Slaves of Westwood Armistead, Virginia

Date: [unknown] [unknown]
Location: [unknown]
Surnames/tags: black_heritage slavery

This page is for the purpose of documenting the slaves of Westwood Armistead

Will Dated Feb 9 1756

In the name of God amen, I Captain Westwood Armistead of the county of Elizabeth City do hereby in order to dispose of my worldly goods make this my last will and testament in manner following. In premis--I give and bequeath unto my loving wife the use and prosperity of these five negroes named Ceasar, Jeffey, Coffe, Davie, Rachell during her natural life, with full power at any time while she is living or by will at her death to give or dispose of them as my said wife ( ) to any one or more of my three children or either of their ( ) Item, I give to my said wife one feather bed and furniture at her ( ) also my gray horse and black mare. Item, I give my said wife the use of my Sand and Plantation I purchased from my brother Anthony with full power to cut down and sell timber for the payment of all my debts and after that is done then further to cut down and sell the said timber until she has raised two hundred pounds ( ) money of Virginia which said two hundred pounds I give to my wife and my two daughters Elizabeth and Mary. Item, my will and desire is that all the negroes that I shall hereafter give my two daughters shall work and be employed with those I have given my wife in getting ( ) the said timber to market and that for the time they are employed in raising the money sufficient to discharge my debts that my said wife or any guardian to my said daughters shall not be accountable for any profits from the said slaves. Item, I give and bequeath unto my son Westwood (after my said wife has made and raised the above sums of money) all that tracts and plantation of land I purchased of my brother Anthony containing four hundred and sixty and eight acres and to the heirs of his body lawfully begotten forever. Item, I give and bequeath so my said son the following slaves named Munn, Andrew, Pompey, Jeffrey, Ben and Peter to him and his heirs forever. Item, I give my said son my silver watch. Item, I give my said son five heifers, six cows, and two mares. Item, I give my said son twelve silver spoons. Item, I give to my daughter Elizabeth those slaves named Lucy, Frank, Jack, Nann, Pheby, and Tom and to her heirs forever. Item, I give to my said daughter my largest looking glass. Item, I give to my daughter Mary those slaves named Judy, Will, Charles, Beck, and Nelly to her and her heirs forever. Item, my will and desire is that if either of my daughters should die before they come of age or marry that then the slaves or other estate of that child so dying heretofore given them by this will shall be equally divided between my surviving children. Item, I give the use of all my remaining plate to my wife and full power to her to dispose of it to my children as she thinks proper. Item, my will and desire is that all the remaining part of my estate not given by this will shall be equally divided between my wife and two daughters. Item, I do hereby constitute and appoint my wife executrix to this my will and Colonel John Tabb and Anthony Armistead Executors. In witness hereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this ninth day of February anno domini 1756. Westwood Armistead.^[1]

Sources

1. ↑ Probate: "Virginia, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1652-1900"
   General Index to Deeds and Wills, 1759-1899; Mixed Probate and Land Records, 1642-1859; Author: Eaton, Thomas; Probate Place: Elizabeth City, Virginia
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 62347 #581676 (accessed 6 July 2022)
   Captain Westwood Armistead probate on 9 Feb 1756.