the Court ordered to be Recorded and on the motion of the said Executor Certificate is granted him for obtaining a probate thereof.
Teste A Claiborne (Seal)
[Southside Virginian Genealogies by John W. Pritchett (formerly Virginians.com) mistakenly reads Faithy Roberts as Timothy Roberts. He states that "Timothy" lists the same heirs as Willard Roberts and is, therefore, likely a son of Willard. Pritchett states that Ann Jones and John GILLIAM mentioned in the Will of "Timothy" Roberts are presumably a daughter and a son-in-law of "Timothy" Roberts, respectively. The heirs of "Timothy" are the same as Willard's for in fact, "Timothy" is "Faithy" Briggs, the second wife of Willard. Ann Jones is Ann GILLIAM who married James Boisseau Jones and John GILLIAM is Ann's brother, both Ann and John being Faithy's children by her marriage to Hinchea GILLIAM.]
Sources
- Sussex County, VA, Will Book C, Page 34