Daniel Boatright of Cumberland County -- last will & Testament:
... Item, I give unto my daughter Nancy Boatright a negro girl Biddy which she has in possession, to her & her heirs forever ~
... Item, I give unto my daughter Sally Boatright one negro man named Simon & one bed & furniture to her & the heirs of her body forever, but if she should die without a child I then give it to be equally divided between all my children to them & their heirs forever ~
... Item, I give unto my daughter Elizabeth Martin one negro girl Patty, which she has in possession to her & her heirs forever ~
...Item, I give unto my daughter Esther Martin one negro girl Aggy, which she has in possession to her & her heirs forever ~
... Item, I give unto my daughter Milley Boatright to take possession at any time one negro girl Lucy [Lacy?], one bed & one cow & calf to her, her heirs or assigns forever~
... Item, I give unto my daughter Drucilla Meador, one negro girl Dilsa which she has in possession to her & her heirs forever.
... Item, I give unto my daughter Rhoda Boatright, one negro woman Ony & her increase, to take possession whenever her mother thinks proper, also one bed & one cow & calf to her & her assigns forever ~
... Item, I give unto my Daughter Locky Boatright one negro girl Dicey & her increase, to take possession whenever her mother thinks proper also one bed, one cow & calf & one side saddle to her, her heirs, or assigns forever~
... Item, unto my three sons John Boatright, James Boatright, & Valentine Boatright my negro man Sam in the manner following, (to wit), each of them shall hold a share in him during their natural lives & no longer, he is to be well used & is not to be sold nor hired out, but shall labour a twelve months at a time in rotation according to their ages, & when one of them shall decease [This/His?] claim to him shall cease & the other two hold him in like manner, & at the decease of the whole of them, the sd Sam shall become free & independent … this twenty first day of april 179seven ~
[probated 26 March 1798.]
Contributed and Transcribed by: Lynne Hundley, plynne@visi.net