In the Name of God Amen the 17th day of December in the year 1773. I James Irvine of the County of Halifax and Colony of Virginia, Farmer. being very sick and Weak in body but of a perfect mind and memory thanks be given to God: Therefore Calling unto my mind the mortality of my body and knowing that it is appointed for all Men once to die do make and ordain this my last will and Testament. That is to say, principally and first of all, I give and recommend my soul into the hands of Almighty God that it, and my body I recommend to the Earth, to be buried in decent Christian burial, at the descretion of my Executors; nothing but at the general Reserection I shall receive the same again by the mighty power of God. And as touching upon such Worldly Estate wherewith it hath pleased God to blefs me in this life, I give, demise, and dispose of the same in the following manner and form. First I desire that all my Just debts may be paid in an honest lawfull manner, and the rest of my Estate bequeathed as follows - I give and bequeath to Jannat my dearly beloved wife one hundred and twenty seven acres of land off this tract whereon I now live containing five hundred and twenty seven acres in all & when the division is made the lines are to run parrelell, also a negro fellow named Sterling & his wife Agg a negro wench. All to her lawful right during her life & after her death the two negroes & their increase are to be divided equally among thos children to whom there will be no negroes willed. I give and bequeath to my dearly beloved son, John one hundred acres of Land out of this tract whereupon I now live as also a negro boy named Luke with a proportionable part of my moveable estate. I give and bequeath to my second and well beloved son James one hundred acres of landout of this tract whereon I now live as also a negro boy Charles, also a proportionable part of my moveable Estate. I give and bequeath to my third and well beloved son Samuel one hundred acres of land out of this tract whereon I now live, as also a Negro Boy named Jack, with a proportionable part of my moveable Estate I give and Bequeath to my fourth and well beloved son William one hundred acres of Land out of this tract whereon I now live with a proportionable part of my moveable Estate. I give and Bequeath to my fifth and well beloved son Alexander one hundred and twenty seven Acres of land out of this tract whereon I now live which land he is to fall Heir to at her death, it being her parrt, with a proportionable part of my moveable Estate. I give and bequeath to my well beloved daughter, Mary a proportionable part of my moveable Estate. I give and bequeath to my well beloved Daughter Margaret a proportionable part of my moveable Estate. I give and bequeath to my well beloved daughter Jane a proportionable part of my moveable Estate. I give and bequeath to my well beloved daughter Isbel a proportional part of my moveable Estate. Also I will and bequeath a negro Wench, Sarah to be sold, her and her increase and the money equally divided among four of my Daughters as follows by name Mary, Margaret, Jane & Isbel. Also I will and desire that the two negroes above bequeathed to my Wife and their increase after decease be equally divided between my two sons William & Alexander above mentioned this being what I really designed when I mentioned their being equally divided to those children to whom there will be no Negroes willed. I give and bequeath to my son by law, Robert Sharman one young cow.
I appoint my Executors to be my Wife Jannat and Eldt son John.
Signed, Sealed, published, pronounced and declaredN.B. The one hundred and twenty seven Acres of Land willed to Alexander falling to him at his Mother's death, was interlined before Signed.
At a Court for Halifax County, the 19th day of May 1774. This last Will and Testament of James Irvine deceased was presented in Court by John Irvine Executor therein named who made thereto according to Law and the same being proved by Oaths of three of the Witnefses thereto was ordered to be recorded And on the motion of the said Executor Certificate was granted him for obtaining a probate thereof in due form giving Security. Whereupon he with David Lawson and John Lawson his securities entered into and acknowledged their bond with Condition according to Law. An liberty was reserved to the Executive therein named to join in probate of the said Will when she shall think proper.
Among items listed: Livestock, sheep, cows, heifers, calves, stears, horses & mares, colts, 61 geese, 1 Burkett on the New Testament, 1 Quarto Bible & 1 large Prayer Book, 2 small Bibles, 2 Testaments, 1 Prayer Book all damaged, 1 Fishers Young Mans Companion, 1 Flavels Works, 1 Reflections on Time & Eternity, 1 Confessions of Faiths, 1 Walto's Hymns, 1 spelling book & Herveys Meditations, household goods, money scales, 1 gimblet, 1 slate, 1 pair Stilyards, 1 cubbard, 1 coffee mill, 2 old guns & 2 shott bags & powder horns, 2 pair fire tongs, pewter dishes, 26 plates, Plantation tools, 1 mans saddle & bridle, 1 womans saddle, 5 hives of bees, 1 Russia drill bedtyck, 1 womans Calimancoe gown, 2 ditto country cloth, 1 womans cloak. Negroes, man Starling, woman Aggy, Sall, boy Luke, Charles, Jack. Total: 684.16.1
Sworn before George Boyd, Gent. a Justice of the Peace.