Posted on: Caroline Co. Va Wills Reply Here: http://cgi.rootsweb.com/~genbbs/genbbs.cgi/USA/Va/CarolineWill/16 Surname: TAYLOR ------------------------- The following is from: The Life of John Tayloy, by Henry H. Sims, pp. 223-225 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ WILL OF JOHN TAYLOR I, John Taylor, being sick but of sound mind do declare this to be my last will and testament this 7th day of January 1824. 1st. I give to my wife, Lucy Taylor, my estate called Hazelwood including all my lands adjoining to it, bought of sundry per- sons, and an island in the river, during her widowhood. I also give her Phillis the wife of Norman, and all the descendants of the said Phillis, Angella another house servant and all her descendants, Judy a cook and all her descendants, Charles, Harry, Tom, Matthew, and Eliza husbands and wife of some of these descendants including any born after the date of this will, absolutely. I also give her all the money in the house at the time of my death, the household furniture and liquors, all the stocks, tools, carriages and crops growing or severed on the estate at the time of my death, absolutely, and all the slaves which may be living on it at that time, above those given to her forever, I give to her for and during her widowhood. But I direct that out of the money in the house should a suit or suits in the Court of Appeals against my son John on account of some transactions of his brother in law William Woodford finally go against him, she shall discharge whatever may be recovered. 2nd. I give to my son William my tract of land called Hayfield with all the negroes, stocks, utensils and crops growing or severed thereon at the time of my death, to him and his heirs forever. 3rd. I give to my son Henry all the lands in Westmoreland I bought of Robertson with all the slaves, stocks and utensils thereto belonging and all the crops thereon either growing or severed at the time of my death to him and his heirs. 4th. I give to my son George my two plantations on Pamunky River opposite to each other, with all the slaves, stocks and utensils to them belonging, and all the crops, severed or growing thereon at the time of my death, and also a tract of land on Mattapony usually called Hoomes's, bought of several persons, all to him and his heirs forever. 5th. I give to my Grandson John Taylor the estate called Hazelwood after his grandmother's interest therein shall cease, together with one moiety of the slaves given to her during her widowhood, provided he both attains the age of twenty one years and marries. If both these events should be accomplished these lands and slaves are to go to him and his heirs forever, if either should fail, they are on his death to be equally divided among my heirs. But I make this devise upon condition that my said grandson shall relinquish to any children or child which his father may have besides the three he now has, anything which may fall to him under a settlement relating to the land and negroes of which his father is possessed. 6th. I give to my four sons the other moiety of the slaves given to my wife during her widowhood. 7th. I give to my grand-daughter Lucy P. Taylor ten thousand dollars to be raised out of the debts due to me, a tract of land adjoining Palestine, and a negro girl named Milly, directing my executors to sell the land if they can giving a preference to the Mr. Burks, and to allot the debts of these gentlemen towards the payment of this legacy, whom I wish them to indulge as long as they pay the interest punctually. This legacy is not to become, payable unless the said Lucy shall attain to twenty one years of age or marry, and in the mean time I direct my executors to accumulate it by receiving the interest and putting it at interest, for I direct that bonds carrying interest shall be appropriated to the object upon my death. If the said Lucy shall neither attain the age of twenty one nor marry, then everything given to her is to revert to my estate. 8th. I give to my grandson Edmund Taylor all the lands I bought of Spotswood with the slaves, stocks, crops growing or severed and tools, except Humphrey and his family intended to be sold, and Tom given to his grandmother, upon condition that he both arrives to twenty one years of age and marries, upon the accomplishment of both which events he is to have a fee simple, upon the failure of either and his death, the property hereby devised is to revert to my estate and go to my heirs. 9th. I give my books to my four sons reserving to their mother a power to select and retain such as she may choose, for her life. 10th. If the surplus of my debts, after paying my granddaughter's legacy, should not suffice to pay all demands against me, each of my sons William, Henry and George are to pay one fourth of the deficiency, and the Hazelwood estate the other fourth. 11th. I direct conveyance to be made by my heirs for any lands in Kentucky I have given to my relations there by letter. The gifts were only of my title, and no warranty is to be made against the claims of others. 12th. I give all the rest of my estate, real and personal to be equally divided among my four sons. In this residue is included a large tract of land in Kentucky inherited from my son Edmund 500 acres patented, a 1000 acre entry in the care of a Mr. Waring and some town lots in the care of Genl. Taylor. 13th. I direct that all the lands and slaves devised by this will shall be bound to guarantee the title of each devisee, and that if any eviction or recovery shall take place the same shall contribute in pro- portion to value to make good the loss. 14th. I direct that the possessor of Hazelwood for the time being shall provide for William Norment during his life as he has hitherto been provided for. Finally, I appoint my wife Lucy Taylor and my son William P. Taylor executrix and executor of this my will, and direct that neither an inventory, appraisement nor sale be made of any part of my estate, and that neither of them be required to give security. And I subscribe this paper wholly written with my own hand as and for my last will and testament this 7th day of January, 1824. For removing any doubt which might arise from two clauses of this my will, it is my intention that my two grandsons John and Edmund shall have the possession and use of the property devised to them respectively, the former from the termination of his grand- mother's estate, and the latter from my death, each for his life, though the events may never happen, which may make their titles absolute. John Taylor. Virginia: At a court holden for Caroline County, at the Court House, on the 13" day of September 1824. This writing, purporting to be the last will and testament of John Taylor, Sr. was offered for proof without a subscribing witness thereto, whereupon John Dickinson being first sworn saith, that he is well acquainted with the handwriting of the said deceased, and that he believes the same to be wholly written, and signed by the said John Taylor, Sr. It is ordered that the same be recorded as and for the last will and testament of the said deceased. Teste: John S. Pendleton, CCC A copy Teste: John S. Pendleton COPY