Colonial Williamsburg Digital Library

In the Name of God amen I James Bray of the City of Williamsburg Gent:
being sick of Body but of sound Mind do make this my Last Will and Testament
in manner following First I recommend my Soul to God that gave it and
My Body to be decently buried at the discretion of my Executor hereafter
named. Item I Give all that my Estate real and Personal now in the possession
of my Son Thomas Bray to him and his Heirs forever. Item I Give to my
Daughter Elizabeth Allen the use only of my Land and plantation Stock
and Negroes that is to say all that are now on and that properly belong to
that Plantation called Little Town untill my Grandson James Bray
comes to the age of Twenty one years or if he dies then until such time as he
would have been twenty one had he lived she paying the Quitrents and dues
and clothing the Negroes during the time she has them and the said Lands, stock,
and Negroes with all their Increase I give my said Grandson at the age of
twenty one years to him and the Heirs male of his Body Lawfully begotten
forever and in default of Issue male in my said Grandson then to my Son
Thomas and the Heirs of his Body Lawfully begotten forever. and [for] default
of such to my next Heir forever. Item I Give my said daughter Elizabeth
all my Land and Plantation called Rockahock on Chickahominy River~
to her and which of her Children she pleases at the time of her death and
their Heirs forever and as for the remaining part of my Estate in the late
Wilmington and Bruton Parishes as well real as Personal not hereafter
disposed of in this Will I Give and bequeath the same to my Grandson James
Bray and the Heirs Male of his Body lawfully begotten forever and in
Default of such Issue to my son Thomas Bray and the Heirs of his Body
Lawfully begotten forever. and for want of such Issue to my next Heir forever
to be delivered up to my Grandson James Bray as soon as he comes to the
age of Twenty one years. And until such time to be and remain in the
Hands and possession of my son Thomas Bray to be by him Managed
towards his own best profit Maintainance and support but he is not to
make good any that may die. Item my Will and desire is that my
Brick House and the Lotts thereto belonging at Williamsburgh be and remain
in the Hands of my Executor until the same can be sold by my Son Thomas
and the Money arising from such Sale I Give to him and his Heirs forever
towards the better Maintainance and Education of my Grandson. Item I Give
to Robert Wade all my wearing Cloths now in my Trunk at Little Town~
Item I Give and Bequeath to my Daughter Elizabeth Allen and her Husband
all that Estate Either Real or Personal/formerly delivered by me to them/to them
and their Heirs forever. And I likewise do the same to my Daughter Angelica
Baker and her Husband. Item I Give and bequeath to my said Daughter
Elizabeth my two single Lotts in the City of Williamsburg to her and her Heirs
forever. Item It is my Will and desire that after all my Debts and Funeral
expences are fully paid out of my outstanding Debts and what money I have
in England that the Remainder of such Debts and Money in England be
equally divided between my son Thomas and Daughter Elizabeth to them and
their Heirs forever and then that my son take possession of my Chickahominy
Estate and all other my Estate Real and personal whatsoever and that my
Daughter take possession of Little Town until my said Grandson come of age
as aforesaid and each to make what they can for themselves out of their parts do hereby
Constitute Authorize and appoint my Son Thomas Bray and my Daughter Elizabeth
Allen (so far only as she is concerned as a Legate) Point Exor^s . of this my Last Will
and Testament declaring all former Wills to be void and this to be my Last and
only Will and that they each give in an Inventory but no appraisement of my
Estate In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my Hand and Seal the;
Eighteenth day of Nov^r . Anno Dom: 1725.

At a Court held for James City County March 14th 1725.
The above Last Will and Testament of James Bray Gent: deceased was presented
in Court by Thomas Bray Gent one of the Exors therein named who made
oath [thereto] and Liberty is given Mrs. Elizabeth Allen the other Ex^r . To Join therein
and the same being also proved by the oaths of Paschall Greenhill Eliz^a . Ballard
and John Netherland all the Witnesses thereto subscribed is admitted to
record and Certificate for obtaining a Probat thereof is granted the said
Frances Bray in due form.
Teste

An Inventory of the Estate of James Bray Gent deceased taken 3d. Jany.

Negroes and stock at Little Town
Men. Sam, Jack, Caesar, Tom, Jubiter, Jacko, May, Orson, Mark, Brinee [Landy]
Boys. Spring, Martin, Daniel, Girls. Lucy. Women Moll, [Dye], Jenny Betty
Flora Doll, Nanny, Hope Debb, [Augon], Juno, Judy, Pegg

Stock at Little Town
To 25 head of Cows To 6 3 & 4 year old steers, To 8 Cow yearlings & 2 Bulls
To 1 young horse and 1 Ditto mare

Stock at Debbs Quarter
To 10 Cows young and old To 10 steers about 7 years old To 12 head of Hoggs
sows and Barrows To 16 young Piggs -

Stock at Jacko's Quarter
To 18 steers anpit 14 years old To 2 old Bulls To 13 Cows and 2 year olds To 45 sheep
young and old To 24 shoats about a year old To 5 Breeding sows and 2 Boars.
To 5 Barrows about 2 years old To 30 odd Piggs

Household Furniture &c:
To 5 Feather beds To 3 quills 2 Rugs and 5 Blanketts To 3 pair of hhld. Sheets 3 pr. [illegible]
To 4 Doz. Chairs Leather To ½ Doz. Ditto silk Camlett To 1 Doz: pewter plates 1 Doz: Deep
ditto To 6 small & Large Dishes To 1 Clock & several Pictures. To 1 small and 1 large
Bars To 4 Blk Walnut Tables To 3 pr. of Andirons To 3 Gross & odd [Quart] Bottles To several larger & smaller ditto To 12 Gallon Stone Juggs To large and 2 small Iron potts To 12 Cider Casks
60 Gallons each. To 1 Brass Copper or Kettle To 1 Large still W[illegible] &c: __
To 1 saddle Bridle large To 1 P of silver Sharrs To 1 P ditto shoe Buckles
To 1 silver headed small Cane To ditto with Amber head. To 2 Quart silver
Tankards, To 2 silver Candle Cups & [Covey], To 2 Doz: silver spoons, To 2 silver
Salvers, To 1 Large and small Bell metal skillets To 1 silver Hilted swords
And Belt To 2 large Table Cloths and 2 small ditto To 1 Doz: Drapes napkins
To 1 Doz: Coarse ditto To 2 large looking Glasses To 3 smaller ditto, To 1 Doz.
Maple handle knives, To 1 Doz: Do: Forks, To 1 pair of money seals, To 1 Pr.
of steal yards, and [pea] To 4 oxen & ox Cart, To 3 Cart horses and Cart, To
2 saddle Horses, To 2 silver Candle Sticks To 1 Pr. ditto snuffers, To 2 Brass
Candle sticks To 1 P^r . ditto snuffers, To 1 Chocolate & Coffee pott, To 1 old [faded]
And [Oars] To 1 D^o . F[illegible] 12 hhds, To 1 Do. [illegible] 6 Hhds To 2 small [faded]
Boats To 1 large Bellmettle skillet To 1 small ditto To 1 Cart [with 2 harness]
To 1 Broad Ax Hamer saw and Chissell To 1 steel Whipsaw rest & Title

Negroes and stock in Chickahominy
at Roger's Quarter Men Frank, George, Ben, Women Sarah Judy Dye
[Chelarese & Jenny Simon]
To 5 large Steer To 15 Cows and heifers To 5 2 year olds and 7 Calves To
2 Mares and 2 yearling Colts To 5 Barrows and 2 sows To 10 Piggs & 4
shoats To 1 Frying pan and 1 Iron pott large To 1 old Gun and 1
warming pan

at Bridges Quarter
Men &c: To Luke Parthenia Hannah Dinah Thunder Patience Betty
Phillis Maria Peter Jenny Parthenia Lucy Children.
To 5 large steers & 9 Cows and heifer To 3 small steers & Bull to 10
Barrows and 7 sows To 7 shoats & 15 piggs To 1 Iron Pott.

At Dubbler runs Quarter
Men &c Dubblerun Dick, Sharper, Women Sarah, Queen, Margaret
a Child To 3 young steers & 9 cows & heifers To 6 Calves & 5 2 year old, To 1 Bull
Stagg & 1 Mare and Colt To 5 Barrows & 2 sows from shoats 5 Piggs & 1 Bull

At Nero's Quarter
Men &c: Jupiter Venus, Cain, Nanny Bess [Easther] Abigall Tom, Fanny
Patty Rachael To 4 large steers & 6 Cows To 5 2 years old, & 4 yearlings
To 6 Barrows 2 sows & 4 shoats To 6 Piggs 4 Mare To 2 Iron Potts

At Rockahock Quarter
Men &c: Ned, Abell, Juno, Eliz^a . Sugar, To 25 head of Cattle young &
old To 30 Hoggs young & old ~
Tho. Bray Ex^r

At a Court held for James City County Decr. 12th 1726.
The Inventory of the Estate of James Bray Gent: deceased being
returned unto Court by Thomas Bray Gent: his Exec^r is admitted
to record
Teste

James Bray's
Will. dated 1725