Will of WILLIAM ELLIS - Dated 19 May 1766 Recorded 4 August 1766 Spotsylvania County, Virginia - Will Book D page 241,242,243,244

In the name of God Amen. I William Ellis of the county of Spotsylvania being Sick but of Sound Sense and Memory thanks be to God for the same do make and ordain this To be my last will and Testament in manner and form following my Body I recommend to the Earth and my Soul to almighty God who Gave it, and as to what worldly Estate it hath Pleased God to bless me with I Bequeath as follows:
Imprimis
I desire that my just Debts and Funeral Expenses be first Paid Satisfied Item I Give and bequeath to my daughter Mary Proctor one negro wench Judy and all her future Increase and all other things that She has of my Estate in her Possession to her and her heirs forever Item I Give and bequeath ton son Hezekiah Ellis one negro wench Lucy and a negro Boy Ben together with her future Increase and all other things that he has in Possession of my Estate to him and his heirs forever Item I Give and bequeath to my Daughter Elizabeth Hawkins one negro Girl named Milly and all her future Increase together with all other Things that she has of my Estate in her Possession to her and her heirs forever Item I Give and bequeath to my Daughter Ann Oneal one negro wench named Silvia together with her future Increase one Side Saddle to be Purchased out of my Crop now Growing to the value of four Pounds ten Shilling or five Pounds and all other things that she has in her Possession of my Estate to her and heirs forever Item I Give and bequeath to my son William Ellis one negro man named Harry and all other things that I have Given of my other Estate to him and his heirs forever Item I desire that my Executor purchase a young negro wench out of the money due to me and my crops hereafter arising and if that is not Suficient to sell so much of Estate as will be sufficient which said negro I Give my son John Ellis to him and his heirs forever. I also give to my said son John the Choice of my Horses when arises to the age of Twenty years at which time I Desire he may be free as also two Cows and Calves two Ewes and Lambs one feather bed and furniture and as also fifty Shillings Price to be paid for out of Crops to him his heirs forever Item I desire my Executor will Purchase a young negro wench out of the money due to me and my Crops hereafter arising & if that is not suficient to sell as much of my Personal Estate as will be sufficient which said negro I give to my Daughter Agness Ellis to her and her heirs forever I also give to my said daughter Agness when she is of age or marris two Cows and Calves two Ewes and Lambs one feather Bed and furniture and a side saddle to be Purchased out of my Crops of the Price of four Pounds ten shilling or five Pounds to her and her heirs forever Item I lend to my loving wife during her widow hood one negro fellow Peter one negro fellow Jack one negro fellow George Angola Jack Phillis Jenny Venus Roze Bob Ishmael and Alice and their Increase also all my household goods and furniture and all my stocks of all kind that I have not already given away and at her death the whole of the slaves lent to my wife to be divided among all my children or their Legal Representatives to them and their heirs forever and at the Division that my son Hezekiah have his first Choice of Lotts, & my son William the next Choice & afterwards according to the age of my Children and that all the rest of my Estate to be sold at Twelve months Credit and that out of the sale thereof that the Lotts of the negroes be made equal and the Balance to be Equally Divided among my said Children or their Legal Representives If my wife should die before my son arises to the age of Twenty years I desire Robt ONeal may take his Estate into his Possession until he arises to the age of twenty years & that he be accountable for no more than the Profits thereof towards my said son Johns maintainance and if he should not Choose to stay with the said ONeal without ?????? that then my Exctr bind him to the said ONeal untill the age of Twenty Years
If my wife should die before my daughter Agness Arrives to age or marries that then my son Hezekiah take her Estate into his Possession until she arrives to age or marrys and be accountable for no more than the Profits thereof towards her Maintainance
Lastly I appoint my Loving wife my friend Col~ Joseph Brock my son Hezekiah Ellis & my son William Ellis whole and sole Exer & Exo of this my last will and Testament In Witness whereof I have here with unto affixed my hand and seal this nineteenth day of May one thousand seven Hundred sixty six
William Ellis

Signed Sealed Published &}
Declared to be the Testators }
Last will in Presence of }
W Wood
John (his X mark) Gordon
Isaac Willson
James Dudley

At a Court held for Spotsylvania County on Monday August the fourth 1766. The last will and Testament of William Ellis Dec'd being Exhibited into court by Elizabeth Ellis Hezekiah Ellis and William Ellis the Executors therein named was proved by the oath of John Gordon and Isaac Willson witnesses thereto and ordered to be Recorded and the said Executors took the usual oath and gave bond with James Frazer William Bartlett jun~ and James Cunningham Suritys for their due and faithfull admin~ of the said Dec'd Estate and performance of his will.
Teste (not signed)

Know all men by these presents that we Elizabeth Ellis William Ellis and Hezekiah Ellis, Jas Cunningham Jas Frasher & William Bartlett are held and firmly bound to Benjamin Grymes, Joseph Brock John Crane & William Smith Gentlemen Justices of Spotsylvania County now sitting in the sum of Two thousand Pounds Current Money of Virginia to the payment whereof and truly to be made to the sd Justices and their Successors we bind ourselves and Each of us our and Each of our heirs Executors and administrators Jointly and severally firmly by these Presents sealed with our seals this 4 Day of August in the year of our Lord 1766 In the sixth year of the Reign of our sovereign Lord King George the third

The Condition of this obligation is that the above bound Eliz Ellis Wm Ellis Hez Ellis Executors of the Last will and Testament of William Ellis dec'd do make or cause to be made a True and Perfect inventory of all and singular the Goods Chattles Credits of the sd dec'd which have or shall come to the hands Possession or knowledge of them the said Eliz~ William Ellis and Hezekiah or into the hand or Possession of any other Person or Persons for them and the same so made do exhibit or cause to be exhibited into the County Court of Spotsylvania at such time as he shall be thereunto required by the Court and the same Goods Chattles and Credits and all other the goods Chattles and Credits of the sd dec'd at the time of his Death which at any Time after shall come to the hands or Possession of the sd Elizabeth William and Hezekiah or into the hands or Possession of any other Person or Persons for him do well and truly administer according to law and further do make a just true account of his Actings & Doings therein when thereto required the sd Court and also do well and Truly pay and Deliver all the Legacies Contained and specified in the Testament as far as the said goods Chattles & Credits will thereto Extend According to the Value thereof as the law ???? shall Charge him then this Obligation to be Void Otherwise to Remain in Full Force and Virtue

Signed & Delivered } Elizabeth (her X mark) Ellis (Seal)
in Presence of .........}
James Crane
William Ellis (Seal)
Hezekiah Ellis (Seal)
James Cunningham (Seal)
James Frasher (Seal)
William Bartlett Jr (Seal)

At a Court held for Spotsylvania County on Monday August the fourth 1766 Elizabeth Ellis William Ellis Hezekiah Ellis James Cunningham James Frasher and William Bartlett Jun acknowledged this their bond in Court which is ordered to be Recorded
Teste John Waller CSC

Ref: The above document was copied from a Xerox copy of th original as found on the microfilm at the Archives in Richmond, VA