1799 - Cawthon to Kate - Goochland Co, VA

1799 - Cawthon to Kate - Goochland Co, VA

11/18/1799

1

In the name of God Amen. I Gideon Cawthon of the county of Goochland & parish of St. James Northam, being through the abuses and mercy and goodness of God of a sound and perfect understanding and memory and knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die have thought fit to make this my last will and testament and revoking all others desire it to be derived by all as such. Imprimis. I bequeath my soul to god that gave it, not despairing of his kind reception of the same through the merits and mediation of my most compassionate redeemer Jesus Christ (imprimis) I bequeath my body to the earth to be buried in a Christian like manner. As to my worldly goods which it hath pleased almighty god to bless me with I dispose of in form and manner following. Item my will and desire is that all my just debts be paid. Item I give unto my friend Dabney Wade one hundred pounds Virginia currency to him and his heirs forever. Item. I give and bequeath to my friend John Lovall the sum of fifty pounds to him and his heirs forever. Item. I give to my friend Tempey Gannon the sum of twenty five pounds to her and her heirs forever. Item I give and bequeath to my five friends, Susanna Stephen, Elizabeth More, Judah Atkins, Mary Childress, Sarah Childress, daughters of William Childress the sum of seventy five pounds to be equally divided amongst them to them and their heirs forever. Item I give and bequeath to my friend James Houseman the land whereon I now live after the death of my negro woman Kate, to him and his heirs forever, also my will and desire is that if my negro woman Kate has any children born after my death that my friend James Houseman or his heirs do inherit them. Item I give unto my negro woman Kate her freedom and one sow and pits & one cow and calf, and also do lend the said negro Kate the land whereon I now live during her natural life. Item. I give to my friend James Allen the sum of twenty five pounds to him & his heirs forever. Item. My will and desire is my negroes should have liberty to choose their masters, also after my debts are paid, and legacies paid of my desire is that the balance of my estate if there be any should be any should be equally divided amongst the legatees within mentioned by my friend James Allen whom I do appoint executor to this my last will and testament. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this seventeenth day of July one thousand seven hundred & ninety seven.
Witness by Gideon Cawthon (seal)
William M. Holman
John Hancock
Rud. W. Thomas

At a quarterly session court held for Goochland County on the 18th day of November 1799. This writing was presented in court and proved by the oaths of William M Holman and John Hancock to be the last will and testament of Gideon Cawthon dec’d and ordered to be recorded. Then James Allen the executor therein named making oath according to law and having given bond with Dabney Wade & Paul Dismukes his securities in penalty of fifteen hundred pounds, probate thereof was granted him in due form of law.
Teste, W. Miller CGC

DB 17:515

LW&T