Last Will and Testiment of Johannas Wise - 22 July 1796 - Transcribed by Gail M. Walczyk
In the name of God Amen I Johannas Wise of the parish of St. George and the county of Accomack do make & ordain the following to be my last will & testament. Imprimis I give & bequeath unto my son in law Robison Topping his choice of the rooms in my dwelling house together with the field lying around and adjacent to it as now inclosed also priviledg of postage for his stock and fire wood and rail timber for the support of said fields from wood land all which I give him & his heirs & assigns for the term of tin years from the time my death Item all the remaining part of my land & houses as also the remainder in that part of my land & houses before given to my son in law for tin years I give to my Grandson Solomon Wise for & During the term of his natural life & after his death I give the whole of my said land & houses & the right in remainder of to my Great grandson John Wise son of my grandson Solomon to him his heirs & assigns forever provided however & my will is that my daughter in law Susanna Wise shall hold the houses & tenaments with the orchards & other improvements upon it as the same is now enclosed during her life or widowhood also all other priviledges such as pasturing & which she has heretofore used & enjoyed

Item I give to my daughter Rachel a negro girl called Sarah all my stock of hogs my fowls of every kind & six head of sheep also all crops of what soever kind now growing on my plantation the crops of wheat now made and my old wain & wheels & my leather & wool after cloathing & shoing the family Item My will is that my estate be kept together till the crop is finished & that my said son in law Robison Topping shall have all the provisions now laid in for the family for the purpose of compleating it as also all the other estate till that time

Item I will that my negro woman Kesiah be free from & after the end of this year & my negro man Jacob before as soon as he shall attain the age of twenty five years

Item I will & bequeath all the remaining part of my estate not before disposed of be it of what kind soever to be divided into five equal shares one of which I give to my daughter rebecca one to my daughter Frances one to my daughter Abigail one to my daughter Anne & the remaining one to the Children of my daughter Bridget Lastly I nominate constitute & my sons in law John Topping & Robison Topping & my friend John Wise executor of this my last will in testament whereof I have hereto set my hand & affixed my seal this twenty second day of July in the year of our lord one thousand seven hundred & ninety six.
Johannas Wise
Signed sealed published in presence of
J Wise
Jno Guy
Molly Bonewell

I Johanas Wise do make the following addition to my will which I desire may be taken as part thereof towit whereas I have by my will now in possession of John Wise given to my son in law Robison Topping his Choice of the rooms in my house for the term of tin years I now declare my will to be that the said Robison shall also have the room up Stairs over the one below which he may chose for the same length of time
Signed &c in presence of
James Wise
John Guy
Henry Guy

At a court held for Accomack County February 27th 1798 The said last will & testiment of Johannas Wise decd was proved by John Wise John Guy and Henry Guy Witnesses thereto & ordered to be recorded and on the motion of John Topping taking oath & giving George Scarburgh & Solomon Wise Junr for security who entered & acknowledged a Bond for that purpose certificate is granted him for obtaining a probate thereof in due form
Teste
Litt Savage Clk
Examd

Sources:

_____. Accomack County Virginia Wills &c 1796-1798, pp. 386-388.


© Copyright 2011-2012 by Gail M. Walczyk