[Source: longhand 1900 by Isa Garteray Urquhart Glenn, and from Merrow Egerton Sorley's The Lewises of Warner Hall]
In the name of God, Amen.
I, Charles Lewis of Goochland County and Parish of St. James Northam being of sound mind and disposing sense and memory do make constitute and ordain and appoint this writing to be my last will and testament in manner and form following, that is to say—I give and devise and bequeath to my loving wife Mary Lewis during the time of her natural life the free use and profits and full enjoyment of my whole estate both real and personal, without impeachment of waste, and after her decease I give and dispose thereof, as follows: to wit: I give and bequeath to my son Charles Lewis and his heirs forever four hundred acres of land in Albemarle County, commonly called Buck Island tract with all and singular its appurtances. I give and bequeath to my son Robert Lewis and his heirs and assigns forever, all that tract of land in which I now live called by the name of the Bird tract together with all the appurtances, also five acres of land which I purchased of Edmund Rice, also my stick, my clock, great glass, and twenty of his choice out of my stock of cattle, meaning the horned or black cattle.
It is my desire and will that after my wife's decease that my son Howell shall have his first choice of all my negroes, and that my son Robert should have his second choice of all my negroes and that after my son Howell and my son Robert has so made their choice of a negro each, that there should be seven of my youngest negroes set apart from the others of my slaves. I give and devise to my sons John, Charles, Howell and Robert and their heirs as follows, that is to say: To my son John three, to my son Charles two, to my son Howell one and to my son Robert one, which I do in order to make the number of slaves to these sons equal to what I gave my son James in his life time, and the division and partition of the said same slaves among my said sons John, Charles, Howell and Robert, a divide may be made the drawing the names of the said slaves by lot or otherwise as they my said sons can agree.
My will and desire further is, that on the death of my wife, all the rest and residue of my estate not herein otherwise disposed of, may be divided into eight equal parts or portions I give and devise and bequeath to each of my sons and daughters respectively or their heirs, viz.: John Lewis, Charles Lewis, Howell Lewis, Robert Lewis, Elizabeth Kennon, Anne Taylor, and Frances Lewis and the other eighth part or portion to the sons and daughters of my son James Lewis, deceased, and to their heirs and legal representatives respectfully. And lastly I constitute and appoint my loving wife Mary, Executrix and my sons John, Charles, Howell, Robert, with my friend William Haleman, Executors of this my last will and testament, hereby revoking and disannulling all former and other wills by me at any time made, desiring that my estate be not appraised, and that no security be demanded of my Executrix or Executors in the probate of this my last will. In witness thereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this first day of September one thousand seven hundred and seventy nine.
Charles Lewis (SEAL)
In witness whereof I have here
unto set my hand and affixed my seal,
This 21st day of September, 1779
Signed, sealed and published by the said Charles Lewis, the Testator as and for his last Will and Testament in presence of us, the subscribers, who in his presence and at his request subscribed our names as witnesses there.
Anna Harrison
Milley Cobbs
William Harrison
© 1993-2008 Helen Glenn Court | All rights reserved