The Will Of
JESSE MORRIS, SR.
Signed September 1, 1806 - Proved April 13, 1807
Will Book No. 6

IN THE NAME OF GOD AMEN. I JESSE MORRIS, SR. of Mecklenburg County being low in body but sound mind and memory do appoint this my last will and Testament in the following manner.

I leave one Negro woman Relor to be sold to pay my Just Debts.

Item: I lend unto my beloved wife, Jane Morris all my Negroes to her with all my stock of all kinds with my household and kitchen furniture with all my plantation utensils during her life and after her decease I give as followeth. –

Item: I give unto my Daughter Katherine Morris one Negro man named Ned to her and her heirs forever.

Item: I give to my son Edward one Negro boy named Willie and five Dollars Cash to him and his heirs forever.

Item: I give to my son Jesse one Negro boy named Lewis with one cow & calf to him and his heirs forever.

Item: I give unto My Daughter Polly Sanders [note: Mary ‘Polly’ Morris Saunders, wife of Thomas Saunders as listed in the Mecklenburg Co, VA marriage records] one Negro girl named Viney with one Negro boy named Hartwell to her and her heirs forever.

Item: I give unto my son Henry my two Negroes named Peter and Edey with one bay horse and saddle also the tract of land I bought {from} William Warren supposed to be seventy three acres more or less to him and his heirs forever.

Item: I give unto my son Daniel my two Negroes named Mark & Chainey with one bay mare and saddle to him and his heirs forever.

Item: I give unto my Daughter Sally Jones Morris my two Negroes Ted and Matthew to her and her heirs forever.

Item: I lend unto my two daughters Katherine and Sally Jones Morris the small room of my dwelling house as long as they live single also I give them privilege of working one Negro on my land as long they live single.

Item: I give unto my son Daniel my land and plantation whereon I now live being one hundred and seventy one acres to him and his heirs forever.

All the remainder of my estate not before willed I leave to be sold and to be equally divided amongst my four children namely Daniel, Henry, Katherine and Sally Jones Morris to them and their heirs forever. Also I desire that there may be no appraisement nor inventory of my estate. Lastly I appoint my two sons Henry and Daniel Morris as executors to this my last will and testament revoking all others before by me made. In witness I have hereunto set my hand and seal this first day of September 1806.
Jesse Morris, Senr. {Seal}
Test.
John Northington
Nicolas Lanier
John Feagin

At a court held for Mecklenburg County the 13th day of April, 1807, this Will was proved by John Northington & John Feagan.

The Will of
JANE MORRIS
Jane was the wife of Jesse Morris Sr. Her maiden name is unknown
Signed November 25, 1822 - Proved July 21, 1823
Ttranscribed by Reed & Ginie Morris Sayles gseincorp@aol.com

In the name of God amen. I Jane Morris of Mecklenburg County and state of Virginia being low in body but sound in mind and memory and calling to mind the certainty of death do appoint and make this my last will and testament in the following manner.

To wit First: I give to my loving daughter Catherine Morris 2 cows and calves, my bay filly named Bounce also one iron pot and skillet, one side-saddle, one bed and furniture, one chest and trunk, one table, one spinning wheel and cards and one half of my corn fodder and shucks and half of my pork and cotton and half of my yoke of oxen to her and her heirs forever.

I give to my loving daughter Sarah Jones Morris two cows and calves and my other bay filly and side-saddle, two feather beds and furniture, two chests and three tables, one oxen, half my corn fodder & shucks, half my pork & cotton, half my yoke oxen to her and her heirs forever.

Lastly, I appoint my friend John Northington my executor to this my last will and Testament. In witnesseth hereunto I set my hand and seal this twenty-fifth day of November, 1822.
her
Jane X Morris (seal)
mark
Witness
Thomas Smith
James Drumright
W.R. Creath

At a court held for Mecklenburg County the 21st day of July 1823
The within written last will and Testament of Jane Morris deceased was exhibited in court and proved by the oaths of two subscribing witnesses and ordered to be recorded.
Examined Teste
Edward L. Tabbeth

The Will of
JESSE MORRIS, JR
Jesse Jr was the son of Jesse Morris Sr & Jane Morris.
Dated 1828 - Proved January 19, 1829
Transcribed by Reed & Ginie Morris Sayles gseincorp@aol.com

I Jesse Morris now in perfect senses do make this my last will and testament.

Item the 1st - I wish all my just debts to be punctually paid when they become due.

Item the 2nd – I bequeath to my wife Sally Morris [note: Sally William Drumright Morris, daughter of William Drumright Sr] two choice Negroes two choice cows and calves; my plantation, and plantation tools, one horse and one yolk of oxen during her natural life or as long as she lives in my name.

Item the 3rd – I will and bequeath to my son William I. Morris [transcription note: many descendents use William J; but close study of several documents indicates I as his middle initial. However, whether J or I, we are still referring to the same individual, who is the son of Jesse Morris, Jr] one sorrel mare and saddle and to my daughter Catherine Waller one dollar until a division of my estate takes place.

Item the 4th – It is my wish that the balance of said estate should be equally divided between my four children that is to say William I. Morris, Catherine Waller, Aly Morris, & Parmelia Morris for the benefit of the heirs of their body. I appoint my wife, Sally Morris and my son, William I. Morris executors to this my last will and testament. Given under my hand and seal this 9th day of _____1828.
Drafted in Jesse Morris {Seal}
the presence of
James Drumright
Ephraim Drumright

At a court held for Mecklenburg County 19th day of January 1829.
The foregoing last will and testament of Jesse Morris was produced in court and duly proven by the oath of James Drumright and Ephraim Drumright, two of the subscribing witnesses thereto and ordered to be recorded. On motion of Wm Morris, the executor named who made oath thereto and together with Wm Drumright and Ephraim Drumright his securities entered into and acknowledged their bond in the penalty of $4000 conditioned according to law certificate is granted to him for obtaining probate of said will in due form.
Edward L. Tabbeth

In the name of God amen. I William Drumright of Mecklenburg County and state of Virginia being of sound mind and good memory do on the 12th day of June A.D. one thousand eight hundred and fifty-six make this my last will and testament in the following form that is to say
First my desire is that all my just debts shall be paid by my executors whom I shall hereafter name

Second I give to my son Jones Drumright one hundred dollars

Thirdly I give to my son Joseph Drumright five dollars

Fourthly after giving to my son Jones Drumright one hundred dollars and to my son Joseph Drumright five dollars – I give to my son Richard Drumright’s children or to their heirs one tenth part of my estate in fee simple not heirs before disposed of

Fifthly I give to my son Jones Drumright or to his heirs two tenths of my estate –

Sixthly I give to my daughter Nancy Morris or her heirs one tenth part of my Estate [Note: Nancy Drumright Morris was the wife of William I. Morris, son of Jesse Jr.]

Seventhly I give to my son Gee Drumright or his heirs one tenth part of my Estate –

Eighth I give to my daughter Mary Arnold or to her heirs one tenth part of my estate –

Ninthly I give to my daughter Martha Benford [Benfond?] or to her heirs one tenth part of my Estate –

Tenthly I give to my son Claiborne Drumright or to his heirs one tenth of my Estate –

Eleventhly I give to my daughter Eliza. Benford [Benfond?] or to her heirs one tenth part of my estate –

Twelfth I give to my son Thomas Drumright or to his heirs one tenth part of my estate –

Thirteenth – The one hundred dollars and one tenth part of my estate hereinbefore given to my son Jones Drumright have been given to secure the payment of a debt which Joseph Drumright owes to Jones Drumright and my desire after my son Jones Drumright shall have received the one hundred dollars and the one tenth part of my estate before mentioned in this clause that this amounts be justly and immediately applied to _____ of the debt before mentioned in this clause. Neither that or [indecipherable – ref to $100 & one of his two tenths?] the other tenth part of my estate given to my son Jones Drumright in the fifth clause of this will shall be disposed of as that clause directs.

I do hereby appoint my son Jones Drumright executor of this my last will and testament. In testimony hereinto I have set my hand and affixed my seal the day of the date above.
his
Written William X Drumright {Seal}
And notarized mark
In presence of
A.H. Middagh
John Ramsey (X his mark)
Mecklenburg County February Court 1857
The foregoing last will and testament of William Drumright deceased was this day produced in court and proved by the oath of A.H. Middaugh and John Ramsey the subscribing witnesses trust and ordered to be recorded and on motion of Jones Drumright the executor therein named who made oath that and together with A.H. Middaugh Wm Stone J.B. Northington and E.R. Chambers his securities entered into and acknowledged a bond in the penalty of $1000 – conditioned according to law certificate is granted him for obtaining probate thereof in due form Teste
R.B. Bastist/Baptist