ROBERT HESTER WILL

In the name of God Amen.  I Robert Hester of Louisa County being in 
perfect senses do make and ordain this my last will and testament in 
manner and form following.  I give to my Son Abraham Hester the Tract 
of Land whereon he now lives situate lying and being in Mecklenburg 
County on Butchers Creek containing three Hundred Acres.  To him and 
his Heirs forever, he allowing my Wife Barbara Hester to work four  
hands on the land during her Widowhood.  Item I give and bequeath unto 
my son James Hester Two Hundred and Fifty Eight Acres of Land in the 
Fork of a Branch that makes into Butchers Creek, being part of a Tract 
that I purchased of Thomas Baker to begin at the mouth of the Spring 
Branch then to run according to the Meanders.  Thereof until a line 
answers to make an Equal division of the Tract I bought of this Baker 
between by son James Hester and my son Nathan Hester this Two Hundred 
and Fifty Eight Acres to my son James Hester and his Heirs forever.  
Item I give my son Nathan Hester the remaining two hundred and fifty 
eight acres of Bakers Tract before mentioned according to a line of 
division aforesaid between him and James Hester to him the aforesaid 
Nathan Hester his Heirs and Assigns, They this James and Nathan Hester 
allowing my wife Barbara Hester the liberty of working four Hands on 
the Tract of 516 acres during her widowhood and where it shall best 
suit .  Item I five to my son Charles Hester the Tract of Land whereon 
I now live containing Four Hundred and thirty one Acres to him and his 
heirs and Assigns forever, my Wife Barbara Hester having free and 
Indisputable authority upon the same during her Widowhood.  Item I give 
unto my son Francis Hester seventy pounds current money, to be 
delivered to him at the age of  Twenty one years.  Item I give to my 
son Samuel Hester Seventy Pounds current money to be delivered to him 
at the age of Twenty one years.  Item I lend to my daughter Sarah Smith 
one negro Girl named Hannah (which she hath now in her possession) 
during her life, and at her death this Negro with her increase to be 
Equally divided between her children Robert Smith, Barbara Smith and 
Sarah Smith to them and their Heirs forever.  Item I lend to my 
Daughter Agnes Walton one Mulatto girl named Nan (which she has in her 
possession) during her life and at her death she and her increase to be 
Equally divided between her Daughters Barbara Walton and Annie Hester 
Walton to them and their heirs forever.  Item I give to my Daughter 
Barbara Walton one negroe boy named Peter to her and her heirs forever.  
Item I give to my Daughter Ann Hester One negro girl named Milley to 
her and her Heirs forever likewise the Value of  Thirty Pounds in Goods 
and  Chattels out of my estate in what can best be spared to be 
delivered to her at the Age of Eighteen Years. Item I give to my 
Daughter Anne Hester the value of Seventy Pounds current money in goods 
and chattels of my Estate to be delivered to her at the Age of Eighteen 
to her Heirs and Assigns forever.  Item I give to my Daughter Susannah 
Hester the Value of Seventy Pounds in Goods and Chattels of my Estate 
to be delivered her at the age of Eighteen Years to her and her Heirs 
forever. Item I give to my Daughter Mary Hester the Value of seventy 
pounds in goods and Chattels and of my estate to be delivered at the 
Age of Eighteen years to her and Heirs.  Item I give to my Daughter 
Elizabeth Hester the Value of Seventy Pounds in goods and chattels to 
be delivered her at the age of Eighteen years to her and her Heirs.  
And be it remembered that my Estate and Estate hereafter mentioned is 
empowered to let the five last legacies have such things as can best be 
spared out of the Estate at the time of paying of these aforesaid 
Legacies.  Item I lend to my loving wife Barbara Hester the Rest and 
Residue of my Estate of what Nature or Property whatsoever during her 
Widowhood and if in case she should Marry that then the Estate be sold 
and the money Equally divided between my then surviving children  
Lending my said wife a child's part during her life and at her death 
the part so left to be equally divided among my then surviving children 
. Item my Will and desire is that if any of my children should die 
without an Heir that their parts be Equally divided between my then 
surviving children Except my sons Abraham, James, and Nathan and 
Daughters Sarah, Agnes, and Barbara, my Will and desire is that my 
Estate lent my Wife may be Equally divided amongst my Children after 
her Death.  Item I nominate and appoint my loving Wife Barbara Hester 
Executrix of this my last Will and Testament during her Widowhood and 
if she should Marry, That then my son Abraham Hester to be Executor, 
hereby revoking and Disannuling all former Wills and Testaments by me 
heretofore made.  In Witness Whereof thereunto set my Hand and Seal 
this Sixth November 1769.
Sealed and Delivered
In presence of
Robert Garland					Robert Hester		seal
Geo. Lumsden
Sam Temple

At a Court held for Louisa County March 12th 1770  This Will was this 
Day presented in Court by Barbara Hester the Executrix therein named 
who made oath thereto according to Law and was proven by Geo. Lumsden 
and Sam Temple two of the witnesses thereto and by the Court Ordered to 
be Recorded		
						Teste
						John Nelson

Know all men by these presents that we Barbara Hester, Sam Temple, and 
Abraham Hester are held and firmly bound unto Thomas Johnson, Thomas 
Johnson Jr., James Overton, Maddy Thompson and William Phillips, 
General.