Travis-NC-TN-Wills-1779-1846 Following are the wills (including the division of slaves) of: 1. Edward Champion Travis b.1721, d.1779 York Co. VA 2. his son Capt. Edward Travis d.1784 James City Co. VA 3. his son Edward Travis b.ca.1780 VA, d.1846 Henry Co. TN I omitted some segments (that do not mention slaves or locations), and indicate these by "...." Segments in which the writing is hard to read are indicated by "___" or a by note in brackets. I have tried to leave the spelling and punctuation as in the original. Copies of the entire wills can be obtained from me (sue-travis@uiowa.edu) or from the appropriate Courthouses. I'm glad to share any information I have on the Travis family. 1.----- Will of Edward Champion Travis, 1779, York Co. VA ----- In the name of God Amen. I Edward Champion Travis of the Parish of B___n in the County of York, being of sound and disposing mind and memory, but knowing it appointed for all men to die, do make and Ordain this my last Will & Testament in manner & form following-First I give and Devise to my son Champion Travis all my Lands and Tenements with the Appurtenances lying and being in the County of James City to my said son Champion and to his Heirs forever.... Item I give devise and bequeath unto my son Edward Travis and to his heirs and Assigns forever all my Lands and Tenements with the Appurtenances lying and being in the Counties of Brunswick and [Surry?] Item I give devise and bequeath to my son John Travis an to his heirs and Assigns forever my Tract or parcel of land lying and being in the Parish of B____n and County of York whereon I now live, called Timson's Neck, containing the whole five hundred and eighty seven Acres more or less 480 whereof I purchased of Orlando Jones Volhers[?] and were conveyed to me by Deed or Deeds recorded in York and the General Court and 107 Acres the residue thereof I purchased of Doctor James Carter and are conveyed me by Deeds recorded in York Court - I also give and devise to my said son John my Lot of land in the town of Portsmouth to him and his heirs forever - I also give to my said son John the following negro slaves, to wit, Moses, Aaron, Isham, being three of Cuba's children, Sylvia and her children, Sukey, Jenny and Nat three of Jenny's children, Jacob the child of Priscilla, Indy, Dick, Rowland, Nero, Bitty and her children, together with all the stocks of Horses, Cattle, Sheep and hogs on the plantation herein divided to him, ... Item I give, devise and bequeath all the rest of my slaves, not herein before devised, to be equally divided between my two sons Champion and Edward and their Heirs forever; ... By all the rest of my slaves, I mean as well as those I now possess or own, and have not already devised, as their future Increase to the time of my death- In Witness thereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal, this fifteenth day of December in the year of our lord, one thousand, seven hundred and seventy eight Edward C Travis Since the above Will was wrote I find I have given my two eldest sons a much greater number of negroes than I have given to my son John, and in order that Justice should be done to all my Children I therefore give and bequeath to my son John Travis the following - Negroes, exclusive of those already given in my aforesaid Will as follows, Moses a negro ladd I bought of Capt. Alexander Walker, Old Ben & Sarah his wife & Daphney the cook to him and his Heirs forever As Witness my hand this 22nd March 1779 Edward C Travis - - - - - - - - - - - - - -- - - - - - - - - - - - - -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - 2.----- Will of Capt. Edward Travis, 1784, James City Co. VA ----- [His children were Edward d.1846 Henry Co TN, Joseph d.1856, and Martha] I, Edward Travis being in my senses but very weak and low do make this my last will and testament in manner following to wit: If the child my wife is now big with be a son, it is my desire that my lands, slaves and stock of every kind be equally divided between my two sons to them and their heirs forever, but if it should prove a daughter it is my will and desire it should only have seven hundred and fifty pounds. ...It is also my will and desire that my wife have two thirds laid off to her agreeable to law. I do appoint my two Brothers Champion and John Travis, John Coles and John Tucker executors to this my last will. Given under my hand and seal this 28th day of March 1784 - - - - - - - - - - - - - -- - - - - - - - - - - - - -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - 3.----- Will of Edward Travis, 1846 Henry Co TN ----- I Edward Travis of the County of Henry & State of Tennessee do make ordain and declare my last will and testament as follows to wit: It's my will and desire that my negroes Marilla a girl Randle a boy and Deck a boy the children of Lacy shall remain in the possession of Isham G Harris my Executor herein after named until the youngest of them shall arrive at the age of Eighteen years at which time my said executor shall if it is their desire to do so remove the said Marilla Randle and Deck to some of the free States of the United States and shall expend the sum of five hundred dollars in purchasing them a home and the ____ of life and liberate them and settle them there & in ______ the said Marilla Randle & Dick or either of them should not desire to remove then and in that case they shall still remain in the possession of the said Isham G Harris [...repetitive details about the arrangement...]... and they shall serve him in the same manner as though they were his own property and for and in consideration of the ____ and expense that the said Isham G Harris shall be at in raising the said Marilla Randle and Dick and as full compensation for the said sum of five hundred dollars which he is hereby required to expend for the I give and bequeath to him ...two negro slaves to wit Lucy (the mother) and ____ (the brother of the said Marilla Randle & Dick) and in case the said Marilla Randle and Dick or either of them should never elect to remove to a free State ...shall ____ to the said Isham G Harris and his heirs forever. [The rest of the will I am abbreviating to include slave data only] ........to my daughter Martha M Harris wife of Isham G Harris the following slaves to wit [Lucy or Lacy] and her three children Hat Adalene and Wiley ........to my son Edward L Travis a negro man named Jim (known as James Bright) ........to my daughter Elizabeth C Gleson wife of William Gleson the following slaves to wit Sam and Leanara ........to Robert L Travis his heirs and assigns the following slaves to wit Yellow Stephen Susan his wife & old Davy ........to my son Joseph H Travis his heirs and assigns forever the following slave to wit Jim (known as little Jim) Mariah & her child Betsey & old Harman ........to my son Benjamin Travis & his heirs forever the following slaves to wit Nathan Isaac & Matilda ........to my daughter Sarah T Warren wife of Dr. Westley Warren the following slaves to wit Charlotte two children Marey and Green ........to my son William G Travis & his heirs forever the following slaves to wit Stephen (known as big Stephen) Judy and Peter ........to my son James L Travis and his heirs forever the following slaves to wit Anthony Dave (known as little Davy) & Isaac (known as little Isaac) ........to my son Ludson W. Travis and his heirs forever the following slaves to wit Tazwell and Fanny... In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this tenth day of September AD 1846. Edward Travis Contributed by: (Sue Travis) travis@blue.weeg.uiowa.edu