Contributed by Anne R. Baker

 

Orange Co., Va. Woolfolk Records

 

Typed from photo-copies ordered from the clerk of Orange Co., Va. August 29, 1999.  Anne R. Baker, starr460@home.com

 

NOTE: Have more Orange Co., Va. records which are not yet typed off – February 18, 2001 – Anne Baker

 

 

REFERENCE:

 

Orange Co., Va. Will Book 2, page 523-526

Will of Joseph Woolfolk dated 21 May 1778 – probated 22 Oct 1778

 

[NOTE: his wife was Christian Bibb]

 

 

In the name of God Amen I Joseph Woolfolk of Orange Count and Parish of St. Stephen being sick and weak in body but of sound and perfect memory thanks be to god for the same yet considering the uncertainty of this earthly life do make and declare this my last will and testament in manner and form.  As followeth and first recommend my soul unto the hand of almighty God that gave it hoping through the blessed inter—ior and ---ation of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ to --- ---as – a glorious resurrection of Immortal.  Bless my body at the Close of this life I desire may be Christian like entered and as to what wordily good it hath pleased almighty God to bestow upon me. I give and dispose of as followeth:

 

ITEM:  I lend to my loving wife Christian Woolfolk during her natural life my tract of land I now live on and mill which I shall hereafter give to my son Joseph but in case my wife should marry my will and desire is that she should have only the houses and one half the said lands and my son Joseph to take possession of Immediately after she marry’s.

 

ITEM: I lend also to my wife during her natural life the use of six negroes to wit Charles, Abram, Dinah, Milly, Jacky, Arthur, as also all my stock of cattle Horses hogs sheep &c except such as I shall hereafter mention to my children and likewise my household furniture plantation utensils I leave in the same manner.

 

ITEM: I give and bequeath to my son Augustin Woolfolk four negroes towit; Isaac, Adam, Will and Dave, to him and his heirs forever and likewise a feather bed and furniture and a sorrel Mare.

 

ITEM: I give and bequeath unto my son Joseph Woolfolk the other half of my lands and mill which have already lent my wife to him and his heirs forever.

 

ITEM: I give and bequeath to my son Joseph Woolfolk two negroes to wit Dick and Cookry and their future increase to him & his heirs forever as also one feather bed and furniture and a young bay mare.

 

ITEM: It is my will and desire that the lands that I lent to my wife in case she married at her death my son Joseph Woolfolk to have the whole tract of land as I have given my son Augustine Woolfolk too negroes in lieu of the Lands the names before mentioned Will and Dave.

 

ITEM: I give and bequeath to my daughter Elizabeth Thomas two negroes to wit Sillry? And Pompey and their future Increase to her and her heirs forever and also a feather bed and furniture and a young Bay mare.

 

ITEM:  I give and bequeath to my daughter Frances Woolfolk two negroes to wit Sarah and Peter and their future increase to her and her heirs forever as also one feather bed and furniture and young mare to be raised out of my estate.

 

ITEM: I give and bequeath to my daughter Elender Woolfolk two negroes to with Harvey and Heziah and their future increase to her and he heirs forever as also one feather bed and furniture and a young mare to be raised out of my estate.

 

ITEM: It is my will and desire that if my son Joseph Woolfolk should die without heir the Lands I give him should fall to his brother Augustine Woolfolk upon the said Augustine Woolfolk paying each of his sisters the sum of fifty pounds to them their heirs &c.

 

And as to the negroes I have given and other estate it is my will and desire should either of them die before they come to lawful age or marry that part should be equally divided among all my children their heirs & so forth but should they live to lawful age or marry to dispose of as they think proper.

 

ITEM: It is my will and desire that my wife and executors hereafter named shall either sell a negro before -nt my wife named Arthur or either of the negroes lent my wife or what part of my stock and household furniture they think proper to pay my Lawful debts and it is my will and desire should my wife marry that what I have lent already to her shall not be carryed out of this Colony & that who ever marrys her on offering to carry the Estate I have lent her out of the colony shall immediately forfeit the same and that It shall be equally divided among all my children their heirs and &c.

 

ITEM: It is my will and desire should either of my children have misfortune to loose one of there negroes before my wife dies that my said wife & executors hereafter named shall as they think proper make up the same out of that part of my estate already lent my wife and it is my will and desire that whatever estate fall to me at the death of my mother shall be equally divided among all my children or their heirs & so forth.

 

ITEM: It is my will and desire that all my estate which I leave lent my wife at her decease be equally divided among all my children their heirs and so forth.

 

LASTLY: I appoint constitute & Ordain my Brother John Woolfolk and John Oakes executors and my loving wife Christian Woolfolk executors and should either of the before named executors refuse to act then my brother Thomas Woolfolk executor to this my last will and testament and do hereby revoke all wills by me heretofore made declaring this one to be my last will and testament.

 

In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 21st day of May seventeen hundred and seventy eight.

 

Joseph Woolfolk [seal]

 

Signed sealed & delivered in presence of us:

Lawrence Young

Thomas Woolfolk

David Bibb

John “X” Burrus

 

At a court held for Orange County on Thursday the 22d October 1778 the last will and testament of Joseph Woolfolk dec’d was presented to the court by John Woolfolk and John Oakes two of the executors therein named & proved by the oaths of Lawrence Young, David Bibb and John Burrus three of the witnesses thereto and ordered to be recorded and on the motion of the said exec’s who made oath according to Law certificate is granted them for obtaining probation due form thereof, Where upon --- with Thomas Woolfolk and Lawrence Young their securities entered into and acknowledged their bond for the same in the sum of 10,000 pounds current money.

 

Test: James Taylor C.O.C.