WILL OF JAMES BOATWRIGHT OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY, VA.
Submitted by David C. Rains
The following will of James
Boatwright can be found in the Cumberland County, Virginia, Circuit Court
records, Will Book 5, Page 86:
"In the name of God
amen, knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die, I James Boatright
of Cumberland County and State of Virginia, being in my right mind and of
disposing memory, do make this my last will and testament.
1st. I give to my son Leonard Boatright, my island
on the James River known by the name of Daniels Iland and also my Punch Creek
tract of land by him paying in two years after my death two hundred dollars to
my estate, to him and his heirs forever.
2nd. I give to my son John Boatright my tract of
land in the County of Fluvanna, which I purchased of Mathew Wills, containing
one hundred and twenty four acres be the same more or less, by him paying fifty
dollars in two years to my estate after my death, to him and his heirs forever.
3rdly. I give to my son Chestly Boatright my tract
of land on which I live, of one hundred and nineteen acres be the same, as also
my still and still vessels provisor that the said Chestly Boatright lets my
daughter Drucilla Boatright remain in the mansion house on said plantation with
him after my death and boarding free until she marrys, to him and his heirs
forever.
4thly. I give to each of my children as they may
need that have not received heretofore one bed and furniture.
5thly. I give to my son Drury Boatright ten dollars
in addition to what I have deeded him proviso that he obligates himself to give
free liberty or use of the spring called Drummons.
6thly. I give the balance of all my estate not
heretofore mentioned or willed, to be equally divided between my sons Samuel
Boatright, James Boatright, Benj'n Boatright, Daniel Boatright, and William
Boatright and my daughters Ann Steger, Judith Martin, Drucilla Boatright, Patsy
Boatright, and Polly Boatright, giving to my son Samuel my negro Tarlton at
valuation, giving to my son James Boatright my negro George at valuation,
giving to my daughter Ann Steger my negro Sally at valuation, giving to my son
William Boatright my negro Nelson at valuation, giving to my daughter Judith
Martin my negro Julia at valuation, and giving to my daughter Drucilla
Boatright my negro Cloe at valuation, each of them paying the overplus should
there be any at the division and, lastly, I do hereby constitute and appoint my
sons Benjamin, Samuel, Leonard, and Chestly Boatright Executors of this my last
will and testament hereby revoking all other or former wills or testaments by
me heretofore made.
In witness there of I have
hereunto set my hand and affixed my hand and affixed my seal this 10th day of
January in the year one thousand eight hundred and fourteen (1814).
Signed, sealed, published
and declared
as and for the last will and
testament of
the named James Boatright in
the presence
of us
D. Shields
Wm. Montague
Abraham Daniel
James (His Mark) Boatright"
NOTE:
It is apparent from the
signature at the end of this will that James, for all his land and property
holdings, was unable to read and write.
As he obviously did not write this will himself, it would account for
the misspellings, particularly of family members. The names of his children Chesley and Drucillah, are spelled
incorrectly throughout this document. The accurate and correct spelling of
these names is well documented in letters, bible records, etc., some of which
are written by the same family members whose names are misspelled in the will.
Nonetheless, I have
reproduced the will from a microfilm copy of the original, handwritten document, complete with misspellings and
grammatical errors, as accurately as I am able for the sake of maintaining the
integrity of the will as originally written.
It is interesting to note
that the "Daniel's Iland" willed to his son Leonard can be found on a
current (1998) map of Cumberland County and is now known as "Boatwright's
Island".
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copyright October 2000 Nancy Gay Crawford