Jacob Lester Will in Chesterfield County, Virginia in 1793
In the name of God, Amen. I, Jacob Lester, in Manchester parish in the county of Chesterfield, being in perfect health and of sound mind and knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die, I do acknowledge this to be "my last will and Testament. And I leave to my beloved wife, Martha Lester, two Negroes, Cato and Jane, during her life or widowhood and at her death or remarriage, to return to my two sons. Cato to Lewis Lester and Jane to Jeremiah Lester, to them and their heirs forever. Item. I give and bequeth to my son Lewis Lester two Negroes, Sam and Bartley, to him and his heirs forever. Item. I give and bequeath to my son Jeremiah Lester, three Negroes, Samuel, John and Fan to him and his heirs forever.
Item. I give and bequeath to my daughter, Elizabeth Walthal one Negro named Edee and her increase and one Negro boy named Isam to her and her heirs forever. Item. I give and bequeath to my daughter, Ann Clark, one Negro woman named Patt, she and her increase, one Negro girl named Agg to her and her heirs forever. Item. I give and bequeath to my daughter, Mary Clark, one Negro man named Ned to her and her heirs forever. Item. I give to my grand-son, Jaib Lester, one featherbed. Item. I give and bequeath to my grand-daughter Mealy Lester one cow and calf. Item. I leave my crop and stock to be equally divided between my wife, Martha Lester and my sons Lewis Lester and Jeremiah Lester. Item. I also leave to my son Lewis Lester one desk. Item. I give to my son Jeremiah Lester my round black walnut table. Item. I leave to my wife, Martha Lester, all the rest of my household goods during her life or widowhood and at her death to be equally divided between my two sons Lewis Lester and Jeremiah Lester, and my desire is that all my wife makes or raises shall be her own property.
In witness thereof I have hereto set my hand and affixed my seal on this seventh day of December one thousand, seven hundred and ninety three.
Signed
Jacob Lester - Seal
Witness:
Isham Cheatham
George Patman - his mark
Edith Patman - her mark