In the name of God, Amen. I, William Ezell of the County of Mecklenburg and State of Virginia do make constitute and ordain this instrument my last will and testament hereby revoking all others in manner and form following (to wit): Imprimis my will and desire is that after the payment of all my just debts of the remaining part of my estate be disposed of in following manner:

Item 1. I lend to my beloved wife Elizabeth Ezell during her life or widowhood the following property (to wit). I lend to her one half of my dwelling house and all other necessary houses as she may want with half the garden and as much open land as may be sufficient for her use or purpose and also the following Negroes (to wit): Simon, old Will, Lucy, Nancy and Charity, also one feather bed and furniture besides the one she brought with her, one fine chest and one trunk, one half the sitting chairs and one half the kitchen furniture, one Grey Horse, two cows and calves and two younger cattle, sioo? head of sheep and a reasonable quantity of hogs and also a reasonable quantity corn, wheat and fodder for her support for the year and one sixth part of tobacco and cotton of the present crop or the crop that may be on hand at my death.

Item 2. I give and bequeath to my son Benjamin Ezell the land whereon he now lives lying on the west side of Evans’ creek as low as the rock ford thence along the path that leads to dick old field to Taylor line also the following Negroes (to wit): Bob, Stephen and Rosetta to him and his heirs forever.

Item 3. I give and bequeath to Benjamin Ezell and William Ezell in trust for the sole benefit of Roberston Ezell and his representatives the following property (to wit): one Negro man William and Fanny and her present and future increase for the said Benjamin & William Ezell to use for his benefit as they may think proper and after his death to be equally divided among all his children to them and their heirs forever.

Item 4. I give and bequest to my son William Ezell the land whereon I now live including all the land between Flat Creek & Evans’ creek lying immediately in the fork of the said creeks also the following property (to wit): James and Maria and all her present and future increase, one feather bed and furniture, one writing desk, two cows and calves, sioo? head of sheep, one fourth part of the stock of hogs, half the sitting chairs and half the kitchen furniture, the land given to William Ezell in this clause is subject to the first clause as bounded to my wife, to him and his heirs forever. But in case of his dying without lawful heirs to be equally divided among all my children or their lawful representatives.

Item 5. I give to my Executor interest for the sole use, benefit and support of my daughter Rebecca Davis during her natural life and after her death to be equally divided among all her children the following property (to wit): one Negro man Tom and Negro woman Jemima and all her present and future increase also all the cattle and hogs now on the plantation where the said Davis now lives to them and their heirs forever and also all the land west of Evans’ Creek below the land left to my son Benjamin Ezell in the second clause of this instrument and after the death of my daughter Rebecca Davis, I give to my son Benjamin Ezell the said land just named or his lawful representatives.

Item 6. I given Interest to my Executors for the sole use and benefit of my daughter Elizabeth Walker during her natural life and after her death to be equally divided among all her children the following property (to wit): one Negro man Joe and one Negro man Adam and one Negro woman Matilda and her present and future increase to them and their heirs forever.

Item 7. It is my will and desire that my Negro man Sterling be sold and the money arriving from the sale of the said Negro to be equally divided between Benjamin Ezell, Rebecca Davis and Elizabeth Walker. It is also my will and desire that my Negro woman Linder be sold but wish that she may be bought by some of my children that she many remain in the family. It is my will and desire that all the property that I now possess or may hereafter be possessed of and is not disposed of in this my will be sold and the money arising out of such sale be equally divided among my five children above named or their lawful representatives but it is my will and desire that the part left to Roberston Ezell, Rebecca Davis and Elizabeth Walker be given in trust to my executors as heretofore mentioned with full power to dispose of for the sole benefit of them the said Robertson, Rebecca and Elizabeth as they may see cause and it is further my will and desire that there be no appraisement on any party of my property as I consider it as superfluous. And lastly, I do hereby nominate constitute and appoint my sons Benjamin Ezell and William Ezell executors to this my last will and testament and trustees for the purpose above mentioned. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this seventeenth day of May in the year of our Lord one-thousand eight-hundred and twenty-eight.

William Ezell

Signed and delivered at presence of

William Harwell
Issac Wolson
Wm Bennett

Will of Wilson Walker
Mecklenburg County
March 15, 1836

In the name of God, Amen. I Wilson Walker of the County of Mecklenburg and State of Virginia do make and ordain this to be my last will and testament in manner and form following to wit. My will and desire is that after the payment of all just debts by my executors herein after named that the residue of my estate both real and personal be disposed of as follows:

Item 1. I loan to my beloved wife Angelica Walker during her natural life or widowhood the following property: the tract of land on which I now reside, also the tract of land called Bennetto, also the following Negroes: Esicks, Allen, Jim, Robert, Sylvia & 3 children, Sarah & Cynthia also three head of horses, a boy mare & colt & a horse known by the name of Davy, one yoke of ass, one ox cart & horse cart, sioo? Cows & calves, all the hogs & sheep, all the household & Rilehen furniture and plantation beds of every description and after her death it is my desire that the above property be equally divided among all my living children or the heirs of their body.

Item 2. I give & bequeath to my Granddaughter Angelica Evans one bed & furniture, a saddle & bridle and eighty dollars to her & her heirs forever.

Item 3. I give and bequeath to my Grandson Walker Evans (after he attains the age of twenty one) one horse worth about fifty dollars to be purchased by my executor saddle and bridle and fifty dollars to him & his heirs forever.

Item 5. It is my desire that all the balance of my Negroes not included in the loan to my wife together with all the stock of cattle, not otherwise given be sold; by my wish is that the Negroes be bought in the family and the proceeds of stock sale to be equally divided among all my children or their heirs of their body. To the heirs of Polly Evans one eighth part, Betsy Ezell one eighth part, to Edward Walker one eighth part, to Sally Evans one eighth part, to Fanny Cleaton one eighth part, to Hannah Farris one eighth part, to Emily Taylor one eighth part, to Nancy Tanner one eight part.

Item 6. I wish my wagon & gun and four horses to be sold and the proceeds distributed among all my children as divided in the preceding item.

Item 7. I nominate and appoint my son Edward Walker my Executor to this my last will & testament. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed my seal this 15th day of March, 1836.

Wilson Walker

Signed sealed & delivered in the presence of

Ben J. Walker Thomas W. Walker

Will of Benjamin Ezell
Mecklenburg County
February 15, 1834

In the name of God amen. I, Benjamin Ezell, of the County of Mecklenburg and State of Virginia being of sound mind and memory do make this my last will and testament in manner and form following:

Item 1. My wish is that all my just debts be paid.

Item 2. I leave to my beloved wife Elizabeth Ezell all my slaves to do as she thinks proper, to sell or dispose of as she thinks proper. Also all my stock & all kinds of my household and kitchen furniture to do with as she thinks best. I leave also to my wife my lands as long as she lives and it is my wish and desire at the death of my wife that all the property that she may have in her possession may be equally divided among my living children or their heirs. And lastly I nominate and appoint my wife Eliza executor to this my last will and testament hereby revoking all others heretofore made by me. In testimony whereof I, the said Benjamin Ezell, have hereto set his hand and offered his seal this 15th day of February 1834.

Benjamin Ezell

Signed & acknowledged in the presence of
Edward Walker
William H. Taylor

Will of Edwin Peete
Mecklenburg County
January 19, 1830

In the name of God amen. I, Edwin H. Peete of Mecklenburg county, being weak in body but of sound mind and memory thanks to almighty God for the same, but knowing that it is appointed unto man once to die, do make this my last will and testament herby revoking all others heretofore made by me. Imprimis, I give and bequeath to my beloved wife Drusilla one moity of two Negro men: Neeco, the shoe maker and Thadrack which Capt. Fennell and myself bought of Reverend Fennell to her and her heirs forever together with all the property Capt. Fennell may hereafter give her as part of her legacy and as soon as money can be made from this crop after paying Ewing P. Smith for land purchased of him on liens as per bond given him. I also give $300 to her and her heirs forever for the purpose of purchasing a gig together with my bay horse Chester, partially blind.

Item the 2nd. My will and desire is that my just debts be honorably paid besides the land I bought I owe comparably little.

Item the 3rd. I give to my beloved daughter Angelina Fennell a tract of land that I bought of Samuel Jordan agreeable to agreement between Dr. Fennell and myself in 1823 and now in possession of Charles Ogborne and a Negro girl by the name of Amy but now called Liza and an equal share with my other children after deducting the above legacy with sundry other things which she received of me.

Item 4th. I give and bequeath to Emaly, Mary, Joseph, John, Ann and Robert Peete to the one yet to be born of my second wife and everything else wheresoever found to my above named children share and share alike having respect to the age, sex, and sign of the Negroes to be divided. The Miles Creek land together with that bought of sonith to be divided into 4 parts between my boys and the home tract unto 3 between my girls share and share alike. In truth, I want an equal division among my children.

Item 5th. In case any one of my children die before they arrive to lawful age or marry, I wish their part divided equally among the other children. I wish them as well educated as their estate will allow, so I commend them to God and the word of his grace, hoping he will guard them and protect them through this unfriendly world and bring them to heaven where I hope to rest.

Edwin H. Peete

Testators
Cho. H. Ogborne
Martha A. Fennell
Emily Peete

Deed to Elizabeth Ezell from Mary Peete
Mecklenburg County
March 20, 1838

This Indenture, made this 20th day of March, 1838, BETWEEN William
Jones, attorney in fact for Mary Peete of the one part and Elizabeth Ezell
of the other part, WITNESSETH that the said William Jones, attorney as
aforesaid in consideration of the sum of $420 dollars of lawful money of
this commonwealth, to him in hand paid by Elizabeth Ezell at or before
the unsealing and delivery of these presents, the receipt whereof is
hereby acknowledged, hath bargained and sold and by these presents
doth bargain and sell unto the said Elizabeth Ezell, her heirs and assigns
a certain tract of land lying and being in the county of Mecklenburg and
state of Virginia--containing 210 acres, be the same more or less, it
being the land allowed and set apart to the said Mary Peete in the
division of the estate of the late Edward A. Peete--and bounded by the
lands of the said Elizabeth Ezell, Martha Taylor and others. TO HAVE
AND TO HOLD the said tract or parcel of land with all the singular the
premises herein before mentioned or intended to be bargained and sold
and every part and parcel thereof unto the said Elizabeth Ezell, her heirs
and assigns forever, to and for the only purpose, use and behoof of her
the said Elizabeth Ezell, her heirs and assigns forever and the said
William Jones, attorney, as aforesaid for himself and his heirs the said
tract or parcel of land with all and singular the premises and
appurtenances before mentioned unto the said Elizabeth Ezell, her heirs
and assigns forever free from the claim or claims of him the said William
Jones, Attorney in fact for the said Mary E. Peete, for herself and her
heirs the said tract or parcel of land with all and singular the premises
and appurtenances before mentioned unto the said Elizabeth Ezell her
heirs and assigns, shall, will and do warrant and forever defend by these
presents. In Witness whereof the said William Jones, attorney in fact for
Mary E. Peete have hereunto set his hand and affixed his seal the day
and date first above written.

Wm. Jones, Agent for Mary E. Peete
Mecklenburg County Court 18th June, 1838.

Will of John Cook
Mecklenburg County
August 23, 1856

I, John Cook, do make and constitute this to be my last will and testament herby revoking all other wills. First, I confirm to my son William Cook the tract of land heretofore given to him and valued by me at twelve hundred dollars. Secondly, I give to my son Thomas Cook my tract of land called Sang ni ha and valued at twelve hndred dollars to him and his heirs forever. Thirdly, I give to my son John Cook after the death of his mother over half of the tract of land in which I reside valued by me at twelve hundred dollars to him and his heirs forever. Fourthly, I give to my daughter Eliza Rainey the other half of my second home tract of land after the death of her mother or twelve hundred dollars as she may prefer to her and her heirs forever, if she selects to take the twelve hundred dollars then the said land to be sold by my executors. Fifthly, I give to my daughter Mary Hudson the tract of land on which Dabney Hudson now resides and all monies due to me from the said Dabney Hudson by bond notes in open accounts which legacy I estimate at the value of twelve hundred dollars to her and her heirs forever. Sixthly, I give to my daughter Elizabeth Cook twelve hundred dollars to her and her heirs forever. Seventhly, I give to my grandson Thomas Taylor four hundred dollars to be paid to him when he obtains to the age of twenty one years or within twelve months after the death of his grandmother Sarah cook, but if she should die under the age of twenty one years without heir then the said sum is to be returned to my estate. Eighthly, I lend to my wife Sarah Cook all the parts and residue of my estate including my mansion house tract of land for and during her natural life, wishing her to promote my son John Cook to have the use of a part of the land during her life and that she will furnish my daughter Elizabeth a house and home as long as she remains single and after the death of my wife. I give all the property loaned to her to be equally divided among all my children and their heirs, the five only to take when parent is dead and then only to take what the parents would be entitled to if living. This provision does not include the land given to John Cook and Elizabeth Rainey if she elects to take the land after the death of her mother, nor if my grandson Thomas Taylor to take anything under this provision. Lastly, I constitute and appoint my son William Cook and Thomas Cook executors to this my last will and testament in testimony of all and singular the promises. I hereunto set my hand this the 6th day of August 1853.

John Cook

Signed and acknowledged in presence, we being together in the presence of John Cook.

Samuel D. Booker
Edward R. Chambers

I, John Cook, do make and constitute this codicil to be a part and parcel of my last will and testament. Having purchased other land adjoining my home house tract which I wish to pass with that under my will and land having greatly increased in price since my will was made, in order to equalize the bequests, I give to my daughter Elizabeth three hundred dollars in addition to the twelve hundred given in my will and should my daughter Eliza Rainey decline taking the land willed to her then I give her three hundred dollars in addition to the twelve hundred given her in my will. In testimony of which I have hereunto set my hand this the 23rd day of August 1856.

John Cook

Signed and acknowledged in our presence in the presence of each other and attested by us at his request.

Richard R. Baptist
Edward R. Chambers

John G. Elam deed to Lombardy Grove Church
Mecklenburg County
October 24, 1898

Whereas some years ago, John G. Elam and wife signed, sealed, acknowledged and delivered a deed of gift to the Colored Baptist Church at or near old Lombardy Grove church place, conveying to said Church one acre of land bounded on the east by the Goode Ferry road, on the north by the lands then of H. A. Locket now owned by a Mr. Younger of Halifax County and in the south and west by the lands of the said J.G. Elam and whereas the said deed has been destroyed by fire when the house of Duconey Towler was destroyed without ever having been admitted to record: and whereas the members of said church are desirous of having a deed to said one acre of land upon which they have erected a very comfortable church according to their means. And whereas it appears from an examination of the friends of the Circuit Court of this Mecklenburg County that although the said church in its sovereign capacity may have elected trustees to take charge of and hold the title to the property of said church, the said church has failed to have their action in that matter confirmed and notified by being approved by the circuit court of Mecklenburg County as required by law, yet nevertheless the said John G. Elam from the love of God in his heart and his love of his fellow beings and his desire to promote the interests of the Baptist Church desires so far as in him lies to cure or make good any defect. The said church may have in and to the one acre of land which has been hereinbefore described: Now therefore the said John G. Elam party of the first part and Charles Smith, James Moss, Charlie Baskerville, Willie Taylor, Billie Ezell, trustees who have been named or elected by the said Lombardy Grove Colored Baptist Church of the Bluestone Colored Baptist Association and their successors in office forever parties of the second part witnesseth: that for and in consideration of the love of God and the earnest desire of being helpful to mankind and of helping to build up the Church of God on Earth and of promoting his holy religion as taught and promulgated by the Baptist Churches of the United States and of the further consideration of the sum of one dollar in hand paid the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, the said John G. Elam party of the first part do hereby give, grant, bargain and sell and by these presents doth convey unto the said Charles Smith, James Moss, Charlie Baskerville, Willie Taylor and Billy Ezell, trustees who have been named or elected by the Lombardy Grove Colored Baptist Church of the Bluestone Colored Baptist Association and their successors in office forever the one acre of land from the northeast corner of the tract of land upon which the said J.G. Elam now resides to be cut off in a square so as to include the present house which the said church has erected in said one acre of land. The above conveyance is subject however to the following reservations and restrictions that is to say that the said land and the house that has been or such as may hereafter erected therein shall be used entirely for church purposes such as preaching, prayer meeting, Sunday school and such meetings as has for its aim the improvement of the moral and fraternal condition of mankind such as temperance meeting or meetings of that kind and character and the acceptance and wording of this deed by said trustees shall be considered and accepted by them of these provisions of this deed and any violations of these provisions the said acre of land and all improvements put therein shall revert back to the said J.G. Elam or his heirs. The said J.G. Elam in making this deed expressly stipulates that no meeting of a political character shall be held therein and the holding of any such meeting forfeits at once this deed and the land and improvements therein shall revert back to the said J.G. Elam or his heirs. Witness the following signature and seal this 24th day of October 1898.

John G. Elam