Will of Benony Burra

Princess Anne County Deed Book 1
1691-1708
Library of Virginia
Reel 1 - unpaged

I, Benony Burrough being of sound mind and weak body, do make and ordain this to be my last will and testament, leaving my soul to God, and after my just debts be paid to desire my body to be interred in the earth whatever manner my executors see fit. Item: My plantation whereon I now live to my Esteemed son Christopher, I say of plantation and two hundred and fifty acres of land, .....illegible....belonging it is including......whole Dam wch Soe ford at the great Dam Ridge and from Thomas......illegible...by Dorach......line to make ye whole to be five hundred and fifty acres to him in .......illegible.....I own and to his heirs Forever, after the Death of his mother, but Liberty to seat on any part thereof in the meantime. And to all the rest of my sd land I bequeath to my other sons viz: Robt and Bena. And to their heirs forever to be by them equally divided. It is my will the Land be equally divided by themselves and being soe divided to draw lotts for the first choice and he that shall have the last choice to have...one hundred and fifty acres of Land at Muddy Creek belonging to my by pattent to my three aforesd sons. I give all my Books excepting such as their mother shall make choice for her own use the rest to be Equally divided by their Mother and to be delivered to them as She please and that to be their full part of my Estate. To my Three daughters viz: Mary, Barbary, and Eliz bth viz: I give my three negroes viz: Sarah betty and Moll to my daughter Mary I give Sarah to my daughter Barbary I give betty and Moll to my daughter Eliz bth. To each of my aforesd three daughters I give a Bible and that be each of their part of my Estate. All the .....illegible..and rest of my estate be of......illegible...nature or quality soever I give and bequeath unto my loving Wife Mary whome I make my whole and Sole Executive of this my last Will and Testament to Say during her Natural Life but after her death, to be finally divided between my Six Children. I mean my Estate what I have it shall be then left and revoking all former wills by me made and Fashom: all........illegible......and declaring this to be my last will and testament. In witness thereunto I have hereunto sett my hand and fixed My Seale this 4th of 10ber 1700 Ben o Burrough (SEAL) Signed Sealed and asked to be the last will and testament of said Burrough before us
in open court Marsh. Powell (X)
Henry H. Linton (X)

Geo. Smyth Proved March 1705 in Princess Anne County by oaths of Henry Linton and Marshall Powell