Dated 8 Nov 1819
Sussex County, VA
Updated November 24, 2022
I William GILLIAM of the County of Sussex do hereby make my last Will and Testament in manner and form following that is to say,
1st I desire that all the perishable part of my Estate be immediately sold after my decease and out of the monies arising there from pay all my just debts and funeral expenses be paid should the perishable part of my estate prove insufficient for the above purposes then I desire that my Executor hereafter named may sell any part of my personable estate that he think best as out of the monies arising there from pay and satisfy such of my just debts as shall remain unpaid out of the sales of the perishable part of my estate.
2ndly After the payment of my debts and funeral expenses I desire that my plantation Griss Mill and hands be kept and continue to together also the rest of my estate by my executor for the equal benefit of my several grandchildren hereafter named until my grandson John W. Reese shall arrive to the age of eighteen years old at which time I desire that my land and Griss Mill be sold to the best advantage by my executor and that monies arising from the sale of the same to be equally divided between my grandchildren to wit: John W. Reese, Rebecca Reese, Arthur G. Reese, and Cherry T. Reese. I also desire that at the time of my said grandson John W. Reese’s arriving to the age of eighteen years old that the whole of my slaves be equally divided between my several grandchildren heretofore named, I also desire that the stock crop etc. on the plantation at the time of the sale of the land be sold and the monies arising from the sales of the same be equally divided between my several grandchildren heretofore named which legacy together with the _________ I give to them and their heirs forever.
And lastly I do hereby constitute and appoint my son-in-law Edward Reese executor of this my last will and testament, hereby revoking all other or former wills or testaments by me heretofore made,
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this 8th day of November in the year eighteen hundred and nineteen.
Signed, sealed, published, and declared as and for the last will and testament of the above named
Sig: William [his X mark] GILLIAM
In presents of us
Wit: Arthur Williamson, Edmd Reese, Jacob Hughes
At a court held for Sussex County the 7th day of December 1820, the last Will and Testament of William GILLIAM was presented into Court and proved by the oaths of Arthur Williamson and Jacob Hughes two of the subscribing witnesses and ordered to be recorded and on the motion of Edward Reese the Executor therein named who made oath and gave bond and security according to law, certificate is granted him for obtaining a probate thereof in due form.
Teste G.[?] C. Bailey, Clk
[This William GILLIAM is the son of Arthur GILLIAM and Elizabeth Webb, his wife. William, married Cherry Tyus on 5 Jan 1789, the daughter of Benjamin Tyus and Elizabeth Williamson, his wife. William should not be confused with the other William GILLIAMs of Sussex.]
Sources
- Sussex County Wills, Will Book I, Page 139.