1797 - Simpkins to Jack, et al - Northampton Co, VA
Manumission Item Data Item Type Metadata
Date
10/09/1797
Manumitter
Manumitted
Number of Persons
4
Text of Freedom Document
In the name of God Amen. I William Simkins of Northampton County & State of Virginia being sick & weak in body but of sound mind and memory & knowing the uncertainty of life do make & ordain this my last will & testament in manner & form following viz:
Item I give my soul into the hands of God who gave me in hope of the resurrection to immortal bless & glory, & my body to the dust to be decently interred at discretion of my executor hereafter to be mentioned.
Item I give & bequeath to my loving wife Peggy Simkins my negro woman Adah, my riding chair & harness & her first choice of chests to her & her heirs forever.
Item I lend the use of my negro man Jack to my son Thomas Simkins till he arrives at the age of twenty one years and then said negro Jack to be free and at his own liberty.
Item I lend the use of my negro man Obed to my son William Simkins till my son William comes to the age of twenty one and then Obed to be free.
Item I lend the use of my negro boy Peter to my son Coventon Simkins until my son Coventon arrives to the age of twenty one years & then said Peter to be free and at his own liberty.
Item I lend the use of my negro Leah to my daughter Sally Simkins until my daughter arrives to the age of eighteen & then to be free.
Item My will & desire is that all my lands, my mill and all my other estate of whatsoever sort, kind or quality be sold at the discretion of my executor.
Item I give & bequeath to my loving wife Peggy Simkins the one fifth part of my estate not before given which shall arise from the said sale as above mentioned to her & her heirs forever instead of her right of dower.
Item My will and desire is that the remaining part of my estate arising from the above sale & not before given to be equally divided among my children which may survive the years of lawful age viz: Thomas Simkins, William Simkins, Coventon Simkins & Sally Sikins, or to either, or so many of them as may arrive to lawful age to demand or dispose of their property. But should either of them my said children arrive to lawful age to devise their estates by will in that case I give the whole of my estate, not before given to my loving wife, to my brother Coventon Simkins to him & his heirs forever.
Item I hereby vest the power of binding my three sons above mentioned in my executor and wish Thomas & William bound in Philadelphia to such business as is thought by him best for them after they are of suitable age. And also the use of the said boy’s estate’s paying lawful interest till they come to lawful age to my said executor.
Item Lastly I constitute and appoint my brother Coventon Simkins my whole & sole executor to this my last will & testament hereby revoking & making utterly null & void every will or wills whatsoever. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed my seal this day of June Anno Domini one thousand seven hundred & ninety seven.
Teste Wm. Simkins (seal)
Major Pettie, Robert James, Teackle Robins
Peggy Allington
At a court held for Northampton County the 9th day of October 1797. This will was proved by the oaths of Major Pettit & Peggy Allington witnesses thereto and ordered to be recorded. And on the motion of Coventon Simkins the executor therein appointed, and he having taken the oath and given bond with security according to law, certificate is granted him to obtain a probate thereof in due form.
Teste, Tho’s Lytt Savage C.N.C
Ex’d
Item I give my soul into the hands of God who gave me in hope of the resurrection to immortal bless & glory, & my body to the dust to be decently interred at discretion of my executor hereafter to be mentioned.
Item I give & bequeath to my loving wife Peggy Simkins my negro woman Adah, my riding chair & harness & her first choice of chests to her & her heirs forever.
Item I lend the use of my negro man Jack to my son Thomas Simkins till he arrives at the age of twenty one years and then said negro Jack to be free and at his own liberty.
Item I lend the use of my negro man Obed to my son William Simkins till my son William comes to the age of twenty one and then Obed to be free.
Item I lend the use of my negro boy Peter to my son Coventon Simkins until my son Coventon arrives to the age of twenty one years & then said Peter to be free and at his own liberty.
Item I lend the use of my negro Leah to my daughter Sally Simkins until my daughter arrives to the age of eighteen & then to be free.
Item My will & desire is that all my lands, my mill and all my other estate of whatsoever sort, kind or quality be sold at the discretion of my executor.
Item I give & bequeath to my loving wife Peggy Simkins the one fifth part of my estate not before given which shall arise from the said sale as above mentioned to her & her heirs forever instead of her right of dower.
Item My will and desire is that the remaining part of my estate arising from the above sale & not before given to be equally divided among my children which may survive the years of lawful age viz: Thomas Simkins, William Simkins, Coventon Simkins & Sally Sikins, or to either, or so many of them as may arrive to lawful age to demand or dispose of their property. But should either of them my said children arrive to lawful age to devise their estates by will in that case I give the whole of my estate, not before given to my loving wife, to my brother Coventon Simkins to him & his heirs forever.
Item I hereby vest the power of binding my three sons above mentioned in my executor and wish Thomas & William bound in Philadelphia to such business as is thought by him best for them after they are of suitable age. And also the use of the said boy’s estate’s paying lawful interest till they come to lawful age to my said executor.
Item Lastly I constitute and appoint my brother Coventon Simkins my whole & sole executor to this my last will & testament hereby revoking & making utterly null & void every will or wills whatsoever. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed my seal this day of June Anno Domini one thousand seven hundred & ninety seven.
Teste Wm. Simkins (seal)
Major Pettie, Robert James, Teackle Robins
Peggy Allington
At a court held for Northampton County the 9th day of October 1797. This will was proved by the oaths of Major Pettit & Peggy Allington witnesses thereto and ordered to be recorded. And on the motion of Coventon Simkins the executor therein appointed, and he having taken the oath and given bond with security according to law, certificate is granted him to obtain a probate thereof in due form.
Teste, Tho’s Lytt Savage C.N.C
Ex’d
Record Location
WI 30:371
Document Type
Last Will & Testament
Files
Collection
Citation
“1797 - Simpkins to Jack, et al - Northampton Co, VA,” Manumission Project, accessed July 17, 2026, https://manumissionproject.omeka.net/items/show/3217.