Dated 7 Nov 1814
Sussex County, VA
Updated November 24, 2022
In the name of God, Amen, I, William GILLIAM, of the county of Sussex and State of Virginia, being in perfect mind and memory and calling to mind the uncertainty of human life and knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die do make and ordain this to be my last will and testament in the manner and form following to wit:
I give and bequeath to my friend John Briggs the following negroes namely Abraham, and Judy, sister of Abraham and all her children they and their increase to him and his heirs forever.
Item, I give and bequeath to my relation, John William GILLIAM, son of Samuel GILLIAM of Brunswick County when he arrives at the age of one and twenty years four more of my negroes except those give by me in this will as particular legacies none to be removed from the plantation on which they respectively live at the time of my decease before he John William GILLIAM arrives at the age of twenty-one.
The land and plantation where I now live in the county of Sussex also my land and plantation in Surry County know by the name of Howard’s lying and adjoining the Black Water Swamp also my land and plantation on the Atterdam [Otterdam] Swamp in Surry County together with all the negroes on all three of the aforesaid plantations except those give away in this will as particular legacies.
The said negroes and their increase together with all the stock of horse, cattle, sheep and hogs and crops of every description that may be on the said plantations at the time of my decease to him and his heirs forever.
I give and bequeath to my friend Little Berry Clarke one negro woman named Kate to him and his heirs forever.
Item. I give and bequeath to my friend Sue Irby, daughter of my old friend John Irby deceased, my houses and lots in that part of the town of Petersburg called Blandford to her and her heirs forever.
Item. I leave the land in Surry County near Cabin Point containing three hundred acres which was conveyed to Robert Smith Ruffin, for the loan of 100 pounds and recorded in the county court of Surry and the money arising from the sale of said land I give and bequeath to my friend Littleberry Chapple to him and his heirs forever.
Item. My will and desire is that my negro girl Dicy be comfortable supported on my estate for the tern of 15 years from the time of my decease and she the said Dicy to have ten dollars a years to be paid to her yearly out of my estate by my executor hereafter named.
Item. The residue and remainder of my estate of what kind so ever it may be I give and bequeath to my relative John Wm. GILLIAM of Brunswick County, to him and his heirs forever.
Last, I constitute and appoint my friend Samuel GILLIAM of B. County and Major John Peter of Surry County executors of this my last will and testament.
In witness whereof I have herewith set my hand and seal this the seventh day of November 1814.
William GILLIAM
Signed, sealed and acknowledged by the writer named Wm. GILLIAM to be his last will and testament in the presence of us:
_________ Parker
Wm. J. Hill
Sources
- Sussex County Wills, Will Book H, Page 124