John Yates

A copy of the actual will was found by cousin Vonette in a genealogy written by cousin Gomez Shelton, which I then transcribed.

THANKS Vonette !

In the name of God, A Men.I, JOHN YATES of the county
of Pittsylvania and Colony of Virginia, being sick and weak in Body but of
Sound and Perfect Memory, I do first Give my Soul to God and
my body to be buried in a Decent Manner at the Discretion
of my Executors hereafter Named and now I dispose of my Worldly
Estate as follows to wit:
First I leave unto my beloved wife ELIZABETH
YATES during her life all my Estate Real and personal Estate and after
her Decease the Negroes and land to ? be divided as follows: Viz
I Give unto my Eldest son JOHN YATES and his Heirs a part of my
Land Whereon I now Live beginning at my Corner Tree on Hughes
Creek and taking the full North of the Land up Dan River
to a branch at the Lower end of my plantation and a Nero Man
Named Bob
Item - I Give unto my Son GEORGE YATES and his
Heirs another part of the Land whereon I now Dwell Beginning
Where my Son John's Land ends and Runing north the said branch
to the bank line ? ? a part of a Survey ? Made adjoining
where I now Dwell and Extending up to THOMAS WATTS line but the
Lane on the River is to extend upwards to a branch that the runs below
GIBSON's Plantation and with the said branch to the bank line and
a Negro Man Named L*** and all my Smiths Tools.
Item - I Give ? ? unto my Son ELIJAH YATES and his Heirs
forever all the Remaining of the Tract of Land Where on I now
Dwell beginning at the branch below GIBSON's and Runing up the
River encluding all the Remainder of the ? Tracts where on I
Now Dwell and a Negro Boy Named TILER and a Nero Girl
Named JUDITH
Item I Give unto my Daughter HANNAH
SHELTON Wife of WILLIAM SHELTON and her Heirs two Negroes
Names big CATE and her daughter CHLOE Item I Give unto
my Daughter ANN GIBSON and her Heirs One Negro Girl -
Named EASTHER Likewise, I give unto her and her Heirs forever
all the Remainder of a Tract of Land Where on She Now Dwells in
Adjoining a Made Line between her and the plantation Where THOMAS
WATTS lives allowing One Hundred Acres to the plantation where
THOMAS WATTS lived
Item I Give unto my Daughter MARTHA
WATTS and her Heirs the One Hundred Acres of Land Whereon
She Lived and all the Stock of Horses, Cattle, Hogs and Sheep
all my Household Furniture and a Negro Woman Called LITTLE CATE
to be Divided among my Children at the Discretion of my Wife
on or before her Decease also Appointing Wife ELIZABETH YATES
and WILLIAM SHELTON Executrixs of this my Last Will and Testament
Revoking and Annulling all Other Wills and this onli to be taken
for my Last Will As Witness my hand and Seal this twenty fourth
Day of October in the Year 1777.
Seal& acknowledged in}                     his
& presence of        }              JOHN    X  YATES
                     }                    mark
GEORGE CROSS? ?  ?
THOMAS X WRIGHT

At a Court held for Pittsylvania County the 23d Day of April 1778
The Within Last Will and Testament of JOHN YATES Dec'd was exhibited
into Court by ELISABETH YATE and WILLIAM SHELTON Executrix and executor
Therein Named and proved by the oaths of two of the Witnesses thereto and
Ordered to be Recorded and on the Motion of the said Executrix and Ex**
Who Made Oath According to Law Certificate is Granted there for obtaining
a probate there of in due form of Law Giving ? Whereupon they
Together With JOHN WILSON their Security entered into Bond and
Acknowledged the ? Assending to Law
                                       ***  WILL TUNSTALL (?)

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