Will of Henry Childers Probate 3 Mar 1761 Lunenburg, Virginia

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In the name of God Amen I Henry Childers of the Parish of Cornwall in the county of Lunenburgh being of perfect memory do make publish and declare this to be my last will and testament as follows to wit first my debts and funeral expenses being paid I give my beloved wife Mary the plantation whereon I now dwell with two hundred acres of land bounded by a line of marked trees already made Beginning on Farmers(?) line and running to Paul Carrington’s corner red oak including the plantation to her my said wife during her natural life. I also give my said wife a Negro girl called Hanah also all my personal estate of any kind whatever except my grey horse, saddle and bridle which I usually ride, during her natural life or widowhood also I give and devise to my son Jno. Childres my grey horse, saddle and bridle which I usually ride also after my wife’s death I give and devise to my son Henry Childres the plantation of two hundred acres of land whereon I live laid off as is mentioned to my wife to him and his heirs forever (perhaps also?) I give to my son Thomas Childres two hundred acres of land the remaining part of the land whereon I live to him and his heirs forever also my will and desire is that after my wife’s death or marriage (which shall first happen) the aforesaid slave Hanna and her increase (if any) and all my personal estate (except the horse saddle and bridle before given to my son John) be equally divided between all my children, to wit, John, Lucresha, Phebia Ann (no comma, but line break) Henry, Thomas, Millecent, Mary, Godfrey, Sarah, & David to them and their heirs forever and I order and direct that my estate be not appraised also I do constitute and appoint my friend Paul Carrington to be my Executor of this my last will and testament hereby revoking and making void all other wills testaments by me heretofore made In testemony (word was written over, may be testement) whereof I have hereto set my hand and affixed my seal this the twenty first day of December one thousand seven hundred and sixty. Henry Childress SS Signed sealed published and declared by the testator to be his last will and testament in presence of the subscribing witnesses William Goon, Thos. Rutledge, William M (his mark) Mullengs(?) (too smeared to make out for sure)

I left out the surplus capitalizations, but they are easily added in if you want them. Note: you need the next page, 329, to find out when the will was proved, and the third witness’s name may be legible on that page. 21 Dec 1760 is when it was written, the date it was proved will be soon after he died, probably. Extenuating circumstances would be if witnesses had all, or all but one, moved away and had to be contacted by mail, sworn in the new place of residence, and returned to Lunenburg County; the French and Indian Wars were still being fought. At any rate, you need page 329. Since the will ends at the bottom of the page, a codicil to the will could appear on the next page.

Also, be sure to use the actual will, not the "cleaned up" version as it leaves off some important marks.