Posted FYI. Any connections between Jarratt Walthall Cook (Executor of this will) and members of the Philip Vass family? Please contact me if you have information. Thanks. Will of Philip Vass; Halifax Co., VA (from Will Book 14:185-187) In the name of God Amen. I Philip Vass of Halifax County do make this my will and testament in manner and form as followeth (viz) – it is my desire that all my debts be first paid. If any of my children should die without an heir or will, their estate hereafter devised of given, it shall return again to my estate to be divided as shall be hereafter directed. If any of the legatees shall attempt to brake this will or shall enter a suit in law against the legatees or any one of them shall forfeit his or their estate hereafter given to them. The forfeited estate returned back to my estate to be divided or as shall be hereafter directed. I give unto my daughter, Mary Boyd, negro girl, Lydia and her increase to dispose of as she pleaseth. Also I lend unto Ann B., Rachel and her increase, which negro and increase shall not be sold for no debt or debts of Alexander Boyd or his wife, Mary Boyd in no case whatsoever. The foresaid negro Rachel & her increase is not to be removed out of the county of Halifax without the consent of a majority of the legatees consurned in eather of these two cases be made (illegible words) sale or removed Rachel and her increase is forfeited and returned (illegible) into my estate to be divided (illegible words) as shall be hereafter directed. I give unto my son, James, Amy and her child Letha and their increase to him and his heirs forever. I give unto my daughter, Sarah (?) Vass, three negroes, Lucinda, Harrell, her daughter Amanda Melvina, with their increase to her and her heirs forever. I give unto my daughter, Apphia Vass, three negroes, Martha, Ealle & Maria Louisa, with their increase to her and her heirs forever. I give unto my Philip E. Vass, Mary and brother, Jacob, with her increase to him and his heirs forever. I give unto my grandaughter, Mary Elizabeth Shapard, negro girl Rose and her increase provided my granddaughter May E. Shapard dieth under age or without a child lawfully begotton, then negro Rose and her increase to be divided between her surviving brothers and sisters and their heirs forever. I lent unto my beloved wife, Elizabeth Vass, during her widowhood, the land whereon I know live and all the rest of my estate which I have not divided or given. Recommending to her parental care my dear daughter Elizabeth Shepard and her children during your life and at the death of my dear wife, my land whereon I know live to be by my executor sold on a credit of four annual, equal pamyents (insterted: [illegible] taken on the land for the payment) thereof the one forth of the sale of this land to be put out at interest, which interest is to support my daughter Elizabeth Shapard and her children with schooling, etc. and the principal at her death to be equally divided between her children and their heirs forever. It is also my desire that my western land be sold when the injoin wrightes is extinguished and my land surveyed, it to be sold at with four equal annual payments security taken on the land for the payments thereof this land may be sold (illegible) than above mentioned if it is thought best by the legatees the (illegible) arising from the sale of the western land three fourths of the money arising from the sale of the land whereon I know live with all, the remainder of my estate not already give to be equally divided by commissioners appointed by court between my children: James P. Vass, Sarah L. Vass, Anna Vass, Apphia Vass, and P. E. Vass and their heirs forever. I appoint my beloved friend, Jarratt W. Cook, my executor to the will, who is to receive a reasonable sum out of my estate for his serivces. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 13th day of Decemter 1816. /s/ Philip Vass (seal) Witness: Anderson Powell Mores(?) Shearon In a court held for Halifax County the 25th day of July 1825: This reading purporting to be the last will & testament of Philip Vass, dec’d, was (illegible) court by Jarratt W. Cook the exr therein named for probat. Whereupon on the motion of Alexander Boyd & John Sheppard, they are admitted defendants to contest the said writing as the last will & testament of the sd Philip Vass, dec’d, and on motion of the said exr, commissioners are awarded him to take the depositions of John Webb of the county of Granville in the state of North Carolina and of Moses Shearing of this county to be read as evidence in the said conteste. And at another court held for the sd county the 22nd day of August 1825. For reasons appearing to the court the defendants by their attorney a commissioner is awarded them to take the deposition of Leonard Pam???, an inform witness in this case to be read de bene epo, they giving to the pltff legal notice of the time & place of executing the same – And at an! other court held for the sd county the 28th day of mar 1826, came the parties by their attorneys and the sd writing purporting the last will & testament of Philip Vass, dec’d, is again exhibited in court in order to be proved, whereupon on the testimony of (illegible words) from which order & judgment the plaintiff (illegible) appeal to the first day of the (illegible words to the end of the page). At a superior court of law held for Halifax Coounty the 23rd day of September 1926: Jarratt W. Cook, exr named in the wording purported to be the last will & testament of Philip Vass (illegible) agains Alexander Boyd, John Sheppard, upon an appeal from an order and judgment of the County Court of Halifax the 28th day of March 1826. This day came the parties by their attorneys and the transcribe of the records (illegible) the order and judgment aforesaid and the original wording purported to be the last will & testament of the dec’d Philip Vass was produced in court by the clerk fo! the county court of Halifax being seen and inspected, the examinations of witnesses read and the testimony of sundry other witnesses heard, whereupon it seems to the court here (illegible) the said order and judement of the county court is (illegible) therefore it is considered that the same be (illegible) void and annulled and this court proceeding to make such order as the daid county court ought to have made (illegible words) court in the county court of Halifax. Teste: Samuel Williams, CHSC At a court held for the county of Halifax on the 22nd day of January 1827, Jarratt W. Cook the excr named in the will of Philip Vass, dec’d, being summoned and not appearing and the widow refusing to take up (illegible words). On the motion of Isaac Medley, who made oath according to law and with Charles A. Ballson, (illegible words) a bond in the (illegible words) $30,000 considered (illegible words) is granted him for obtaining letters of administration of the estate of the said Philip Vass, dec’d, with the will annexed in due form. Teste: Samuel Wailliams, CHC Be well & God bless, Kate Beaugrand Cook Minnesota [email protected] or [email protected] ><> God bless America! <><