Will Book __, Page 83
March 9, 1807

In the Name of God, Amen.

I Sally Coley, of Goochland County and State of Virginia, being in a weak state of body, but of perfect mind and memory and knowing it is appointed for us all one time to die, have ordained this my last will and testament in the words and form as followeth:

Item. It is my will and desire that all my negroes to be emancipated after my death, to wit: Lucy, Burton, James, Lewis, Frankey, Harrison, Martha and Mary, all being the children of the first-named Lucy — and it is further my will and desire that after my dec’d that these my above mentioned negroes shall be all sot free that they may have the use of my plantation one year after my death — together I give my stock of all kinds to my above mentioned negroes to be equally divided among them all. I further give unto my above mentioned negroes my plantation tools, to them my negroes, whome my will is they shall be set free.

Item. I give unto my sister Nancy Coley one large puter dish and one large bason.

Item. I give unto James Coley, son of Peggy Coley, my bead and furniture together (with) the bead stead, card &c, provided he, said James Coley, cones in thise county in the corse of two years after my dec’d, and should he not apply in that time for sd bead and furniture, it is my desire for Wm Coley to have it, who is son of Molly Colley.

It is further my will and desire that my above mentioned negroes shall after my death have the balance of my household and kitchen furniture, to be equally divided among then, and likewise for them, my said negroes to have the growing crop and the crop that may be already made, if any on hand.

Item. It is my further will and desire that my land whereon I know live to be sold to the highest bidder, one-third of the money to be paid in hand, the other two-thirds to be paid in two annual payments.

It is further my will and desire that my Executor hereafter mentioned shall fix my within mentioned negroes of with a lite horse carte and one horse worth aboute fifteen pounds and should the horse I have now on hand be dead or not able to help my within mentioned negroes move oute of the State as the laws of the land calls for them so to do, it is my will and desire their should be another horse provided for then by my Executors and two mens saddles and bridles; the second horse, if wanting, should be at fifteen pounds price – or there abouts.

It is further my will and desire that my negro woman Lucy’s receipt give to my Executors for what I have left she s’d and her children so as to clear my Executors from herself & her children as they are at this time under age.

So that Lucy’s receipt shall be good and a clear discharge for my Executor, and further it is my will that if my negro woman Lucy will not goe oute of the state with her biggest children, that Burton, James & Lewis shall have the two horses and saddles above mentioned and goe oute of the state.

It is further my will and desire that my just debts be all paid oute of the last two-thirds of my land money and that my Executors shall be sufficiently satisfied oute of the same two-thirds of s’d land money, and further, the above-mentioned saddles and bridles are to be new ones got for my negroes above mentioned, and it is further my will and desire that the balance of my land money, if any left after payment of my debts and fixing of my negroes for their journey and saHisfiy (satisfying) my Executors for their trouble with my worldly affairs to be equally divided between Molly Coley, Nancy Coley, Frank Coley, Betsy Coley, Peggy Coley, Wm. Coley & James Coley, and I do further appoint Charles Massie and William Turner Executors of thise my last will and testament, revoking all other wills made heretofore.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 9th day of March, 1807.

(Interlined before signed in sevorall places.)

Sally [X] Coley (seal) (her mark)

Witnesses:

Pleasant Turner
Rob’t [X] Singleton (his mark)
Hazard [X] Singleton (his mark)

(Page 85)

At a monthly Session Court held for Goochland County at the Court House on Monday the 19th day of Sept. 1808, the within was presented in Court and proved by the oaths of Pleasant Turner, Robert Singleton and Hazard Singleton to be the last will and testament of Sally Coley, dec’d, and ordered to be recorded. Then Charles Massie and William Turner, the Executors herein named appeared in Court and formally and solemnly renounced all rights as Executors under this will and refused to be qualified as such.

Test. Wm. Miller C.G.C. A Copy

This Hawkins County Will was transcribed by one of the following volunteers:  Audrae Mathis; Gary Fletcher; Betty Mize; Diana Arney; Karen Negron, Kathey Welder.