WILL OF JOHN BOTTOM
(c1662-1710)

Will of John Bottom of Varina Parish, to son John, 100 acres near White Oak Swamp; to son Thomas, the plantation where he lives, being the rest of the above land; to wife, Elizabeth, her choice of three feather beds, and the other two to daughters, Mary and Elizabeth. To son John, livestock and items. Rest of estate to be divided between wife and children, one cow named Coale; to daughter Mary Garrett; to younger sons, William and Joseph, a grey mare; to son Thomas, a black mare; to eldest son, John, a sword. All the rest to be divided between wife, daughters, Mary and Elizabeth, and sons, Thomas, William, and Joseph. Son John to be executor.
Dated 29 April 1710.
Witness: Richard Williams, John Hancock, Mary Hancock. Recorded 3 Sept 1711.
[Source: COLONIAL WILLS OF HENRICO COUNTY, VIRGINIA, PART ONE 1654 - 1737 - Submitted by: Anna Newell]

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BURTON, MARTIN:
The Will Of Martin Burton In the name of God, amen: I, Martin Burton, of the parish and county of Henrico, state of Virginia, being weak of body, but of sound sense and memory, do make and ordain this to be my last will and testament in manner and form following, to wit:
Imprimus, I give and bequeath unto my son, William Burton, the land and plantation I purchased of William Smith, containing two hundred and fifty acres, be the same more or less, beginning at a Birch in horse swamp in Carters' line near the old plumb tree, thence running a straight line to a Sycamore tree in the branch near Hicks Spring, thence up the branch and line to the corner of the old field to William Jones' line, this being the dividing line between him and the plantation whereon I now live, to him and his heirs forever. I also give and bequeath to my son, William, six negroes, viz.: Susan, Agg, Isaac, Bobb, Jacob and Pegg, to him and his heirs forever.
Item: I give and bequeath to my son, John Burton, the tract of land whereon he now lives, it being part of the land I purchased of Miller and part of the land I purchased of Hughes, and bounded as follows: Beginning in Smith line, thence down Poplar branch, to where it empties into Meridith's branch, thence across Meridith's branch to Miller's Spring branch, thence up the Spring branch to
three maples near the Spring, thence a straight line to a small Pine in Du Valk line near the corner, this being the dividing line between him and my son, Daniel Burton, containing four hundred and fifty acres, be the same more or less. I also give unto my said son, John Burton, six negroes, viz.: Sam, Judith, Sall, Jack, Aaron and Cate, to him and his heirs forever.
Item: I give and bequeath unto my son, Daniel Burton, the remainder of the before mentioned tract of land I purchased of Hughes and Miller to him and his heirs forever. I also give unto my said son, Daniel Burton, six negroes, viz.: Amy, Jenny, Davy, Cate, George and Fannie, to him and his heirs forever.
Item: I give and bequeath unto my son, Thomas Burton, the tract of land I purchased of John and William S. Smith (probably the S. is for Sterling) and known by the Meadow Plantation, to him and his heirs forever. I also give and bequeath unto my aforesaid son the plantation whereon I now live, reserving to my beloved wife the free use of the same during her widowhood and also my daughter, Lucy Burton, the privilege of living in the dwelling house during her single life. I also give and bequeath unto my said Thomas, six negroes, viz.: Daniel, Nancy, Ursley, Stephen, China and little Daniel, reserving to my beloved wife the use of the negro little Daniel during her widowhood. I also give and bequeath to my said son one horse and saddle, one bed and furniture and ten pounds to be raised out of my estate as hereafter directed to him and his heirs forever.
Item: I give and bequeath unto my daughter, Elizabeth Smith, six negroes, viz.: Lucy, Dorcus, Phill, Harry, Ned and Tilla, and their increase. I also give unto my daughter, Elizabeth Smith, one negro, by the name of Charles, reserving unto my beloved wife the use of the aforesaid negro, Charles, during her natural life to her and her heirs forever.
Item: I give and bequeath unto my daughter Lucy Burton, seven negroes, viz: Jesse, Anicka, Roger, Rachel, Clair, Maria and Luck, reserving unto my beloved wife the use of the aforesaid negro, Luck, during her natural life. Also, I give and bequeath unto my aforesaid daughter, Lucy, one horse and saddle, one bed and furniture and ten pounds, to be raised out of my estate as hereafter directed, to her and her heirs forever.
I lend unto my beloved wife six negroes, viz.: Ben, Dick, Luck, Charles, Beck and little Daniel, during her natural life, and at her death to dispose of the aforesaid negro girl, Beck, in any manner she may think proper to some of my children, or their heirs. I also lend unto my beloved wife onethird part of my personal estate during her natural life and at her death to be, with the aforesaid negroes, lent to my said wife not before divided, equally among my children or their heirs.
My will further is that the privilege of my ten lots of land in James river be equally divided among all my children, or their heirs. My will and desire further is that all the rest of my estate not before divided be sold, and after paying all my just debts and legisees herein mentioned, the money from such sale be equally divided among all my children, their heirs.
And, lastly, my will is that my estate shall not be appraised nor my executors give security for their executorships, and I appoint my sons, William Burton, John Burton, Daniel Burton and Thomas Burton, executors of this, my last will and testament, hereby revoking all other wills by me heretofore made, in witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this first day of January, 1791.
MARTIN BURTON. Signed, sealed and dated in the presence of:
John Smith, Giles Carter, William A. Smith, David Thompson.
(Source: A Journal of American Ancestry Genealogy Vol. 5, No. 12; Publ. December, 1915; Submitted to Genealogy Trails by Andrea Stawski Pack)

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CARTER FAMILY -- The following wills, together with various public records, have served to establish the direct line of family descent, from Giles Carter (First), born in 1634, to Robert Carter, born in Halifax County, Virginia, December 22d, 1770, who died at Franklin, Williamson County, Tennessee, September 9th, 1839. Source: "Giles Carter of Virginia; Direct Line of Descent" from research done by Lynn Stephens Headley.

WILL OF JAMES CREWS
July ye 23d, 1676
In the name of God Amen I James Crews of Turky Island planter in Henrico County being of sound & perfect memory praysed be God doe make and ordaine this my last will testatament in manner & forme following first & principle I committ my soule into the hands of Almighty God my creater hoping & assured by believing through the merritts death & passion of Jesus Christ my only Saviour and Redeemer to have & obtaine free and full remission & pardon for all my sins, as touchinge concerninge all my worldly estate, either here in Virginia in England or elsewhere dew either by bill bond or accoumpt.

Imprimis. Item I give & bequeath unto Mary Carter daughter to Giles Carter tenn thousand pounds of tobo: & cask one feather bed two blanketts & one good rugge, this to be payd in three years after my decease, the interest hereof to be towards her clothinge.

Item. I give unto Susan Carter tenn thousand pounds of tobo: & casq: one feather bed two blankets & one rugge to be payd as above said.

Item. I give unto my man Tero his freedome he servinge three years after my decease, and at the expiracon of the said tyme I give unto him one cow, on sow if I have any left, and as much land as he shall tend for him & another during life.

Item. I give unto Hannah Carter wife to Giles Carter my negroe maid Keate for ever and her increase.

Item. I give unto Daniel Price my best suite & coate I have.

Item. I give unto Giles Carter what he owes me by bill or booke and further the plantacon which I have formerly lett him that he & his wife Hannah Carter shall have it during both their lives rent free, only paying one Graine of Indian Corne when demanded and further it is my will that what I have given to the said Giles Carter’s children, that if either of them should dye that it should come to the rest of his children. It is further my will that when the said Hannah Carter wife to the said Giles Carter shall die, then the said negroe wench returne to Theodrick Carter her son and if she hath any children them to be at her disposing who she will give them too.

Item. I make my loving Cozen Mr. Mathew Crews my sole executor of all my lands here in Virginia, or else where & all the rest of my estate to him or his heirs forever, my just debts being payd.

Item. It is my desire that my loving friend Giles Carter shall live here in my said house & comand my servants & make crops or any other thinge as shall be convenient & necessary for the said plantacon, and soe to give an account yearly as my said Executor shall order.

Test.
JA: Crewes
thence A Tho: Forehand

Devenot Enroughty.
Proveed in Henrico County Court to be the last will & testament of Capt. James Crews (dece’d) by the witnesses to the same as by their deposicons taken the 10th of Xber 1677 (in case of mortality)
will appeare & certifyed & entered amongst the records of the said Court this 2d day of August 1680.
H. Davis, dep. cler. cur.

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WILL OF GILES CARTER
In the name of God Amen. I Giles Carter Senr: being of a weake and infirm body yet (Blessed be god) of a sound and perfect memory: And considering the frailty and incertainty of man’s Life and not knowing the time of my departure hence; I doe make Constitute and appoint this my last Will and Testam’t: hereby Revoaking all other wills by me heretofore made whatsoever Imprs: I comend my Soul into the hands of my Blessed Redeemer Jesus Christ Relying only upon his merits for Salvation. My Body I commit to the Earth to be decently therein interred. And for what worldly Goods and possessions God hath bestowed upon me, It is my will and desire they may be disposed of in form & manner folowing.

I Give and bequeath to my son Theodrick Carter five shillings Sterl’g to be paid by my Deare wife Hannah either in Silver or to the full value thereof as to her shall seeme most convenient. Item. I Give to my Daughter Susanna now ye wife of Thos. Williamson five Shillings Sterling to be paid as above s’d. Item. I give & bequeath to my daughter Mary now ye wife of Thomas Davis fie Shills. Sterl’g to be paid as aforesaid. Item. I give to my Daughter Ann now the wife of James Davis, one fether bed and Bolster, one Rugg, one blanket and one Cow. Item. I give to my son Giles one mare called Nanny with her increase for ever. It being a mare formerly given to him by William Sewell she then being but a Philly.

These Legacies being paid as also wt debts have or shall be lawfully by me contracted, being fully satisfied. It is my will and desire that what of my Estate shall Remaine (one fether bed and furniture only excepted) for my wife Hannah (which I give unto her) may be equally divided into two parts, the one part whereof to belong to my wife Hannah the other to my son Giles. It not being my intent or design’d in any wise hereby to disannull or make voide a deed of Gift formerly by me made to my son Giles and entred upon Record. But I doe by this my last will and testament Rattifie and confirm the same. Item. It is my will and desire that what Estate shall appertaine to my son Giles that he may receive the same when he shall arrive to ye age of eighteen years; and also enjoy the benefit of his Labour, my wife Hannah not being any wise mollested or disturbed upon the plantacon wee now live upon during her life.

And lastly I make Constitute and appoint my dear and loveing wife Hannah full and sole Execx: of this my last will & Testament, the which I own to be my Last; All others being hereby Disannulled and made voide. As Witness my hand and seals this 14th day of December, 1699.

Giles Carter (Seal of Red Wax.)

Signed sealed and delivered in presence of us:

Thomas Smythes.
William T. Sewell
James D. Davis

Henrico County Febr’s ye 2: 1701/2. Proved in open Court by the oaths of subscribed Witnesses as to be the Last Will and testam’t of the subscribed Giles Carter.
Testl James Cocke, Cl. Cur.

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WILL OF THEODRICK CARTER (FIRST)
In the name of God Amen I, Theodrick Carter of the Parish & County of Henrico being sick but of perfect Memory do this Twenty Second day of July one thousand seven hundred thirty six make this my last Will and Testament, and first and principally I commit my Soul to Almighty God in whom and by whose Mercy and thro. The Merits of my Blessed Saviour and redeemer Jesus Christ I trust and Assuredly believe to be saved, my Body to the earth to be decantly Buryed at the discretion of my Executx. Hereafter named, and as for Disposing my estate I give and devise the same in manner and form following. I give and devise unto my Beloved wife Elizabeth so long as she shall live sole my plantation Land and Appurtenances and after her Death or Marriage, I give unto my Son Theodrick Carter and his heirs forever my said plantation with two hundred and eighteen Acres of Land thereto belonging I give and devise unto my son John Carter and his heirs forever one hundred and Twenty acres Land be the same more or less within the following Bounds, beginning at a corner Beach standing on Round Hill Branch thence along a line of marked Trees to a corner Hickory on the Dividing Line between John Spears and this Land to a Corner Oak on the farther side of the Road thence along the line of John Webb to a corner Tree on Chickahominy Swamp thence up the same to ye place began at; my wife is not to be excluded the use of this Land so long as she shall remain sole, during which time, I give her my Negro named Will and after that time I give himto my son Theodrick with a Negro child named Dick. I give unto my son John and his heirs after the Death or Marriage of his Mother my Negro woman Judith and a Mullato Girl named Lucy with what children they may have when he has a right to the possession of them. I give unto my said Son John one fether bed Rug and Blanket, one Gun, my great Chist, one pot and Hooks and two Cows, I give unto my daughter Mary Carter one Cow and Calf one fether bed, Rug and Blankets, two Ews, one pot and Hooks, two pewter Dishes and two plates and one poringer. I give unto my beloved wife Elizabeth all the rest of my Estate of what kind soever and do make her Executrix of this my last Will and Testament, hereby directing that my Estate shall not be Inventoryed or appraised. In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Affixed my seal the day and year aforewritten.

Theodrick Carter (Seal).

Signed Sealed published and declared as his last Will and Testament in presence of
Thomas Watkins
John Spear
Will W. Loatham

At a Court held at Varina for the County of Henrico, the first Monday in Ap’l 1737, this Will was presented by Elizabeth Carter the Executrix upon Oath and proved by the Oath of Thomas Watkins & John Spear two of the Witness thereto and thereupon admitted to record, and on the Motion of the said Executrix, Certificate is granted her for obtaining a probate thereof in Due form.
Test: Bowler Cocke, Cl. Cur.

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WILL OF THEODRICK CARTER (SECOND)
Located on our Prince Edward County website

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WILL OF JOHN CARTER
Located on our Halifax County website

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The will of John Carter, son of Theodrick (First) and brother of Theodrick (Second), executed December 1st, 1785, and probated before Henrico court in Richmond January 2d, 1786 names his son Theodrick, to whom a nominal legacy is made; son John, Jr., to whom is willed the land on White Oak Swamp, on which John Jr., was then living, containing two hundred acres; daughter Frances Walton, to whom a nominal legacy is provided. A deed, dated April 5th, 1773, by John Carter, is recorded in Henrico County in which one negro slave is given to each of his grandchildren John Carter Walton, Mary Walton and Elizabeth Walton, children of his daughter Frances Walton of Charlotte County. To his son William were given all the remaining lands joining that already owned by William and bounded by other land deeded to William’s brother Jacob; son Sherwood; son Jacob, to whom was given "one negro fellow names Giles," which indicated that the old Carter name of "Giles" was perpetuated amongst the slaves; granddaughter Betsy Gannaway Carter (daughter of Jacob and Mary Carter) to whom three negroes were willed; granddaughter Betsy Carter (daughter of John and Anne Carter), to whom was given one negro boy. Four of the sons, John, William, Sherwood and Jacob Carter, were appointed executors, and were directed to sell two negroes to pay any debts, the balance of the slaves being distributed under the will.

The wills of John Carter’s sons, John, Jr., and Sherwood, are recorded in Henrico County. Those of Theodrick, William and Jacob have not been found. These five brothers were grandsons of Theodrick Carter (First) and his wife Elizabeth.

(Source: "Giles Carter of Virginia, Direct Line of Descent," from the research of Lynn Stephens Headley; transcribed by A. Newell.)

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WILL OF HENRY TURNER
January 17, 1712-1713. Son Abell (plantation on Falling Creek in Henrico County). Daughters: Joan, Elizabeth, Ann, Hannah, Jane, Mary. Wife and Executrix: Patience. Witnesses: James Flemmino, Arthur Dougall, William Fisher. Clerk of the Court: Edwd. Bon-Wicke (or Renwicke).
[Source: "Abstracts of North Carolina Wills", By: J. Bryan Grimes, Secretary of State, 1910, Page 382 - Submitted by: Linda Rodriguez]

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