Stephen and Sarah Coleman Wills

Will Book page 204, Pittsylvania County, VA

In the Name of God, Amen, I Stephen Coleman of the County of
Pittsylvania being sick and weak in body but of sound Mind and disposing
Memory ( for which I thank God ) and calling to mind the uncertainty of
Human Life and being desirous to dispose of all such Worldly Estate as
it hath pleased God to bless me with, I give and bequeath the same in
the manner following:  First (after the payment of all my Debt and
funeral Expenses ), I give and bequeath to my Son Daniel Coleman the
Land whereon he is now Settled beginning at my new Corner made by
Atkinson, Isham Farmer's line, thence along Isham Farmer's line to
Stephen Neals corner, then a new line to the path leading to the old
Town where the said Daniel Coleman's Spring branch crosses the said
Path, thence a strait course thirty poles and running a straight
parallel line with Isham Farmer's line to my new line made by Atkinson,
thence along the said line to the beginning to him and his heirs and
Assigns forever.  Secondly, I give to my well beloved Wife Sarrah
Coleman during the Term of her Natural life, my Land and Plantation and
Mountain House where I now live together with Fifteen Negroes Namely:
Hercul, Brantley, Sam, Dick, Sal, Winney, Cloe, Claary, Lucy, Silvey,
Jenney, Jammy, Silvey, Nat and Leviner together with all my household
and Kitchen furniture and Plantation Utencals and my Still, together
with my Stock of Horses, Cattle, Hogs and Sheep, Except what I shall
hereafter Name away  and after her demise my Will is that the same be
divided in manner and form following.
  I give to my Son Stephen Coleman my Land and Plantation whereon I now
live to him and his heirs and Assigns forever.  My Will is that the
remaining part of my Estate that I have given to my Wife, should at her
decease be equally divided among my Eight Children and the Heirs of my
Daughter Anney Townes, deceased, allowing to my daughter Elizabeth
McDaniel one ninth part of my Estate so given away to her and her heirs
and Assigns forever, to my son Stephen Coleman one other Ninth part of
my Estate so given away to him and his Heirs and Assigns forever, to my
Daughter Patsey Turner one other Ninth part of my Estate so given to her
and her heirs and assigns forever.  To my Son Daniel Coleman one other
ninth part of my Estate so given away to him and his Heirs and Assigns
forever, to my Daughter Lucy Price one other Ninth part of my Estate so
given away to her and her Heirs and Assigns forever, to my Daughter
Judith Turner one other ninth part of my Estate so given away to her and
her Heirs and Assigns forever, to my Daughter Polley Coleman one other
Ninth part of my Estate so given away to her and her Heirs and Assigns
forever, to my Son Stephen Coleman one other Ninth part of my Estate so
given away to him and his Heirs and Assigns forever and to the Heirs of
my Daughter Anney Townes decd one other Ninth part of my Estate so given
away to be equally divided among them , to them and their Heirs and
Assigns forever.  I give and bequeath to my Son Thompson Coleman all my
Interest in the State of Kentucky to him and his Heirs and Assigns
forever.  I give and bequeath to my son Stephen Coleman two Negroes
Namely Tom and Ambrose and my Bay Colt Paintner and one feather Bed and
furniture to him and his heirs and Assigns forever.  My will is that my
Estate be not appraised and lastly I do hereby constitute and appoint my
loving Wife Sarah Coleman and my Son Daniel Coleman my Executors of this
my last Will and Trestament hereby revoking all other or former Wills or
Testaments by me heretofore made.  In Witness whereof I have hereunto
set my hand and affixed my Seal this Twenty second day of September in
the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety seven.
                 Stephen Coleman (SEAL)
Signed, Sealed, Published and declared
as and for the last Will & Testament of
the above named Stephen Coleman
in present of us
Isham Farmer
James Welch
Henry Stephens

At a Court held for Pittsylvania County September the 17th 1798
This last Will and Testament of Stephen Coleman deceased was presented
in Court by Sarah Coleman and Daniel Coleman, Executrix and Executor
therein named and the same being proved by the Oaths of James Welch &
Isham Farmer, two of the witnessess thereto, was Ordered to be
recorded.  And the said Executrix and Executor having first taken the
Oath by Law prescribed and together with Stookley Turner, William Rice,
William Glascock, Isham Farmer, Halcott Townes and Joseph Terry, their
Securities entered and acknowledged unto Bond in the penalty of four
thousand pounds conditioned as the Law directs, on their Motion
Certificate is granted them for obtaining a Probate of the said Will in
due form.
                              Teste  Will Tunstall C.P.C.

---

Pages 302-304

Will of Sarah Coleman signed 17 June 1831/presented & proved 15 Feb. 1836
[transcribed from photo copy 10/10/01 Jane Townes]

"In the name of God amen I Sarah Coleman of the County of Pittsylvania and State of Virginia being
of sound mind and memory do make and ordain this my last will and Testament in manner and form
following to wit -- Imprimis -- It is my will and desire that all my just debts be paid -- Item It is my will
and desire that my estate Consisting of the following slaves namely Judy, David, Jourdan, Eady,
Russel, Andrew, Stepney, George, Mary, Emmaline, Yaun [?], Andrew, and Nancy Child of
Eady with their future increase together with the rest and residue of my estate be it of what kind or
nature it may be, be divided among my children and Grandchildren in the following manner to wit 
Item I lend to my daughter Elizabeth McDaniel during her natural life a negro woman named Aggy
and her two Children Obadiah & Sen which I put in her posesion several years ago together with
the future increase of the females of said Slaves also one ninth part of the residue of my aforesaid
estate but the aforesaid ninth part thereof is to be subject to a deduction of sixty pounds the amount of
an advancement previously made to her and at her death I give and bequeath the aforesaid negroes
their increase and the residue of the bequest contained in this clause to the Lawful heirs of the body of
the said Elizabeth McDaniel the aforesaid Elizabeth McDaniel [sic redundancy] by virtue of the last
will and Testament of her father Stephen Coleman Dced was entitled to one ninth part of his estate
which said Estate I am by the provisions of said will entitled to hold and enjoy for life.   On the 27 day
of October 1829 I purchased for a valuable Consideration which has been fully paid, of the said
Elizabeth McDaniel and her husband Clement McDaniel their entire interest in the last mentioned
ninth part of the said Stephen Colemans estate now my will and desire is that no part of this interest
purchased as aforesaid shall pass by this will to the said Clement and Elizabeth McDaniel but to go
and pass as I shall hereafter direct in this will   Item I give to my son Thompson Coleman one ninth
part of my aforesd. estate to be raised for him in the following manner my said son is to take no part of
the slaves but his entire interest is to be estimated and Paid by my Executors out of the proceeds of
the sale of my perishable property to be sold on a credit of Twelve months and to compute interest on
the estimated amount aforesaid from the day of sale to the Time of Payment and likewise pay him the
aforesaid interest  Item I give to my son Daniel Coleman one ninth part of my aforesaid estate to him
and his heirs forever  Item I give to my son Stephen Coleman one ninth part of my estate aforesaid to
him and his heirs forever  Item I give to the Lawful heirs of my Daughter Patsy Turner one ninth
part of my estate aforesaid to be equally divided among them and their heirs forever  Item I give to my
Grand Children George Townes, Robert Townes, and Stephen Townes, one ninth part of my
aforesaid estate to them and their heirs forever  Item I lend to my Daughter Lucy Price during her
natural life one ninth part of my estate aforesaid and at her death to be equally divided among the
Lawful heirs of her body to them and their heirs forever  Item I leand to my granddaughter Judith
Coleman Harrison during her natuaral life one ninth part of my aforesaid estate and at her death to
be equally divided among the Lawful heirs of her Body to them and their heirs forever,  Item I am [?]
in the possession of my Daughters Mary Ward as a loan several years ago one negro girl named
Hannah the said negro girl together with her increase I give to her and her heirs forever  Item I give to
my Grand Children Sarah Watson Coleman, Stephen Coleman, and Spilsby [?] Coleman one
ninth part of my aforesaid Estate subject to a deduction of ten pounds it being an advancement
previously made to their Mother to them and their heirs forever  Item I have by a previous clause in
this will excluded my daughter Elizabeth McDaniel from any portion of the interest (being one ninth
part) I purchased of her and her husband Clement McDaniel in the estate of Stephen Coleman
Decd. and that interest being already disposed of by this Will except one ninth part thereof I now give
and bequeath one ninth part of said interest being the residue yet to dispose of to my great grand
children Agnes Douglas and Martha [?] Ann Douglas to them and their heirs forever.  Lastly I
nominate and appoint my two sons Daniel Coleman and Stephen Coleman and my son in Law
Daniel Price Executors of this my last will and Testament hereby revoking all other wills by me
heretofore made  In witness whereof I have subscribed my name and affixed my seal this 17 day of
June 1831.     Sarah Coleman (Seal)  Witness      Examd. Geo I Glascock, Chesley Martin, George
Bruce [?]
At a court held for Pittsylvania County the 15 day of February 1836 This last will and Testament of
Sarah Coleman Decd. was presented in Court and proven by the oaths of two subscribing witnesses
[tear ?] ordered to be Recorded on motion of Daniel Coleman and Stephen Coleman two of the
Executors in said will named who made oath according to law and with George Townes their security
entered into and acknowledged Bond in the Penalty of fifteen thousand dollars condition [?] as the
Law directs certificate was granted them for obtaining a probate of said will in due form and [illeg] 
was [illeg] to the other Executor to join in the probate when he shall think fit ---   Teste Will Tunstall 
CG [/]

Submitted by A. J. Townes 

---