WILL

WILLIAM MADDOX

Buckingham/Prince Edward Co., VA

April 9, 1800

 

 

I, William Maddox, of Buckingham County, being in health and perfect memory, do make, constitute and appoint this instrument my last Will and Testament as followeth: 

 

Imprimis,            I give and bequeath unto my son, David Maddox, 100 acres of land whereon he now lives, to be laid off adjoining Michael Maddox, William Watt, and John Stewart, to be laid off by my executors hereafter named, as they shall think best, which said land I give him and his heirs forever. 

 

Imp’r.. I give and bequeath unto my son James Maddox, 100 acres of land the upper part of my tract whereon I now live, adjoining John Stewart, Jeffrey Peak, dec’d., John Land and John Lippard, to be laid off by my executors as they shall think best, which said land I give to him and his heirs forever. 

 

Imp’r.               I leave the balance of my tract whereon I live, which has not yet been heretofore given or devised, to my beloved wife, Agness Maddox, during her natural life, and after her decease, I give and bequeath the above remainder of my land unto my son, Jacob Maddox, to him and his heirs forever. 

 

Inp’r.                I give and bequeath unto my son, William Maddox’s children, to wit, Thomas, William, Josiah, Elliss, Wilson, Stephen, Elizabeth and Sarah, five pounds cash to each of them, to them and their heirs forever. 

 

Imp’r.               I give and bequeath unto my daughter, Elizabeth Tuly, all the negroes she now has in possession given to her heretofore, with their future increase, to her and her heirs forever. 

 

Imp’r.               I give and bequeath unto my daughter, Judith Anderson, all the negroes which she now has in possession, given to her heretofore, with their future increase, to her and her heirs forever. 

 

Imp’r.               I give and bequeath unto my son, Michael Maddox, all the negroes he now has in possession, which has been heretofore given him, with their future increase, to him and his heirs forever. 

 

Imp’r.               I leave unto my beloved wife, Agness Maddox, one negro girl named Juno, with her future increase, during her natual life, and after my wife, Agness’s decease, the said negro, Juno, with her increase, is to be equally divided between all my children had by my wife, Agness, to them and their heirs forever. 

 

Item.                It is my will and desire that the remainder of my negroes which have not been heretofore given and devised, shall be kept together for the purpose of supporting my wife, Agness, and raising my young children until they shall all arrive to lawful age or marry, then the above negroes to be equally divided between my seven youngest children, to wit

 

David, Mary, James, Sukey, Jacob, Martha, and Jenny, which said negroes with their future increase, I give to my seven children above named, devised to them and their heirs forever.  But if my wife, Agnes Maddox, should think it necessary or convenient to lend any of the aforesaid negroes to any of our children above named, she shall be at liberty to do so. But if any of my children above named should die without heir before they arrive to lawful age, the proportion of negroes which would have fallen to them, shall be equally divided between all the surviving children, which I had by my last wife, Agness Maddox, to them and theirs forever. 

 

Imp’r.               I give and bequeath unto each of my youngest children, to wit, Mary, James, Sukey, Jacob, Martha and Jenny, one cow and calf, one feather bed and furniture, to be given to them as they arrive to lawful age or marry, which I give to them and their heirs forever.  It is my will and desire that the remainder of my estate which has not heretofore been given and devised, after the payment of all my just debts and legacies, be equally divided between all my children had by my last wife, Agness, and my wife Agness, at the time of my youngest child should arrive to lawful age or marry, which I give to them and their heirs forever, except my wife’s part, which she shall keep only during her natural life, and after her decease, it shall be equally divided among the seven heirs forever. 

 

Item.                I give and bequeath unto my two daughters, Elizabeth Tuly and Judith Anderson, five pounds cash each of them, to be paid out the above remainder before any division is made, to them and their heirs forever. 

 

I constitute and appoint my two sons, Michael and David Maddox and my friend, David Anderson, executors, of this my last Will and Testament, revoking all other Wills.  In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this 9th day of April, 1800.

 

                                                                                                          William Maddox -----(Seal)

 

Signed, sealed and delivered in the presence of

Nathaniel Venable

Francis Elliss

Elizabeth M. Allen

 

 

At a Court held at Prince Edward Courthouse, Sept. 1st., 1801, This last Will and Testament of William Maddox, Dec., was presented in Court and proved by the oaths of Nathaniel Venable and Francis Elliss, two of the witnesses thereto, Ordered, that the same be recorded.

 

On motion of Michael Maddox and David Maddox, two of the executors therein named, who with Daniel Barksdale and Nathaniel Lancaster, entered into and acknowledged their bond for that purpose in the penalty of ten thousand pounds and conditioned according to law and took the oath required by law, Certificate for obtaining probat thereof in due form is granted them and leave is given the other executor to take execution thereof at another day.

 

                                                                         Teste,

                                                                                       F. Watkins, C.D.C.

 

 

 

Will of William Maddox (4/9/1800 ---9/1/1801).

District Court Book 1, p. 20

 

Contributed by W. S. Morton, Farmville, Va.

Excerpted from “Prince Edward County Records” by

W. S. Morton, TQ, XIV  (1933), 161-164