The Last Will and Testament of William Sanders

(son of Phillip Saunders)

Westmoreland County, Va., 1726

 (Westmoreland Co., Va. Wills, pg 74, A.Fothergill c. 1925, 
Appeals Press)

In the name of God, amen, I William Sanders being of very sick & 
weak mind of body but in perfect health of mind & memory, 
thanks be to Almighty God for the same, do make and constitute 
& ordain this my Last Will & Testament in manner & form 
following; And first I give and bequeath my Soul to Almighty God 
my Creator and my body to the earth to be decently buried at the 
discretion of my Exrs. hereafter mentioned; and for what worldly 
goods it hath pleased God to bless me with my will is that they be 
disposed of in manner & form following.

 Imprs. I give and bequeath unto my Son, John Sanders, the land 
and plantacon on which I now live to him & his heirs lawfully 
begotten of his body and for default of such heirs to my next 
rightfully heirs for ever; I likewise give him what goods or 
household stuff of any kind what ever that he hath already 
received from me.

 Item. I give & bequeath unto my Son, Phillip Sanders, the Eighty 
acres of land I last purchased of James Taylor to him & his heirs 
lawfully begotten of his body & for default of such heirs to my 
next rightfully heirs for ever.

 Item. I give & bequeath to my two Sons, William and James, all 
the rest of my land not before bequested to be equally divided 
between them only my Son, James, to have the place now called 
the New Plantacon into his part to them & their heirs lawfully 
begotten of their bodies for ever; and for default of such heirs to 
my next rightfully heirs for ever.

 Item. I give & bequeath unto my beloved wife Elizabeth Sanders, 
the choice of my feather beds with the furniture thereunto 
belonging;

 Item. I give my daughter, Mary Sanders, the next choice of my 
feather beds & furniture thereunto belonging.

 I give my daughter Ursula Sanders, a feather bed & the furniture 
thereunto belonging.

 It is my will that the rest of my Estate of any kind what ever be 
equally divided between my wife Elizabeth Sanders and her 
children, and it is my will that my children do remain & stay with 
the mother during the time that she shall remain a widow. And 
whereas I have hereby given the remaining part of my estate to be 
equally divided between my wife & her children. It is provided 
that they pay over & above to my youngest daughters, Elizabeth & 
Sarah Sanders five hundred pounds of tobacco apiece at the age of 
eighteen years or the day of marriage. I do appoint my widowed 
wife Elizabeth Saunders and my son John Sanders, my Exrs, and 
my friend, Mr. Thomas Asbury. Executor in Trust to see this my 
last Will & Testament well & truly performed.

 In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed my 
seal this 31st day of March Anno Dmi; one thousand seven 
hundred twenty six.

 Signed sealed & published in presence of

John Sturman Thomas Cockeril Wm Sanders

John Cockeril

 Westmoreland ss. At a court held for the said county the 29th day 
of June, 1726. The Last Will& Testament of William Sanders, 
decd, was presented into court by Elizabeth, his Relict & Exrx, 
(John Sanders his Exr having in court refused to undertake the 
burden of the Exon. of the sd. Will), and she having made Oath 
thereto and being proved by the oaths of John Sturman & John 
Cockerill, two of the witnesses thereto is admitted to record. And 
unto the motion of the said Elizabeth, and her performing what is 
usual in such cases, Certificate is granted for her obtaining a 
Probate thereof in due for.

 Test Tho. Sorrel, Cl

Recordat Septimo die July 1726