“Colonel Francis Smith, my great-grandfather, was twice married. By his first wife, Lucy (daughter of Francis Meriwether), he had one son and two daughters: Meriwether, Mary, and Nancy; and by his second wife, two sons and one daughter: William, Francis and Letty.” 469

Will of Francis Smith of Essex County, Va.

In the name of God Amen, I Francis Smith of the County of Essex and the Parish of South Farnham being in perfect sense and memory do make, ordain and constitute this my last will and testament in manner following. I desire my body may be buried in a decent way, at the discretion of my Executors herein after named trusting to Merits of my blessed Saviour for the Salvation of my soul.

I lend to my loving wife Ann Smith the use of half of all my lands at the lower Church in South Farnham Parish to be laid off for her on the north side of the Main Road running through sd land and the following slaves Sambo, Harry, Will, Doris, Lance, Judy, Will the son of Judy, Phebe, Rose and Sarah dau. of Rose, and Chloe the dau. of old Phebe. I also give to my said wife the use of my riding Chair and Horses, also my young Horse called Buck, and my sorrel mare, Thirty head of Sorted Cattle, my Cart and four oxen now in use on the Plantation Twenty head of Sheep, all my Hock of Hogs on the said Plantation at the Church, my Looking Glass in the Chamber over the Hall, a Dressing Glass which stands in the lower Chamber, two of my best beds and furniture two Black walnut tables, one dozen chairs now standing in the Hall, all my Plate and China half the kitchen furniture and my Black walnut desk, also my share or part of the reversion of the Estate now held by Mrs. Adams in New Kent County in lieu of her Dower in the Estate of her late Husband Mr. Ebenezer Adams, late of the said county dec'd for and during her natural life in full satisfaction and Compensation of her Right of Dower in my lands, Slaves and Personal Estate; and after her Decease I give and devise the slaves above mentioned and their future increase, Horses and to be equally divided among my three children Francis, William and Ann and their heirs forever.

Item I give, bequeath and devise to my son Francis Smith all my other lands and Plantations, adjoining the above devised to his Mother to him and his heirs forever. I also give and devise to my sd son, Francis (after the death of his Mother) the lands devised her for Life as above said to him my son Francis and his heirs forever. I also give and devise to my said son Francis the Following Slaves (to wit) Jacob, Tom, Anthony Sue, Mary, Judy ad Maria dau. of Maria, and Nancy dau. of Sue, also twenty Head of Cattle, twenty Head of Sheep, one young mare called Beauty, a Horse Colt named Wanton, a Sword, a Gun Commonly called Frank's Gun, and one feather Bed and furniture to him my said son Francis and his heirs forever.

Item I give, devise and bequeath to my son William Smith all my land in the Neck adjoining the Land whereon I now live beginning at a White Oak Corner on the lower side of the Road leading to Lowry's Ferry and parting my lands and that of George Clayton's thence down the road to a forked Red Oak and the corner between my land and sd Clayton's, thence long a line of trees marked by myself in the presence of my two sons, Meriwether and William, Mr. Thomas Adams, Mr. Henry Voss, John Edmonson, Jr., and John Webb, Jr. to a White Oak at the Head of a Branch where the Road crosses, thence down the said Branch, according to its Meanders into the Beaverdams too the line between Lowry and myself, thence down Lowry's line to Young's Line, thence along Young's line to the White Oak began at, to him and his heirs forever; also the following slaves (to wit) Buck, Harry, Primus, Frank, Jenny and Milly, daus. of old Pheebe, Nell and Mary daus. of Dinah, Dilsy dau. of Sue, twenty Head of Cattle, twenty Head of Sheep, one Horse called Pompey, and a gray mare Colt, one Bed and Furniture, a Gun Commonly called Billy's Gun, my Pistols and Holsters to him and his heirs forever.

Item I give and devise to my daughter Ann Smith, the following slaves (to wit) Cyrus, Ned, Neptune, Moll, Mitto, Hannah, Diana dau. of Sue, and Melinda dau. of young Pheebe, one feather Bed and Furniture, and my young Black Mare to her and her heirs forever.

Item I give to my daughter Mary Webb, the following slaves (to wit) Isaac, Venus, Peggy, Letty, and inney with all the Stock and Household Goods before by me delivered and now in the possession of her and her husband James Webb Jr. to her and her heirs forever.

Item I give to my Grandson Francis Webb one negro girl Sylvia now in the possession of the said James Webb, his Father, to him the said Francis and his heirs forever.

Item I give and devise to my daughter Elizabeth Young the following slaves (to wit) Sampson, Sambo, Joan, Sue, Aggy, Robbin, and Harry, with all the Stock and Household Goods heretofore delivered and now in the Possession of her and her Husband William Young to her and her heirs forever.

Item I give and devise to my son Meriwether Smith and his heirs forever the following slaves (to wit) Emmanuel, young Emmanuel, Sam, Titus, Michaels, Bob, Ralph, James, Ambrose, Prince, old Jenny, Hannah, Anaka, Isabel, Lucy, young Jenny, Eve, Lucretia, Doll, Joan, Rachel, Tulip, Sally, Pegg, Betty, one Feather Bed and Furniture, my small Gun, the choice of my Swords, my Cane, a young Mare called Lady Leggs, a gray Horse called Leisure, and a mare and a Colt at the Plantation now in his possession, twenty Head of Cattle, all the Hoggs at the sd. Plantation, and twenty sheep, and my Screwbo, to him my said son Meriwether and his heirs forever.

Item I give to my friend Thomas Adams a mourning Ring of the Price of two Guinnes.

Item I give my Books to be equally divided between my three sons Meriwether, Francis and William.

Item the following slaves (to wit) Jenny, Dinah, Frank, Amy, Patty, and little Abram together with the Remainder of my Personal Estate I devise to be sold by my Executors as soon as conveniently may be and the money arising from such sale after the payment of my Just Debts to be equally divded among my three children, Meriwether, Mary and Elizabeth. Lastly I Constitute and Appoint my Loving Wife Executrix and my son Meriwether Smith and my friend Thomas Adams to be Executors of this my Will and Testament, hereby Revoking all other Wills by me heretofore made and do declare this my last Will and Testament. In Witness whereof I have set my hand and affixed my seal this 9th Day of March Anno. Dom. 1760.

Frs Smith (L.S)

Signed sealed and declared by the said Francis Smith as his Last Will and Testament in the Presence of:

Rob. Grier
John Webb Jr.
Fras Jones
John Daby

Probate of Will of Francis Smith

At a court held held for Essex County at Tappahannoch on Monday the 5th day of March 1762 this Will was Presented in Court by Meriwether Smith and Thomas Adams Gent. the Executors therein named who made oath thereto according to Law, which being also proved by the oath of Francis Jones and John Daby, two of the witnesses thereto it is admitted to Record and on the motion of the said Executors and their performing what the Laws in the like cases require a Certificate is Granted them for obtaining Probate thereof in Due form.

Test

John Lee, Jun. Clerk

(Recorded Essex County Va Will Book 11, pp. 413-416)

A grandson was Brig. General Thomas Adams Smith, for whom Ft. Smith Arkansas is named. A granddaughter, Ann, married Gov. Peter Early of Georgia.