Will Book 4, Page 306, Mecklenburg Co., VA
In
the Name of God Amen. I John Mayes of the County of Mecklenburg and
Parish of saint James's and State of Virginia being sick and weak in
body but of a sound disposing mind and Memory thanks be to God for the
same and knowing the uncertainty of this life do make and declare this
to be my last Will and Testament in the form and manner following to
wit: I commit my Body to the Earth and my Soul to the hands of my
Creator to be Intered as my Executors hereafter mentioned shall think
Proper. First my desire is that all my Just debts be paid as my
Executors shall think best to Raise. The money - Itim I lend my beloved
wife Elizabeth Mayes the land and Plantation whereon I now live during
her natural life or widowhood and after that I leave it to be sold and
the money to be Equally divided between John G. Mayes, Thomas H. Mayes
and Charles Mays to them and their heirs forever. I lend to my beloved
wife one negroe man named French for the term of six years and at the
expiration of that time I give him the said Negroe to John G. Mayes and
his heirs forever. Itim I lend to my beloved wife one Negroe girl named
Rose untill my daughter Dolley comes of age or marries and then I give
the said Rose and her Increase to my daughter but if the said Dolley
dies before the Expiration of that time my desire is that the said
negroe and her Increase if any be equally divided between Thomas H.
Mayes, Salley Mayes and Charles Mayes or their Heirs. Itim I lend to my
beloved wife Elizabeth Mayes three Negroes Esbel, young Rachel and
Gilbert untill Thomas H. Mayes arrives to the age of twenty-one years
and then my Desire is that the above mentioned be Equally divided
between Thomas H. Mayes, Salley Mayes and Charles Mayes to them and
their heirs forever. Itim I give to my Son Bozeman Mayes one negro man
named Tom who has been in the possession of the said Bozeman for a term
of years and one desk I give them to him and his heirs forever. Itim I
give and bequeth to my Son Stith Mayes one negroe boy named Emanuel and
one cow and calf to him and his Heirs forever. Itim I give and bequath
to my daughter Nancy Taney two Negroes namely old Rachel and Oney to
her and her heirs forever. Itim I give and bequath to my Daughter Mary
Carter two negroes namely Sarah and Rhoda to her and her heirs forever.
Itim I lend to my daughter Elizabeth Hall two negroes namely Edie and
Vacney during her natural life and after her death I give the said
negroes and their Increase to her Children Lawfully begotten of her
body and to their Heirs forever. Itim I lend to my beloved wife
Elizabeth Mayes two Negroes namely Judie and Dinah and their Increase
with all the remaining Part of my Estate as it not yet disposed of
whither real or Personal during her natural life and after her death I
leave it to be sold and the Money to be Equally divided between John G.
Mayes, Thomas H. Mayes, Salley Mayes, Charles Mayes and Dolley Mays to
them and their heirs forever. Itim I constitute and appoint Zachariah
Yancey and Charles Hamblin Executors to this my last will and Testament
hereby revoking and disannulling all other Wills hereto fore by me made
and Confirm this to be my last Will and Testament. As witness my hand
and Seal the twenty- seventh of Nov 1800. Signed Sealed and delivered.
John Mayes
Recorded July 1801