The Will of Lady Jean Skipwith

Date: [unknown] [unknown]
Location: Mecklenburg, Virginia, United States
Surnames/tags: Skipwith Slavery

Will of Lady Jean Skipwith

In the Name of God Amen. I, Jean Skipwith relict of Sir Peyton Skipwith of Prestwould, County of Mecklenburg and State of Virginia— Fully aware of the uncertainty of life, and of what importance it is that I fulfill the trust reposed in me by having at all times a will by me, suited to the situation of my family, and the full powers vested in me, by my deceased husband- Do Constitute and declare this my last Will and Testament as follows- To my Daughter Helen Coles, I give and bequeath (over and above what I have already given her) Thirty Thousand Dollars in good Bonds- a Negro man known by the name of Mason Dick, his wife Rachel- a Black Smith named Caesar, his wife Ephez? with all their children, and future increase.- To my Daughter Selina Skipwith I give and bequeath Thirty Thousand Dollars, over and above what I have already given her; my two Daughters making choice alternately to that amount out of such Bonds as I may die possessed of; I also give my said Daughter Selina, a Negro man named Richard a Carpenter, his wife Marcia, a man named Polux, by trade a Mason, his wife Mira, a boy named Anthony, Brother to Polux, with all their children, and future increase.- I also give my Daughter Selina my Carriage and five Carriage Horses, which she can keep, or dispose of as circumstances may render adviseable.- To my Son in Law Tucker Coles, as a Small remembrance of me, I leave my Domestic Medicine Chest (by Maxwell) also the Encyclopedia Britannica, in Twenty Vol. Quarto- To my Daughters Helen and Selina, and my daughter in Law Sarah Skipwith, I bequeath two hundred Vol. each, to be selected alternately out of the other Books I may die possessed of.- To my Son Humberston Skipwith, I give and bequeath the whole of the Prestwould Estate, and what is called the Forest Lands, left at my disposal by his deceased Father; together with four tracts of land I have since purchased; Viz, One from Frances and Philip Lockett, on Blue Stone Creek. A Tract of Land formerly belonging to Bozeman Mays- another from Thomas Pinson; and one from the family of Stephen Stone deceased- the last three tracts of land laying on the South Side of Dan River, the Deeds for which, will be found in my Cabinet- together with all the Negroes, not otherwise disposed of, to him and his heirs forever- The property herein given to my said son being liable for any old claims that may be brought against the Estate- Debts of my Own there are none.- My children being of age to act for themselves, have not thought it necessary to appoint any Executor to this my last will; but trust they will each receive what is Devised them without any difficulty.- And be it understood, that whatever is not particularly specified in this my will, as being given to others, goes with the estate to my said Son Humberston. And it is my desire that my corps may be intered in the same private manner in which I have lived, the funeral service of the Church of England may be read at the interment, but no Sermon or assemblage of people.- In Witness of the above being my last will and Testament, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed my seal this first day of February One thousand eight hundred and twenty one. Jean Skipwith (seal) In Conformity to what I know was the wish of my Deceased Husband, Viz, that the Estate of Prestwould should descend to his posterity in the male line, I add this as a Codicil to my Will annexed, and bearing date, the first day of February One thousand eight hundred and twenty one- Therefore be it known and understood that should my Son Humberston Die before me, leaving no Son, that the said Estate of Prestwould (as described in the will of my said Husband) go to the eldest Son of Peyton Skipwith deceased, with one third of the negroes, that may be upon the estate at my Death, and not otherwise devised, and also one third of the cattle, Sheep, Hogs, and Horses, my five Carriage Horses excepted.- And it is further my will and desire, that in the event of the death of my said Son Humberston, as before mentioned, that all and whole of the property I may die possessed of, over and above what is particularly mentioned in this Codicil and annexed will, be divided into four equal parts, and given by lot to my two daughters, Helen and Selina Coles, and my two Grand Daughters, Helen and Sarah Skipwith, the daughters of my son Humberston- which in addition to what they may inherit from their Father, will make their fortunes equal if not superior to that of my own Daughters- In which division is included the six tracts of land I have my self purchased, of the three Locketts and others- The Forest Lands to go with the Prestwould estate, as a supply of Timber.- And be it understood that the Thirty Thousand Dollars given in the before mentioned Will, to each of my Daughters, is over and above, what I may have occasionally given them or their Husbands in my life time.- In Witness Whereof, I here unto affix my hand and Seal this Fifth day of May One Thousand eight hundred and Twenty four- (seal) Jean Skipwith