Will of Daniel Shelton (1809, Pittsylvania County, VA)

In the name of God Amen I Daniel Shelton of Pittsylvania County and State of Virginia being weak in body though of sound of sound [sic] mind and memory calling to mind the uncertainty of this mortal life and the Certainty of Death do make and ordain this my last will and Testament in manner and form following Viz 1^st I recommend my Body to the Dust from which it came hoping for a happy resurrection Item I lend and bequeath to my beloved Daughter Susanna Shelton Twenty five pounds During her life and after her Death to be Equally divided among her children[.] Item I give and bequeath to the children of my beloved Daughter Clary Shelton Twenty five pounds to be Equally Divided among all of the said Children[.] Item I lend and bequeath unto my beloved daughter Milly Taylor Twenty five pounds During her life at her Death to be Equally Divided among her Children[.] Item I lend to my Daughter Ann Bailey Twenty five pounds During her life and at Death to be divided among her children[.] Item I Lend to my Daughter Sally Pain Twenty five pounds During her life and at her Death to be equally divided among her children[.] Item I Lend to my Daughter Polly Shelton Twenty five pounds During her life and at her Death to be Equally Divided among her children[.] Item I give and bequeath to my grand Daughter Jane Asqua Shelton one negro Girl Edith[,] one feather bed and furniture[,] one large Trunk to her and her heirs forever and if the said Jane A. Shelton Should die without ^an^ Heir the said property to be Equally divided among all my children[.] Item I lend and bequeath to my Beloved wife Lettice the following property viz, nine negroes to wit Bob[,] Ester[,] Lucy[,] Randolph[,] Isaac[,] Chloe[,] Matildy[,] Moses[,] and Little Bob, all my stock of Horses[,] Cattle[,] Hogs[,] and Sheep[,] all my House hold and Kitchen furniture of all kind[,] also one Mill and at her Death to be Equally divided among my sons to wit Young[,] Leroy[,] Daniel[,] Tunstall[,] and Willis[‘] children, to wit, Leroy[,] Geter[,] Polly[,] Mountegue[,] Merrit[,] Macca[,] Lefas[,] Elizabeth[,] and Willis[,] which children is to have one fifth part with my sons Young[,] Leroy[,] Daniel[,] and Tunstall which I give to my grand children in stead of giving to my my [sic] son Willis[.] [M]y Desire is to for my sons to Divide the negroes amongst themselves if the[y] mcan agree and keep them in the family as my Desire is for them to remain with my sons also my Desire is for my sons ___ to give my two old negroes Bob and Easter the privilege of being with who they please so the live in the family with certainty to laws of my County to free them I do hereby constitute & appoint my sons Young and Tunstall my Sole Executors to this my Last Will and Testament not compelling my said sons to have the said Estate appraised. In witness of [sic] thereunto set my Hand and affixed my seal this seventh day of March in the year of our Lord one thousand Eight Hundred and Eight[.]

Daniel Shelton (seal)

Witness

Jno Stone Jr

Abraham Shelton

Berry Lewis

At a Court held for Pittsylvania County the 18^th Day of September 1809

The within last will and testament of Daniel Shelton Deceased was presented in Court and proved by the oaths of the three subscribing Witnesses. And that the same be Recorded, and on the motion of Young Shelton and Tunstall Shelton the Executors herein named who made oath according to law and together with Thomas Ragsdale, ^Henry R. Shelton^, Henry C. Keatts[,] John Lewis[,] and Thompson Robertson their securities entered into and acknowledged their Bond in the penalty of Ten thousand Dollars Conditioned as the law Directs Certificate is Granted them for obtaining a probate of the said Will in due form

Test Will Tunstall, CP

Source: Pittsylvania County, VA Deeds and wills book, v. 11, 1780-1820,

p. 332-333. Family History Center roll #0033290