John Rodgers's Will 31 October 1756 - COPY - Transcribed by Gail M. Walczyk
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In the Name of God Amen I John Rodgers Sr. of the
county of Accomack &c do make and Ordain this my Last Will and Testament in manner
and form as following. Imprimis I give my soul into the Hands of God that gave it
me, and my Body to be Buried in a Christian like and Decent manner. As for my Worldly
Goods as God have been Pleased to bestow on me I Give and Bequest followeth
Item
my will is that my wife Elizabeth Rogers shall have injoy the whole use and Benefit
of All my Estate Real and Personal during her Widowhood
Item I give my son Abel
Rodgers my Land and Plantation on that I now live on and I also Give him one Negro
woman Call'd Hannah, and one Negro Man Call'd Peter I also give him one Black Walnut
Table and one large Looking Glass and one large Pot.
Item I give unto my son Robert
Rodgers one Negro Woman Call'd Philis and one Negro Boy Call'd Jacob and my Writing
DeskI give to my Son Richard Rodgers one Negro Man Call'd Tom and one Negro Boy Call'd
Joshua and one Negro Girl Call'd Annis, my case of bottles and the large Chest of
Drawers,
Item I give unto my Daughter Anne Rodgers one Negro Girl Call'd Janny
and one Negro Boy Call'd Billy and one Negro Boy Call'd Ladus and also I give to
my daughter Anne Rodgers that Chest of Drawers that stands up Stairs I Also give
to Margaret Cloud one Feather Bed and Furniture. My will is if either of my four
Children should Die without heirs lawfully begotten of their Body their Part of my
Estate to be Equally Between the other that is living
Item I give unto my Grandson
Robt. Rodgers Son of Abel Rodgers and my Grandson Robt. Rodgers Son of Robert Rodgers
all the Negro Children that shall be born in my family from this Date During my wifes
Life or Widowhood and further my Will is that my Estate be neither Inventoried nor
appraised and further my Will is that after my wifes Death or Marriage that all my
estate that is left shall be equally Divided between my three Children Robert Richard
and Anne Rodgers, Also appointing my loving Wife Elizabeth Rodgers my Executrix,
and my son Abel Rodgers and Robert Rodgers Exctors of my last Will and Testament
As
Witness my hand October 31st 1756
John Rodgers
Signed Sealed and
Delivered
in Presence of us
John Rodgers
Peter Rodgers
John Smith
This
will was proven and ordered to be recorded Jan. 25 1757
Sources:
_____. Accomack County VA Chancery Causes, 1727-1805. Exr of James Powell vs Elijah Watson 1792-005 [1799]. Local Government Records Collection, Accomack County Records. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia. Accessed 26 January 2012.
© Copyright 2012 by Gail M. Walczyk