Mecklenburg Co., VA., Will Book 4, Page 144, 145, 146
In the name of God Amen. I, James Bilbo of the County of Mecklenburg and State of Virginia, being weak and sick in body but of sound mind and disposing memory for which I thank God, and calling to mind the uncertainty of human life and being disposed to dispose of all such worldly estate as it hath pleased God to bless me with, I give and bequeath the same in the following manner, that is to say:
Item: I lend unto my wife, Dorothy Bilbo, all the negroes came by her and three of mine Tony and Ceaser and all my stock and part of my land and house during her widowhood except one horsesuch as my son William Bilbo may choose - one negroe woman by the name of Hannah.
Item: I give unto my son Matthew Bilbo one negroe girl by the name of Cate, one by name Anthony, which two negroes he has in his possession, also one other boy by the name of Jacob, also one other boy by the name of Jesse, one girl by the name of Easter - to him and his heirs forever.
Item: I give and bequeath unto my son James Bilbo one negroe man by the name of Ned, one by the name of Joe, one girl named Rachel, also one other boy by the name Pompy, and one woman by name of Lucy to him and his heirs forever.
Item: I give and bequeath unto my son William Bilbo my house and land on which I now live, all my house hold and furniture to him and his heirs forever. Also, one negroe man by the name of Abram one woman by the name Hannah, one other woman by the name of Ide, one girl by name of Dorcas, Sally's three children Polly, Moses, Clarissy, also one boy by name of John, one other boy by the name of Abram, one woman by the name of Sally and her child Nancy, also Tony, Ceasar and after the death of my wife to him and his heirs forever.
Item: I give and bequeath to my grandson, John James Bilbo, one negroe man by the name of Dave that I lent his father.
Item: I give and bequeath to my daughter Agens Morgan one woman by the name of Wincey and her children Lucy, Abram to her and her heirs forever.
Item: I give to my daughter Mary Morgan's children one negroe girl by the name of Fanny, one other girl by the name of Chany, one other girl by the name of Mary to be equally divided amongst them after the death of their mother.
Item: I lend to Judith Kennon during her natural life one boy by the name of Billy, one girl by the name of Nancy, after her death to my son William Bilbo to him and his heirs forever.
Item: I giv and bequeath to my granddaughter, Mary Malone, two negroes by the name of Tom and James to her and her heirs forever.
Item: I give unto my son James Bilbo two hundred pounds in cash to buy him land.
Item: I desire that all my stock shall be sold after the death of my wife and the money arising there from to be equally divided amongst all my living children.
Item: I give my crops now on hand and every thing not here mentioned to my son William Bilbo to replace and build houses on the plantation and lastly, I nominate and appoint my son, William Bilbo Executor of this my last will and testament hereby revoking all other former will or wills by me heretofore made declaring this and this only to be my last will. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand affixed my seal this tenth day of October amno Dom. 179 nine.
Signed, Sealed & Acknowledged in the presence of
At a Court held for Mecklenburg County the 9th day of December 1799, this will was proved by oaths of John Bilbo, Thomas Bilbo and Sarah Freeman, witnesses thereto and ordered to be recorded. And on motion of William Bilbo, the Exec. therein named, who made oath thereto and together with Christopher Haskins and John Johnson, his securities entered unto and acknowledged their bond in the penaly of thirty thousand dollars, conditioned as the law directs certificate was granted him for obtaining a probate of the said will in due form.
James (x) Bilbo
John Bilbo, Thomas, Bilbo, Sarah (x) Freeman