1795 - Myrick to slaves - Brunswick Co, VA

1795 - Myrick to slaves - Brunswick Co, VA

04/27/1795

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In the name of God Amen. I Owen Myrick of Brunswick County and State of Virginia being in my proper senses of mind and sensible of the frailty of human life, do constitute this my last will and testament and desire it may be received by all as such. First of all I humbly bequeath my soul to God beseeching his gracious acceptance of it through the merits of Jesus Christ my Redeemer and my body to the Earth to be buried in a decent Christian manner, nothing doubting but that I shall receive the same again at the general Resurrection. And as touching such worldly goods as it hath pleased God to bless me with, I give and dispose of in the manner and form following viz. 1st my will is that all my lawful debts and funeral charges be paid. Secondly I give and bequeath to all my slaves their full & perfect freedom from bondage. Thirdly I give to such of my slaves as may want assistance thirty pounds to be divided among them at the discretion of my Executors. Fourthly, I give unto Edward Drumgoole and my Br. Matthew Myrick one hundred and fifty pounds upon special trust and confidence that they give the said money for the support of the cause of God among the Methodists. Fifthly I give unto my slaves who have wives or children in my possession, all that tract of land on Brandy Creek containing six hundred and fifty acres with all my stock of horses, hogs, sheep and cattle and all the crop & every thing on that plantation that is mine to be divided among them at the discretion of my Executors to them and their heirs forever. Sixthly I give one hundred pounds to be equally divided among all my slaves who are arrived to the age of eighteen years and upwards who have no land. Seventhly I give to each of my sister Fletchers daughters fifty pounds cash to them and their heirs forever. Eighthly I give to my cousin John Fletcher all my land on the South side of Rattlesnake Creek to him and his heirs forever. Ninthly I give my grist mill and forty acres of land adjoining the mill to my sister Middleton Fletcher, Richard Fletcher, John Fletcher and Owen Myrick Fletcher to be equal between them during the natural life of my sister Fletcher and after her death to be the property of John Fletcher, Richard Fletcher and Owen Myrick Fletcher to them and their heirs forever. Tenthly I give to Richard Fletcher all my land below the great Branch; provided he makes James Fletcher lawful right to the land left to the said Richard Fletcher by his father, and if the said Richard Fletcher should not comply then my will is that the said tract of land should be equally divided between my cousins James and Richard Fletcher, to them and their heirs forever. Eleventhly I give to my sister Middleton Fletcher one hundred pounds cash fifteen head of cattle two of the best horses twenty head of hogs and her choice of one bed and furniture to her and her heirs forever. Twelfthly I lend unto my sister Middleton Fletcher, during her natural life my dwelling house and all my plantations and land lying between the great Branch and little Rattlesnake Creek and after her death I give the said land to my cousin Owen Myrick Fletcher to him and his heirs forever. Thirteenthly I give to my brother Matthew Myrick my silver watch and all my books to him and his heirs forever. Fourteenthly I give to my cousin Nathan Fletcher one tract of land lying between Little and Great Rattle Snake Creeks and bounded by the said Creeks to Indian Head Creek and Houses line to him and his heirs forever. Fifteenthly I lend to my cousin Rebecca Sledge one tract of land lying on White Oak Creek whereon my sister Mary Edwards formerly lived containing two hundred and thirty three & one third acres; also the following negroes (left in trust by my father for her benefit) one negro boy named Briton, one negro woman named Chaney one negro girl named Charlotte one negro girl named Amey and one name Sal and after her death the said land & slaves to be equally divided among her children to them and their heirs forever. Sixteenthly I leave all my wearing apparel to be divided by my Executors among the poor in the Methodist Societies. Seventeenthly I give and bequeath to as many of my Executors as shall serve twenty five pounds each. Eighteenthly. All the rest of my estate not heretofore given I leave to be equally divided among all my surviving brothers & sisters and the children of those of my deceased brothers & sisters to have a share equal between them that is to have what would be coming to their father or mother among them. Lastly I do hereby revoke and disannul all other wills heretofore by me made or spoken and ratify this as my last will and testament and I do constitute my Br. Matthew Myric, Edward Drumgoole, Nathan Fletcher my Executors to this my last will and testament. Signed sealed and pronounced in the presents of the under written witnesses for the purposes within mentioned by me this sixth day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred ninety three.
Witnesses present Owen Myrick (seal)
Richard Ward
Caleb Manning
Thomas Manning
John Harrison

Brunswick County Court April 27 1795
This last will and testament of Owen Myrick dec’d was proved according to law by the oaths of Richard Ward, Caleb Manning, and Thomas Manning, witnesses thereto and ordered to be recorded and on the motion of Nathan Fletcher one of the Executors therein named he having made oath thereto according to law and together with Daniel Huff, Thomas Jones, Theophilus Harrison and John Jones his securities entered into and acknowledged a bond in the penalty of twelve thousand pounds with condition as the law directs certificate is granted him for obtaining a probate thereof in due form liberty being reserved the other Executors to join in the said probate when they think proper.
Teste, CB Jones CBC

WB 5:590

Last Will & Testament