Will of James
Hunt,
Clerk of Courts, Charlotte County,
Virginia
Will Book 2,
Pages 74, 75, 76
Transcribed by Brady Fitts
In the
name of God Amen, I James Hunt of
the parish of Cornwall and County of Charlotte being of sound mind and memory
thanks be to God. Knowing that it is
appointed for all men to die do make and ordain this my last will and Testament
in the following manner. First I
recommend my soul to God that gave it and my body to the dust to be decently
buryed at the discretion of my executors hereafter appointed, and as for my
worldly estate with which it hath pleased God to bless me with I do dispose of
it in the following manner. I desire
that all my just debts be paid and my outstanding debts be collected. I give and bequeath to my grandson James Hunt, son of Charles Hunt all that tract of
land which lies unsold on the Branches of Turrible & Cuttawbo creeks in
Halifax County containing by estimate two hundred acres, and is adjoining the
land of Henry Bass to him and his
heirs in fee. I lend Tabatha Hunt widow of my deceased son Charles Hunt one Negro man
Roger during her natural life and
after her death to descend to Nancy Hunt
Huntsman to her & her heirs forever.
I give and bequeath to my two
grandsons James and William P. Hunt sons of James Hunt one Negro man Tom and one feather bed and
furniture already in possession to them
their heirs forever. I give and bequeath
to my son Elijah Hunt one feather
bed and five Negroes Aggy, Stepny, Ben,
Milly and Tom all ready in possession to him and his heirs forever. I give and bequeath to my Granddaughter Sally Hunt daughter of my
dec’d son Nathaniel Hunt one feather bed to her & her heirs
forever. I give and bequeath to my said deceased son Nathaniel Hunts Children Allen
Hunt, John Hunt, Sally Hunt, Nathaniel Hunt and Eustess Hunt two Negros Sherriff and Israel to be equally
divided amongst the said children share and share alike to them and their heirs
forever. I give and bequeath to my son David Hunt one feather bed &
five negroes Abbey, Braddock, London,
Ralph and Squire all ready in possession on his paying to my grandson John Hunt son of John Twenty
five pounds current money of Virginia, when he the said John arrives at lawful age or marries, to him my said son David and his heirs forever. I give & bequeath to my daughter Sarah Craghead one feather bed
& furniture all ready in possession also three Negroes to wit Hannah, Gabrel and Jacob to her &
her heirs forever. I lend to my daughter Mary McGraw the following negroes Betty, Dick, Little Elias, Margery and
Hannah with their further increase for the particular use and support of
the said Mary and her younger
children during her life and at her decease my Will & desire is that the
said Slaves so lent shall descend to such of her children as the said Mary Judge proper to dispose of them
unto either by Will or Deed executed by her in her life time, my Will and
desire further is that the rite and title of said Slaves shall pass and desend
to such Children and their as fully and as amply as if they had been herein particularly named and
further I give to my said daughter Mary one feather bed already in possession
to her and her heirs forever. I
give and bequeath to my son Gilbert Hunt all that Tract of Land
whereon I now live and all I hold adjoining it together with a new Survey
containing in the whole by estimation about one thousand acres, to him &
his heirs in fee. On his paying my Grandson John Hunt son of John the sum
of fifty pounds current money when arrives at lawful age, also I give and
bequeath to my said son Gilbert Hunt,
three negroes Elias, Tillis and John
and one feather bed to him and his heirs forever. I give and bequeath to my granddaughter
May Ann Hunt one negro Annekey
also a young black mare, a saddle and bridle one feather bed and furniture to
her and her heirs forever. I give and
bequeath to my grandson John Hunt, son
of John all that tract of land lying on Strait Stone Creek in Pittsylvania
County adjoining the lands of War Hunt
and Balenger, containing by estimation two hundred and four acres to him
and his heirs in fee also two Negroes Watt
and Annis to him and his heirs forever.
If he should live till he arrives at lawful age or marries, otherwise if
he should die before he arrives at either of the aforesaid periods of life,
then my Will and desire is that the legacy to him devised and bequeathed be
equally divided amongst all my children share & share alike. My Will and desire is that my Tobacco be sold
by my exors for the Best price that may be had.
My Will and desire further is that all the remaining part of my estate
not before mentioned or given away be it of what nature or kind so ever; as
horses, cattle & other stock plantation tools and crops of corn, wheat
& household and kitchen furniture be sold to the highest bidder at public
auction either for ready money or on credit at the discretion of my executors
and the money arising there from together with money for my Tobacco and what
money may be on hand after my debts are paid, and the money Legacy discharged
be equally divided amongst all my children allowing one part to my late son Charles Hunts three children James Hunt,
Sarah Richardson and Elizabeth Huntsman to be equally divided amongst them
allowing one third part to Elizabeth Huntsman
Dec’d children Nancy Hunt Huntsman, and Lemuel Huntsman to be equally
divided between them and to be paid when they arrive at Lawful age or marries
and if either should die before they arrive at the aforesaid period of time
then my desire is that the part of the deceased may go and descend to the one
living and also one other part to my deceased son Nathaniel Hunts five children Allen, John, Sally, Nathaniel and
Eustis to be equally divided between them at the time of receiving the
first mentioned Legacy also on other part to my late deceased son James Hunt children James and William
P. Hunt to be equally divided between them.
And my remaining children Elijah,
David, Gilbert, Sarah & Mary five parts to be equally divided amongst
them share and share alike, lastly I do appoint my three sons Elijah Hunt, David Hunt and Gilbert Hunt
exors of this my last Will and testament and do direct that they shall not be
called on or obliged to give Security and do utterly revoke and disannul all
other Wills formerly by me made and do appoint this to be my Last Will and
Testament. In Witness whereof I have hereunto
set my hand and Seal this 18th day of October 1794.
Wm.
H. Hunt, Elijah Hunt Jr, William Fuqua, Fielder Cage
Jos
Hunt, James (his mark) Turner
At a Court held for Charlotte
County the 7th day of Sepr 1795. This Last Will and Testament of James Hunt
decd. was presented in Court by David
Hunt and Gilbert Hunt the surviving exors herein named and the same was
proved by the Oath of Wm H Hunt, Elijah
Hunt Jur., and Wm Fuqua three of the Witnesses hereto subscribed and
Ordered to be Recorded on the motion of the said executors who made Oath
according to Law certificate is granted them for obtaining probate of the said
Will. The Testor having directed that
his executors should not be compelled to give Security therefore bond and
security is not required by the Court.