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Will of Samuel Woodson Venable of "Springfield," Prince Edward Co., Va.
I, Samuel W. Venable, being of sound and disposing mind and memory do make and constitute this my last will and testament. In the first place it is
my will and desire that all my just debts be paid. It is my will and desire
that all the debts due to me on any account be collected as well those
due on my private books as those which fall to me on the dissolution and
settlement of the business now carried on at Union Mills under the firm
of Venable & Co. in which my son Nathaniel and myself are partners the
terms of the partnership will be seen in our agreement now in my possession.
It is my desire also that my executors dispose of the goods and property
which belongs to me in that concern as soon as circumstances and the interest
of my estate will permit. It is my will and desire that the money which
shall arise from my stock in trade, crops on hand, cash in hand, debts
due in any way, or from bank stock or stock of any kind which I may possess
at my decease and which I may hereafter direct to be sold, shall constitute
a fund for the payment of my debts and legacies in the first place and
then for such other purposes as I shall hereafter direct. It is my will
that so much of my personal and perishable estate as my executors and my
beloved wife shall think the family can conveniently spare shall be sold
also a negro woman Sall now living at my plantation in Halifax, also some
Georgia certificates which I hold and the proceeds to be applied as I have
above directed. I wish my executors to sell the negro woman Sall to a humane
master and if possible to such as she will choose to go to and therefore
the mode of sale and price is entirely left to their discretion. It is
my will and desire that my son Abraham W. Venable be supported from my
estate until he shall have studied his profession and at least one year
after he comes of age. I wish also the expense necessary to finish the
education of my daughter Mildred in such way as my beloved wife and my
executors may judge best and also the expense necessary for her support
till she marries or comes of age to be paid out of my estate. I have directed
that my son Abraham W. Venable and my daughter Mildred C. Venable should
be supported out of my estate until a certain period when funds come into
the hands of my executors over and above what may be necessary to pay my
debts and legacies. It is my desire that they appropriate a full and sufficient
fund to answer this purpose and pay any other moneys which I may hereafter
direct to be paid out of my estate and this sum so appropriated they may
put out to interest upon landed or other undoubted security and it is my
will that the interest so long as it is sufficient and then so much of
the principal as may be necessary shall be applied for the purposes above
mentioned. When monies or funds belonging to my estate over and above what
may be necessary for the last mentioned appropriation shall come into the
hands of my executors-- It is my will and desire that they from time to
time as such funds accumulate so as to make them in their judgment an object
to distribute do distribute the same among those children to whom I shall
leave the residue of my estate and so continue to do from time to time
untill my daughter Mildred shall marry or become of age when I will and
desire that the general distribution of my estate shall take place. If
I should leave any negroes undisposed of I will that my executors hire
them out untill the general distribution of my estate and consider their
hire as belonging to the fund for supporting my daughter Mildred untill
she becomes of age or marry which I have mentioned above. Now I give and
bequeath in the following manner my estate real and personal(???). I give
and bequeath to my beloved wife during her natural life the land and plantation
whereon I now live except a small part which I shall hereafter dispose
of, also the following negroes to-wit Jack, Patty, Abram, Molly and Jenny
and their children now born or to be born hereafter except such as are
hereafter disposed of in this will old Dick, Barbara and her son, William,
Judy, Congo these are also given to her during her natural life. I give
her absolutely and at her own disposal four horses such as she shall choose
out of my stock of horses twenty cattle as many of the sheep and hogs as
she may wish to have all of her choice--likewise as many of the plantation
tools and household and kitchen furniture as she may think necessary our
riding carriage and harness as much forage and provisions as will at least
last a year if so much is on hand. I give her also twenty bank shares such
as I may possess or the value thereof in money if I should not possess
so many at the time of my decease these last are given to her and her heirs
forever. I give and bequeath to my daughter Elisabeth W. Watkins wife of
William Watkins one undivided half of my tract of land on Difficult creek
having a mill on the same which said tract of land in the whole will contain
about eight hundred acres after taking off a . . . part adjoining the land
bought by me of William Boyd which said land I have willed to my daughter
Mary C. Womack. Also George a negro boy the son of Patty and Jack and one
undivided third part of my lot in Richmond received by inheritance of my
brother Abraham B. Venable and four hundred pounds in money all of which
is given to her and her heirs forever. I give and bequeath to my daughter
Peggy R. Cabell the proceeds of the following lands which I desire my executors
to sell for her use to-wit, one tract in Kentucky Iying on the Chaptain
fork of Salt River and containing five hundred acres one other tract lying
in Monroe County near the Red Sulphur Spring and containing five hundred
and seventy acres one young negro man named Oliver and two hundred pounds
in money all of which I give to her and her heirs forever. I give and bequeath
to my daughter Ann Mayo Read my tract of land lying near the college of
Hampden-Sidney and adjoining the lands of my brother Richard and containing
about three hundred and seventeen acres. Also Adam a negro boy received
from the estate of Colo. Read and two hundred and fifty pounds in money
all of which I give to her and her heirs forever. I give and bequeath to
my daughter Mary C. Womack my tract of land in Halifax County which I bought
of William Boyd commonly called Cannons Tract containing about three hundred
and eighty acres also fifty acres adjoining the same which I reserved of
the tract bought of Scott and others when I gave my son Paul his tract
of land also fifty acres more lying adjoining to it belonging to the tract
bought of the heirs of Charles Edwards to be laid off by my executors in
the manner most suitable to both tracts--that is to say the tract now given
to my daughter Mary C. Womack and the balance of the tract bought of Edwards'
heirs now given to my daughters Elisabeth W. Watkins and Agness W. Watkins.
I give her also Sam called waggoner Sam also Griffin, Lucy and their child
and future increase also two hundred and fifty pounds in money all of which
I give to her and her heirs forever with this exception nevertheless that
if my son Abraham W. Venable needs a settlement on account of his mother
possessing the tract of land left him he shall have the use of the tract
of land given to my daughter Mary C. Womack untill his mother's death at
which time he shall possess the tract of land left him and my daughter
Mary C. Womack shall possess the tract of land left her. I give and bequeath
to my daughter Clementina Reid wife of William S. Reid that part of my
tract of land lately bought of Blake B. Woodson which said Woodson bought
of William Jones containing about three hundred and nineteen acres also
twenty acres of wood land to be taken from the other part of the tract
bought of Blake B. Woodson and lying most convenient to the Jones' Tract
also Amos a lad the son of Barbary and Jesse the oldest son of Molly and
Abraham and two hundred pounds in money all of which is given to her and
her heirs forever.
I give and bequeath to my daughter Henningham C. Anderson the wife of Robert
Anderson the tract of land bought by me of John P. Metauer at two purchases
and commonly called Providence except twenty acres joining and most convenient
to the tract of land on which I now live and which I intend for my son
Abraham at his mother's decease. This land my executors shall lay off according
to the directions here given as they shall judge most suitable for Abraham's
tract. I give her also forty acres of land to be laid off from the tract
on which I live one half on each side of the river to serve as a supply
of wood and timber to her tract and to be laid off as conveniently for
Abraham's tract as circumstances will permit. This land also I wish my
executors to lay off as they judge best according to my directions here
given. I give to her besides the negroes now in her possession a negro
man called Cooper Joe and Henry the son of Patty who now lives in Halifax
also two hundred and fifty pounds in money all of which I give to her and
her heirs forever. I give her also Lewis at her mother's death to her and
her heirs forever.
I give and bequeath to my daughter Agnes W. Watkins wife of Henry E. Watkins
one undivided half of my tract of land and mill on Difficult creek the
other half of which I have given to my daughter Elisabeth W. Watkins being
the tract bought of the heirs of Charles Edwards and heretofore described.
I give her also one undivided third part of my lot in Richmond inherited
of my brother Abraham B. Venable. I give her also a young man Sam Cook
and two hundred and fifty pounds in money. All of which I give to her and
her heirs forever.
I give and bequeath to my daughter Mildred C. Venable all that part of
the tract of land which I lately bought of Blake B. Woodson which I have
not willed to my daughter Clementina Reid containing about four hundred
acres with the buildings etc. I give her also the following negroes to-wit
Harry bought of Andrew Johnson's estate Finnetta daughter of Patty and
any increase she may have before my decease Sally or Sarah daughter of
Polly and her increase Betsy daughter of Molly and Abram Billy a cooper
at the mill and William at her mother's decease. Also the sum of four hundred
pounds all of which I give to her and her heirs forever. I give and bequeath
to my son Nathaniel E. Venable one undivided half of my interest or estate
in the mills called Union Mills and of the lot of land on which the same
stands containing by estimation about sixty acres in which my brother holds
an interest with me he owning one fourth of said land and mill. I give
him also two negroes Robin and Letty now in his possession. I give him
also Charles wishing him however not to separate him from his wife and
children. I wish him to have possession of the mill at the end of the year
whenever my decease shall happen. All these I give to him and his heirs
forever. I have already given my son Paul C. Venable by deed a tract land
which I intended for him. I have also given him the following negroes which
are now in his possession viz: David, Len, Peter, Biddy and her child and
future increase. I give him also the tract of land bought of George Salmon
by me through his attorney Isaac Medley containing about one hundred and
twenty nine acres 44 acres however subject to some uncertainty. All these
I give to him and his heirs forever. I give unto my son Samuel W. Venable,
Jr. one undivided half of my interest or estate in the mills now called
Union Mills and of the lot of land on which it stands containing about
sixty acres on which the said mill stands which said lot and mill is now
owned by me and my brother William. I give him also two small tracts of
land near or adjoining the mill lot one bought by me of Charles F. Nash
and the other of my brother Abraham B. Venable the first containing about
ninety six acres the second about fifty acres for which however I have
given him a deed, also a small piece of land adjoining the same bought
of Colo. Charles Allen or Edward Reaford, I give him also two hundred and
ninety seven acres of land or about that quantity bought of James Daniel
being the same land that fell to his children as the distributees of the
estate of Abraham B. Venable deceased and for two undivided sixths of which
I have given him a title by deed, for the remainder I have not as yet got
a legal title but I have a mortgage on James Daniel's land to secure the
title. If the title to said land should not be made to me complete in my
life time it is my will that the title be made to my son Samuel W. Venable
and I will and bequeath to him my right or claim to the land of James Daniel
to secure him in case of failure. I give him also the following negroes
to-wit Hannah and her children now in his possession Ephriam, Alleck or
Alexander and Isac. I have given him Billy and Peter two negro men bought
of Miller's Estate. All of which I give to him and his heirs forever. I
give him also Ben a cooper at the mill to him and his heirs forever. I
give and bequeath to my son Abraham W. Venable the tract of land on which
I now live at his mother's decease except about forty
acres which I have directed my executors to lay off in wood land adjoining
the Providence Tract which I have willed to my daughter Henningham. I give
him also twenty acres of land which I have directed my executors to lay
off from the Providence Tract for him. I give him also the following negroes
to-wit Harry Patty's son and Mary his wife and their present and future
increase John and Frank son of Judy and Andrew all of which I give to him
and his heirs forever. I give and bequeath to my beloved wife over and
above what I have given her old Aggy, Lewis, son of Patty and Hampton a
lad during her natural life. I give and bequeath unto my daughter Ann Mayo
Read over and above what I have given her one undivided third of a lot
in Richmond which I inherited from my brother Abraham B. Venable. I give
and bequeath to my daughter Peggy R. Cabell over and above what I have
given her my lot in Farmville to her and her heirs forever. It is my will
that my old men Caesar and Warwick live where they choose among the family
and be supported out of my estate. If any of my family choose to take them
I authorise my executors to make a contract and pay such member of my family
at once from my estate what may be deemed a reasonable compensation for
their support. I give and bequeath to my daughter Mildred C. Venable over
and above what I have given her two negro men Douglas and shop Dick to
her and her heirs forever. I give and bequeath to my son Samuel W. Venable
over and above what I have given him one negro man cooper Peter to him
and his heirs forever. I give and bequeath to my son Abraham W. Venable
after the decease of his mother a negro boy Hampton to him and his heirs
forever. It is my will and desire that all the residue of my estate real
and personal be equally divided between between my eight daughters and
youngest son. When my three eldest sons receive their legacies they will
all things considered be about as well provided for as the other children
of the family. When my beloved wife shall decease that which I have given
her for life shall belong to this residue. It is my will that the division
of the residue of my estate take place when my daughter Mildred marries
or comes of age. I give to each of my children above mentioned viz my eight
daughters and youngest son their share of the residue to them and their
heirs forever. I appoint my sons Nathaniel E. Venable, Samuel W. Venable,
Abraham W. Venable and Isaac Read my son in law executors of this my last
will and testament. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and
seal the 26th. day of January in the year of our Lord one thousand eight
hundred and twenty one. Interlined before signing. Samuel W. Venable (Seal)
Witness Temple D. Richardson. Nath. I. Venable. Andrew Bigger. William
D. Epes. Richd. N. Venable. Margaret M. Reid. I have given to my beloved
wife during her natural life by this will Molly and Janney two negro women
and such of their children now born or hereafter to be born if not by will
I disposed of otherwise it is my will that my beloved wife either in her
life or at her decease as she shall choose, shall have the right of giving
the said negro women and children in any way she chooses so that they are
given to some of our children. This alteration I make this 8th. day of
August 1820 as witness my hand and seal on that day and date.
Samuel W. Venable (Seal)
Richd. N. Venable.
Margaret M. Reid.
Temple D. Richardson.
At a court held for Prince Edward County September the 17th. 1821, This
last will and testament of Samuel W. Venable Dec'd, was presented in court
and proved by the oaths of Temple D. Richardson, Nathaniel I. Venable and
Richard N. Venable three witnesses thereto, and the codicil to said will
was also proved by the oaths of Temple D. Richardson and Richard N. Venable
two witnesses thereto, ordered that the said will and codicil be recorded:
on the motion of Nathaniel E. Venable and Abraham W. Venable two of the
executors therein named, they with Samuel W. Venable, Jr. William S. Reid
and Isaac Read their securities entered into and acknowledged their bond
for the purpose in the penalty of one hundred and twenty thousand dollars
conditioned according to law and took the oath required by law, certificate
for obtaining a probat thereof in due form is granted them.
Teste B. J. Worsham, D. C.
A copy,
Teste:--
Horace Adams Clerk of the Circuit Court of Prince Edward County, Virginia.
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- 1821