This transcription is missing many items (primarily those referring to slaves). I am in the process of making a full and accurate copy.
The listing of slaves in wills of this time period is often the only genealogical data available to African-Americans. Unfortunately, many short form transcriptions and irresponsible transcribers will take a long list of names and replace it with "slaves".
The will of John Bates 1655-1720
York Co. Records, Orders, Wills, Vol. XV, 1716-1720 p.605-607
I John Bates of York County in Bruton Parish being will in body Health Sence and Memory Blessed be God for the same but being Aged & well stricken in years and knowing that all men was born to die and not knowing how soon the Lord ma be pleased to take me to his Mercy... causes me to make Constitute and Appoint this my Last will and Testament in Manner and for as followeth vizt
ITEM First my desire is that all my Just Debts and Legacys hereafter mentioned be Justly paid and complyed withall by my Execrs hereafter mentioned
ITEM My desire is that my Mother Mary Brewer shall have the same privilege of Living in the house she she now lives in during her natural life as she has now and not be be mi[----illegible----] and attendance as she has now and in Good Order.
ITEM I leave unto my son John Bates and to the heirs lawfully begotten all that parcell and tract of land whereon he now lives formerly purchased of Wm Jordan formerly known by the name of Old Marsh and another tract of land adjoyning thereunto formerly purchased of John Harrison and another tract of land adjoyning thereunto formerly purchased of Robt Ivory. In all seven hundred & fifty Acres and I also Leave unto my aforementioned son John Bates and the heirs of his body Lawfully begotten my Grice Water-Mill known by the Name of Openneck Mill will all the Lands and Appurtenances thereunto belonging.
ITEM I give unto my aforementioned son John Bates his heirs & assigns forever part of a tract of land containing seven hundred & ten Acres Lately Purchased of Thos Rogers lying in James City County in the south side of Chickahomini River devided thus being at a pine sapling being a Corner Between pastor Brunskill and so
running a strait line sowestardly to another pine standing in the head of a branch between me and Old Hitchcock both the aforesd pines are mentioned in the Grand patten so taking in all my right of the Tract of Land containing of about three hundred & fifty acres the remainder part of the sd tract being known by the name of Poplar Spring.
I give to my son Isaac Bates
ITEM I likewise give to my son John Bates to him his heirs or assigns a certain tract of land lying in New Kent County near Ware Creek lately purchased of Edwd Beetch. I likewise give unto my son John Bates another parcell of land lying in new Kent County lately purchased of Wm C[----illegible----]
ITEM I give unto my son John Bates Sixteen Negroes namely as followth (vis)...
ITEM I give unto my Grandson Flemming Bates a Negro Girl named Polly and all her increase to him and his heirs forever.
ITEM I give unto my Grandson John Bates a Negro Girl named Venus.
ITEM I give unto my aformentioned Grandson John Bates those two tracts of land that I bought of Thos. and Robt. Dean the one of them being eighty acres the other one hundred and fifty in all two hundred and thirty acres to him and his heirs forever the land lying in James City County near Drinking Spring.
ITEM I give to my Grandson Charles Bates a Negro Girl named Tomison.
ITEM I give unto Isaac Bates all the remainder of that tract of land on the south side of Chickahomini river known by the name of Poplar Spring it being about three hundred & fifty Acres and the remainder of that tract that I gave to my son John I give it to him & the heirs of his body Lawfully begotten forever.
ITEM I give unto my aforesd son Isaac Bates & heirs of his body... my Mill in Pease Mill Creek and all the appurtenances thereunto belonging.
ITEM I give unto my son Isaac Bates all the furniture of my house at Poplar Spring within doors and without with all my cattle sheep horses mares & hoggs that is on the south side of Chickahomini River excepting what goods shall be in my Store that I keep there when I die.
ITEM I give unto my son Isaac Bates my watch & my clock & my [----illegible----]
ITEM I give unto my son Isaac Bates the plantation I now live on with all the rest of my plantations adjoining thereunto and what land soever belonging to me at the making of this my will besides what Land I have already given and mentioned my son John.
ITEM I give unto my son Isaac Bates sixteen Negroes namely...[----illegible----]
ITEM I give unto my Daughter Hannah Bates a Negro girl named Hannah... and all her increase... and further I give unto my Daughter Hannah Bates four hundred and seventy pounds to be paid her by my Execrs hereafter mentioned in Cash when she shall attain to the age of twenty one years or before if my Execrs shall think fitt.
ITEM I give unto my Daughter Ann Bates a Negro girl named Patty... I give unto my sd daughter Ann four hundred & seventy pounds in Cash to be paid her by my Execrs... when she shall attain to the age of twenty one years or before if my Execrs shall think fitt.
ITEM I give and bequeath all the rest of my estate be it of what kind soever unto my two sons John Bates and Isaac Bates to be equally divided between them (as Money Tobo Goods household stuff debts Money in England or elsewhere) when all debts and legacys are paid.
AS WITNESS my hand & seal this twenty-fifth day of December 1719.
John Bates [Seal]
Signed sealed & owned
to be his will in the
presence of us
John Rogers
Matt Higgins
Saml Holdcraft
At a court held for York County
May 16, 1720
This last will & Testament of
John Bates dec'd was presented in
Court by John Bates one of the
Execrs. therin named.
Admitted to record
TEST Phi Lightfoot CL