Will of Matthew Marable
Mecklenburg County, Virginia
12 March 1786
12 June 1786

http://www.marable-family.net/jlmarable/documents-1659-1796.html#In

Mecklenburg Co., Virginia, Will Book 2, p. 169-173 (Courtesy of Sue Ellen Marable)In the name of god Amen I Matthew Marable of the county of Mecklenburg, and state of Virginia, being through the abundant mercy and goo[d]ness of god of sound and perfect Memory the and Understanding, constitute and make this my last will and Testamment and desire it may be recieved by all as such.

Impreimis -- I most humbly bequeath my soul to God my maker, Beseeching his most gracious Acceptance of it, through the all sufficient merits and dedi[c]ations of my most Compassionate redeemer Jesus Christ, who gave himself to be an Attonment for my sins, and is able to save to the Uttermost all that come unto god by him, se[e]ing I ever liveth to make a just Intersession for them. [?] I trust he will not reject me, a returning penitent sinner when I come to him for mercy.

In this hope and confidence, I render my soul up with comfort, b[e]seeching the bles[s]ed and glorious Trinity,, one god most holy, most mercifull and gracious, to prepare me for the time of my desolution, and then to take me to himself into that peace and rest, and Imcomparable felicity, which he has prepared for all that love and fear his Holy name Amen -- Blessed be god.
I give my body to the Earth from whence it came, in full assurance of its resurrection from thence at the last day; as for my burial, I desire it may be de[]cent and plain at the dis[cre]tion of my beloved wife and my Executors who I doubt not will manage it with all requesite prudence and disc[r]etion.

I give and bequeath to my son Mathew and to his heirs forever all my money which he carried away with him which I believe was to the amount of one Thousand pounds.

Item I give and bequeath to David Stokes my son in law and his Heirs forever two hundred acres of land in Mecklenburg County and is the same which I bought of Thomas Neal; and so much of my land adjoining to the last mentioned tract which I bought of my Brother John Marable, as is Contained between the said Neal's upper line and the first branch above running into Finny wood Creek, bounded by the said branch as it turns out to my back line of the said tract which I had of my said Brother supposing the same to be two hundred acres; I also give and bequeath to the said David Stokes seven Negroes (to wit) Gidd Casar, Brittain, Jane and Barbary, and Hannah, Ceesars wife and Child Called Alfred son of Jane: the first five has been delivered to him before my death; the slaves last mentioned to be delivered the first news day after my decease, to hold to him and his Heirs forever. I also give and bequeath to the said Stokes my studd horse bay bottom and a black mare named Robertson which have been also delivered -- all of which I value to one thousand pound the portion I ever intended for my Daughter when she married
Item. I give and bequeath to my Daughter Elizabeth and her Heirs forever seven hundred acres of Land (to wit) three hundred acres the residue of the land which I bought of my Brother John as aforesaid which I value at forty shillings an acre; and four hundred acres which I bought of Branch Tanner adjoining upon the north side of the last mentioned three hundred acres, and lying on both sides [of] the Carpenters branch; both tracts in the County of Mecklenburg. I also give and bequeath to my Daughter Elizabeth and her Heirs forever one thousand acres of land in the said County of Mecklenburg which I also bought of Branch Tanner of the value of four pounds an acre distinct and separate from any of the above mentioned tracts but joining the land I bough[t] of Kennon. I also give and bequeath to my said Daughter Elizabeth a new single chair which is now at Petersburg unfinished but which, I desire, may be finished at the charge of my Estate before it is delivered to her, also my old grey mare and harness. I also give and bequeath to my said Daughter and he Heirs one Negroe Girl named Sarah and two hundred pounds Cash. It is my will and desire that my Executors choose a place for her residence during her minority and particularly at McMurrays in Mecklenburg if it can be co[n]veniently effected --
Item. I give and bequeath to my son Richard and his heirs forever four hundred and twenty five acres of Land which I had of my father, and known by the name of Fowlers including my two plantations called the Indian field and Fowlers -- Also I give and bequeath to my said son Richard and his heirs forever another tract of land Containing four hundred acres which I had also of my father and called the pine Woods -- I also give and bequeath to the said Richard my son and his heirs forever a new survey in my own name of three hundred and forty five and a half acres adjoining the north line of my aforesaid tract called Pine woods. The three aforesaid tracts of lying in the County of Mecklenburg. Item I give and bequeath to my son Champion and his heirs forever all the lands which I have in the County of Charlotte (to wit) The tract which I bought of William Read Containing Eight hundred acres more or less -- I also bequeath to the said Champion my son another tract of land in the said County of Charlotte Containing one hundred acres which I bought of William Willis.
Item. I give and bequeath to my son John and his Heirs forever the land I bought of Richard Kennon Containing one thousand acres mor[e] or less lying in the County of Mecklenburg -- And as an Ejectment is now depending in the general Court concerning the title to the said land, and a doubt has arisen whether Kennon was Capable of making me a good title to the aforesaid tract, therefore my further desire and orders are, that in Case the said Kennon should be found incapable of making a right to the said land, that then a suit or suits shall be brought for a Recovery of the money back which I have paid him and for such damages as my Estate may have sustained by means of the nonperformance of his Covenant; all which monies so recovered back and damages upon the Breach of Contract, I give and bequeath to my said son John and his Heirs forever. --
It is my will and desire that my sons John, Richard and Champion shall not take possession or be entitle to the proffits of their lands above desired to them untill they respectively arrive to the age of twenty on years and as they severally arrive to the age of twenty one years I desire that my Executors Should give them possession of the lands But not to render the proffits of the said land to them which shall be raised from my death to those respective periods. It is also my will and desire that my Daughter Elizabeth Shall not be intitled to the lands above desired her untill she arrives to the age of Eighteen years or mar[r]iage. --

Item. It is my will and desire that my wife Mary should reside on the plantation whereon I now live during her natural life. In witness whereof I here unto Set my hand & Seal this twelfth day of the March 1786.

In presence of
Paul Carington J.r Matthew Marable
James Mayne
William Burn
Edward X-mark Hogan's

I Mathew Marable being of sound and perfect mind and memory do Continue to make and publish this my last will and testament in manner following (to wit) It is my will and desire that instead or in lieu of Dower my Dear wife Shall use occupy and prossess the Plantation whereon I now live during her Natural life with all the advantages and emoluments [illegible] as she would be entitled to were she to hold it by Tenancy in Dower --
Item; It is my will and desire that my whife should have and possess during her natural life one third of my negroes not before bequeathed -- Also one third of my stockes of horses, hogs, Neat Cattle to her own Proper use and behoff. It is also my will and desire that my my wife should retain to her own proper use all my household furniture of every kind and nature whatsoever -- It is further my will and desire that all the rest and residue of my Negroes and Personal Estate shall be sold by my Executors upon twelve months Credit; and the money arising therefrom to be applied to the purpose hereafter mentioned (to wit) First all my Just debts I desire may be discharged as soon as Convenience will permit, and after they are discharged I desire that my money which arises from the sale of all my personal Estate of every nature and kind whatsoever shall be put out on loans upon interest with such Security as my Executors may direct. ----
It is also my desire that my Executors commence suits for the recovery of all debts due to me and the money recoved to put to interest on loans -- at the discretion of my Executors[.] ----
It is [my] will and desire that my children may be maintained and Educated at the discretion of my Executors -- But [I] Cannt forbear expressing my particular desire that my son Richard should be Educated to be an attorney, and my son Champion as soon as his strength will permit to be bound to a Carpenter untill he arrives to the age of twenty one years. ----
It is also my will and desire that the money which shall remain after all Charges and incumbrances are discharged in the hands of my Executors shall be divided equally amongst all my Children except my Daughter Mary Meriweather Stokes and Georg Marable. ----

I nominate and appoint Paul Carrington of the County of Charlotte and Paul Carrington, jun.r, Thompson Fowlkes, Edward Almond, Thomas Shore and Ch[r]istopher M[c]Connico Executors of this my last will and Testament.

In presence of
James Mayne Matthew Marable
Wm Burn
Edward x [mark] Hogan's


At a Court held for Mecklenburg County the 12th day of June 1786. This will and the codicil annexed were proved by the Oaths of James Mayne and Edward Hogan Witesses thereto and Ordered to be recorded And on the motion of Thompson Fowlkes and Christopher McConnico two of the executors therein named who made Oath thereto and together with Henry Speed, David Stokes, William Hunly, William Robertson, and William Glanville Baptist their securties entered into and acknowledged their bond in the penalty of twenty five thousand pounds Conditioned as the Law directs Certificate was granted them for obtaining a probat thereof in due form: liberty being reserved for the other executors therein named to join in the probat when they shall think fit.
Teste John Brown Ct. Cur.