NOTE: Spellings have not been changed

In the name of God Amen, I Michael Rickards of Northampton County in Virginia being sick of body but of perfect sense and understanding and calling to mind the certainty of death and the uncertainty of this transitory life do will and ordain this my last will and testament in manner and form followeth,

First - I bequeath my soul unto the Almighty God who gave it in full assurance that at the resurrection both soul and body shall be united in one.. Next I bequeath my body to the Earth from whence it came to be buried as my executrix shall think fit and the rest of my worldly goods dispose on as followeth,

Imprimus - I give and bequeath unto my two sons John and Joseph Rickards to them and their heirs forever that three hundred acres of land which I bought of my son Michael Rickards joining to Hungers Creek to be equally divided betwixt them when my son John shall come at age to be for himself and if either of my two sons John or Joseph shall die without lawfull heirs from their own body then the longest liver of the two John and Joseph Rickards shall enjoy the whole three hundred acres of land he and his heirs forever.

Item I give and bequeath to my son John Rickards one cow and calf and all their increase male and female. I give and bequeath to my son Joseph Rickards one cow and calf and all their increase male and female, I give and bequeath to my daughter Joyce Rickards one cow and calf and all their increase male and female, I give and bequeath to my grandson Michael Godwin one yearling heifer and all her increase male and female, I give and bequeath to William Benthall one yearling heifer and all her increase male and female if his father or any friend think fit to receive her, I give and bequeath to my son Joseph Rickards and to my daughter Joyce Rickards one three year old mare to run in a joint stock betwixt Joseph and Joyce the mare and all her increase male and female till my daughter Joyce come to age and then to be equally divided betwixt them, I give and bequeath to my son Jones Rickards one great chest, I give and bequeath to my son John Rickards one small chest, I give and bequeath to my son William Rickards twelve pence, I give and bequeath to my son Michael Rickards twelve pence, I give and bequeath to my daughter Ann Godwin twelve pence, I give and bequeath to my daughter Elizabeth Dunton twelve pence, I give and bequeath to my daughter Mary Robinson twelve pence, my will and desire is that all these legacies be paid within twelve months after my decease I make and constitute my dear and loving wife Ann Rickards my whole and sole executrix of this my last will and testament and all the rest of my goods and chattles I give and bequeath to my loving wife Anne Rickards hopeing that as she hath been a loving wife to me she will be a carefull mother to my children, my desire is that my three sons Jones, John and Joseph remain with my loving wife till they each attain to the age of twenty one if she remain a widow but if my loving wife Ann Rickards marry then the day before her marriage she shall make a division of all that is left her and divide it into five parts whereof she shall have one, Jones another, John another, Joseph another, and Joyce the other and each of my three sons Jones, John and Joseph Rickards shall be at age at eighteen and my desire is that my beloved friends and neighbors William Brookes and Thomas Powell will be assistance to my wife, children and see that my will be fullfilled where unto I have set my hand and fixed my seal this fourth day of January in the year of our Lord one thousand six hundred eighty seven eight.

Michael Rickards

Signed, sealed and delivered in the presence of us;

Thomas Dunton

Thomas Wood

Robert Clarke

The 28th day of May anno 1688, Then the within written last will and testament of Michael Rickards deceased was proved in open court by the corporal oaths of Thomas Wood and Robert Clarke and the affirmation of Thomas Dunton Sen'r and allowed of and ordered to be recorded.

Teste - Daniel Neech Clk. Cur.

Recorded - Daniel Neech Clk. Cur. Co. Northampton

Walczyk Frank V.  Northampton County Order & Wills) 1686 - 1689, Vol. 11. Coram NY: Peter's Row; pp. 116, 117.