Norfolk Co. Va, deed/will book E, page 4, Mary Taylor, date of will March
(25) 166(6), proved (Jan. 1668), sick and weak in body; (will very hard to
read because of age and writing) mention of younger daughter and son John,
signed Mary Taylor (X), wit. William (?), George (Wright).
Norfolk Co, Va. Deed/Will Book H, page 105, will of Thomas Taylor of
Norfolk Co, Va., date of will 1743, proved 18 May 1744, to my sister,
Margaret Brown, wife of William Brown, my (Bendybow), all the rest of my
worldly goods and estate to my lawful wife, Mary Taylor, signed Thomas Taylor
(X), wit. Nicholas Boulton, Richard Webb, Farill Hughes.
Norfolk Co, Va. Deed/Will Book H, page 123, will of John Taylor, merchant
of the Borough of Norfolk, Norfolk Co, Va., date of will 19 March 1743, date
proved 15 Feb, 1744, to my well beloved wife, Margaret, all my household
goods and furniture, also a clock (?) by John Coupland, also the use and
profit of all my houses and lott of land in Norfolk Borough until my son
James or in case of his death, by son John comes of age of 21, also to wife
the use of Negroes, viz. Mulatto Sam, Negro (Coffee), Boson, Phaston, Jeany,
Belinda and Amanda, also allowance from profits of my children's estate for
their support; to my wife three Negro girls born in the house, Negro man
(Whann), wench Violett, sold and proceeds equally divided among my wife and
children, James, Margaret and John Taylor. If both my sons die before age 21
and unmarried aforesaid 1200 pounds sterling to be divided into six parts
among my brothers viz. James, Andrew, Archibald, and sisters Margaret and
Isabell Taylor. The sixth part equally divided among my deceased brother,
William Taylor's children. Goods sold and debts collected and used in
support of my children, such part as in hands of my brother Archibald in
company with him to be continued in trade and drawn out for support of
children; 100 pounds from profit of company divided among my brother
William's children; if sons died before age 21 and without issue, brother
Archibald to have lot in Norfolk; George Logan, my apprentice and bookkeeper
to be paid reasonably until his apprentice is over; exec. wife, Margaret,
brother Archibald, Wm. Nimmo, if they died before estate settled, exec. to
be my friend, John Willoughby; signed John Taylor, wit. William Nimmo,
William Happer, Jno. Hutchings, Chas. Smith; will proved by (Rev.) Chas.
Smith, (?) Wm. Nimmo and Doct. William Happer. Inventory, which is on page
138 is very long, about 10 pages and last dated 16 Aug. 1765.
Will of Thomas Taylor, Norfolk Co. WB 1, page 108, date of will 27 Nov.
1761, date proved ?, residence- County of Norfolk in the Colony of Virginia;
" sick and weak in body", my loving wife Faith Taylor, all my land and
plantation where I now live and my Negro named Sam ... for her natural life
and after her decease to (1) my eldest son John Taylor my lott at the Great
Bridge with all the houses there on that I bought of (Lemuel Wilson or Samuel
Wilson); (2) my son Thomas Taylor- all my land and plantation where I now
live after the decease of my wife, Faith Taylor ...only a reserve made unto
my daughter, Sarah Taylor hereafter mentioned; (3) my son James Taylor, the
plantation and land know as (Cartyes) Joining on the plantation where I now
live, which my son James Taylor exchanged for a plantation with Josiah
Curling; (4) daughter Sarah Taylor one Negro fellow named Sam after the
decease of my wife, also a room in my dwelling house as long as she lives
unmarried; (5) to my kinsman, Josiah curling, the plantation where he now
lives known as (Cartyes) which is in lue of the plantation of James Taylor,
(6) after my wife's death, my personal estate to be divided between my four
daughters viz. Sarah Taylor, Faith Woodard, Ann Canaday and Lydie Woodard,
NEED SIGNATURE, EXECUTOR, WITNESSES AND DATE PROVEN
Norfolk Co. Will book 1, page 203, William Taylor, of County of Norfolk,
will date 2 Feb. 1771, proved April Ct. 1771, "being at this time disordered
as to my bodily health"... to "my beloved sister Rachel Nicholas all my
estate (two words marked out) both within doors and without and that the same
shall be at her own disposal as she shall think proper" signature William
Taylor (X), witnesses Richard Owins (+), Marg. Owins (+ her mark) (possibly
Mary Owins), David Porter. Several references to God and or Jesus.
Norfolk Co, Va. will book 2, page 59 (45), Will of Margaret Taylor of
Norfolk Co., Va. will date June 1, 177(3), date proved Aug. Ct. 1775; to my
grandson James Taylor, son of my son John Taylor- my house in the borough
aforesaid (Norfolk) where I now dwell between the main street and the back
street, if he should die without issue, before he attains lawful age, I give
said land unto my son James Taylor and his heirs; I give the residue of my
land between the said back street and the back creek in said borough to my
son James Taylor and my daughter Margaret Eyre, equally divided between them
and my said daughter may give her part thereof to her son William and his
heirs; to my granddaughter Sarah, daughter of my son John Taylor one Negro
boy called (?) and personal items; to my son James Taylor, personal items and
confirm the gift of my Negro man, Sam, which I gave to him some years ago; to
my daughter Margaret Eyre, a Negro girl named Jenny and one of my other
Negroes that she may choose and personal items (clothes, jewelry, etc.); to
my granddaughter Margaret Eyre 25 guineas; to my granddaughter Margaret
Taylor 25 guineas; to my grandchildren Littleton Eyre, Severn Eyre, Abegail
Taylor, Sarah Eyre and John Eyre 5 guineas each; to my daughters in law,
Alice Taylor and Sarah Taylor jewelry; to my friend John Willoughby the
elder "one mourning gold ring as (?) of my esteem and regard; my niece
Elizabeth Willoughby a mourning ring & 40 pounds Virginia currency; to my
godson, William Willoughby, son of Thomas Willoughby 20 pounds Virginia
currency; to my godson, Robert Taylor a Negro girl called Sarah; after all my
debts, funeral and legacies are paid, the residue of my slaves and personal
estate to be equally divided between my son James Taylor and daughter
Margaret Eyre and their heirs, and desire that there be no appraisement of
my estate, son James Taylor and daughter Margaret Eyre, appointed my exec.
signed Margaret Taylor (no mark), wit. Robert Waller, James Murphree, Paul
Proby, Aug. Ct. 1775.
Norfolk Co. Will book 2 (typed), page 156, Ann Taylor date of will 24
July 1779, date proved Oct. Ct. 1779, sick in body but of perfect memory
thanks be to God... son Richard Taylor- one Negro woman called Hannah and
"the child she goes with now"; son Thos. Taylor- one Negro boy called Jacob
also a red cow in his possession already; daughter Elizabeth (last name not
stated)- one Negro fellow called Primur and a white faced heipher (sic);
daughter Margaret Williams- one Negro girl called Sibe and a white faced
heipher with wide horns; grandson Theophilus Taylor- one Negro girl called
Senny, if he die without heirs of his body, Negro and her increase to his
sister Margaret Taylor; grandson Thos. Taylor, son of Thos. Taylor- one
heipher, red and white spoted (sic); all the rest of my household furnitoe
(sic) cattle hogs etc. to be equally divided amongst my children; Richd.
Taylor, Thos. Taylor, "Elizabeth and Margaret Williams" without any quarrels
or disputes arising among them, signed Ann Taylor (X), witnesses James Owins,
John Taylor (X).
Norfolk Co. Will book 2 (typed), page 182, James Taylor, date of will 2
Nov. 1781, date proved Feb. Ct. 1782, being of sound and perfect body and
mind and memory... son Solomon Taylor- the lower end of my land from a corner
poplar at the head of Nancy Canadas a x* to a sipyrs at the swomp side to him
and his heirs, also desk and blew chist; son John Taylor the manof (sic)
plantation, to him and his heirs, also my guns, the hand mill, safe and Seder
chist, 1 feather bed and furniture and ovel table; my dafter Mary Marchant-
one cow and calf I left ther (sic)and 1 cow and "irlen", 1 loom, 1 iron
boot that I lent my dafther Aney Nichels and 1 cow and calf out of my stock
as long as she lives and then to be divided among all her children; remainder
of my estate to be equally divided between my two sons after the decease of
my loving wife (not named), signed James Taylor (no mark), witnesses John
Bully, Max Stewart, Solomon Taylor, John Taylor. *a x was written this way,
do not understand the meaning. Will was slightly rambling and in very poor
English.
Norfolk Co. Will book 2 (typed), page 298, Elizabeth Taylor, no date,
probate date 21 Dec. 1786, (complete will, word for word) Elizebeth Taylor
who is very sick, but in my proper senses, I give to Elisebeth Williams my
bed and furnitude, I give to Mary Ballentine my Iron pott, and all the rest
of my household goods, to be sold and to be eakuly (sic) divided betwixt
Thomas Taylor and John Williams & my three head of cattle also, I give my
Negroe primas his freedom, witness X John Stapels, Mary Ballintine her mark
X, witness X Joseph Ballentine. At a court held for Norfolk County the 21st
day of December 1786. a paper purporting the last Will and testament of
Elizabeth Taylor deceased was proved to be wrote agreeable to her
instructions and approved of by her by the oath of John Staples and Joseph
Ballentine & ordered to be recorded. Teste Jno. Boush cnc. Note Negro named
Primas. Ann Taylor, Will book 2, page 156 left a Negro with similar name to
her daughter, Elizabeth.
Norfolk Co. will book 3, page 67, Elizabeth Taylor, will date 14 Sept.
1790, date proved 21 Feb. 1791, "very low in body", my loving daughter,
(Susannah) Owins- one half of my land I now live on; my daughter, Elizabeth
Deal, the other half of the land I now possess; daughter Jinny Upton, 1/3 of
my movable estate (stock and furniture); the other 2/3 to my daughter
Susannah Owins and Elizth. Deal, signed Elizabeth Taylor (+), exec. son in
law, John Owins, friend John Cherry, wit. William Richardson (X), Edward
Taylor (X).
Will of James Spring, Norfolk Co. WB 3, page 109, date of will 1 Nov.
1791, date proved 16 Dec. 1793, residence Norfolk Co, VA. "being sick and
weak of body", to my brother John Spring, all my land that I own, and all my
clothes and all my hogs; to my sister Salle Spring, my bed and bedstead and
furniture; exec. my brother John Spring, signed James Spring, wit. Andrew
Mackie, Thomas Taylor (X), Henry Cousaul, (Hennery Pulling).
Norfolk Co. will book 3, page 157, Arthur Taylor, will date 15 Dec. 1794,
date proved 18 May 1795, Portsmouth Parish, weak in body but in perfect
sense and memory... to my loving wife Reberker Taylor- a Negro (womans),
Mary, Dafrey, (Maddrean) and Negro man, Bray and all her household
furniture, five head of cattle and one sough and six shoalts "that come by my
wife" also I give my wife one old mare and womans side saddle, after her
death side saddle to my daughter Elizabeth Taylor; to my wife Rebecker Taylor
400 weight of pork and one half my corn;; seven pounds, 17 shillings; my wife
has agreed to inherit no part of my property on (acct) of giving her all
her propity that she had before I married her; 2nd. to my daughter Elizabeth
Taylor the plantation where I now dwell and all the land to the (slack)
running through John Bain's land and my own land which is to be a dividing
line hereafter mentioned to her and her heirs forever; also I give to my
daughter Elizabeth one Negro boy, Daniel, one Negro woman, Judah and her
increase, one high bed and furniture; 3rd. my granddaughter Nancy Tart- one
Negro boy Jack at the day of her marriage, one bed and furniture, 6 pewter
plated, 4 (Simmon) high charis, 1 loom and 3 stays; lend these items to my
daughter Mary Tart and her husband, John Tart; 4th to my granddaughter Siddy
Smith (Seddy?) a piece of land lying at the head of plantation that I give to
my daughter, Elizabeth Taylor down to the slack aforementioned to her and her
heirs forever, also my granddaughter Siddy Smith five acres of land that I
bought of William Hodges known by name of Jacob Gull to her and her heirs
forever, also one Negro boy, Charles; 5th to my granddaughter Margaret
Smith, one Negro girl(Pashents) and her increase; 6th to my granddaughter
Mary Smith one bed and furniture and also the first child that Negro woman
Dinah has from (this date) to her and her heirs forever and ll the increase
of aforesaid Dinah that is not already given away to be divided among my 3
granddaughters, Nancy Tart, Margaret Smith, and Mary Smith; "aforesaid
Negro Dinah is to live on the plantation I now dwell on and is not to be
interrupted and to raise her own children at her own (?) and at term of ten
years I do give the said Negro woman, Dinah her freedom forever"; all my
estate not already given away to be sold and money arising from sale equally
divided among my daughter Elizabeth Taylor and my four granddaughters,
Nancy Tart, Sedey Smith, Margaret Smith and Mary Smith; my daughter Elizabeth
Taylor to have two years schooling, granddaughter Nancy Tart to have 1 �
years schooling; Wilson Smith to take possession of property given to
daughter Elizabeth Taylor and my four granddaughters and keep it until they
come of age or marry and act as guardian to all of them; exec. Wilson Smith
and (Spring Wyatt), both of Portsmouth Parish, signed Arthur Taylor (X),
proved on 15 Dec. 1794, by wit. Dempsey Eastwood and on July 20, 1795 by
Susannah Ellis, sureties William (Hare), Henry Reed and Archdale (Bruice) for
$2000.
Norfolk Co, Va. Will bk. 3, page 207, will of James Taylor, Portsmouth
Parish, Norfolk Co, Va. date of will 7 March 1783, date proved 17 Dec. 1798,
my loving wife, Precsilla, use of my land(s) and plantation and all my stock
of horses, cattle and all my estate of any kind for her widowhood and at the
death or marriage, to my son (there was a word? above the line but it looked
more like doodling than a name), plantation and land where I now live,
containing about 100 acres; to my son James Taylor, land which I purchased of
John Porkins*; at end of my wife's widowhood, all my movable estate to be
equally divided amongst seven of my children, viz, Hezekiah Taylor, Richard
Taylor, Joshua Taylor, (Nanney) Taylor, (Plebbo) Taylor, (Precsilla) Taylor
and Thomas Taylor, exec. wife Prescilla and son William, sign. James Taylor
(no mark), wit. Andrew Mackie, Thomas Taylor (X), John Spring (X), James
Spring, Jr. (X). Codicil: son Thomas Taylor to have land I bought of John
Talbert on Capt. (Serift's) Mill run (joining) to George Wainwright's land
and Andrew Mackie's; also to Thomas the gun I
bought of George Wainwright, 29 March 1792, wit. Samuel Eastwood, William
Taylor (X).
I thought this was Perkins, but found a Porkins in deed index.
Will of Solomon Taylor, Norfolk Co. WB 4, page 47, date of will 27 Dec.
1803, date proved 20 Feb. 1804, "being very low and weak in body"... son
Miles Taylor- land and plantation where I now live, house etc., one feather
bed, four heifers, and � my bees, one hand mill after my wife's decease; my
beloved wife Jean - two cows and calves and all the hogs I have and all the
corn and pork that I have, one feather bed and furniture, my sheep, and � my
bees, use of my hand mill during her life; son Kelly Taylor five pounds and
no more; daughter Mary Taylor, five pounds and no more; exec. my wife Jean
Taylor, signed Solomon Taylor (no mark), wit. Thomas Williams, John Woodard
(X), Hilary Simmons, security Caleb Williams, John Woodard.
Will of John Taylor, Norfolk Co. WB 4, page 103, date of will 30 June
1807, date proved 21 Dec. 1807, "being in perfect health"; to my brother in
law, George Canada all my bank notes and notes of hand (notes of hand are on
Jeremiah Jilcott and Thomas Taylor) and the two notes consist of $280, "In
witness whereof or if I never return from sea"; exec. not named, signed John
Taylor (no mark), wit. Jeremiah Jilcott, James Jilcott (X).
Will of John Taylor, Norfolk Co, WB 4, page 157, date of will 3 July
1811, date proved 16 Dec. 1811, John Taylor, Norfolk Co., "sick and weak in
body" ... No exec. named, certificate granted to wife for obtaining letters
of administration, lend to my wife, Keziah Taylor ... all my household
furniture except one bed and furniture, one (branded) cow and heifer, one
horse and cart, harness, five of the best hogs, one sow, and five pigs, all
the produce (list of farm implements), for her, her natural life or widowhood
and then to my heirs (unnamed), my friend Robert Tart to sell the rest of
me estate and pay my debts and funeral expenses; Signed John Taylor (X), wit.
Robert Tart, William Cherry.
Will of William Taylor, Norfolk Co. WB 4, page 202, date of will 18 Dec.
1814, date proved 20 Feb. 1815, William Taylor, residence not given, "sick of
body", son Jesse Taylor, the land I now live on except this mother's 1/3 and
after her decease that also, also one cow and calf; son Richard Taylor, 30
acres I bought of James Locker, except his mother's 1/3, James Taylor, my
son, 30 acres I bought of John Bowers except his mother's 1/3, son Joshua
Taylor, 1 Negro boy named John, lend grandson, Andrew Taylor 30 acres I
bought of Luke Ethridge, if he dies without heirs, to return to Richard and
Joshua Taylor, my loving wife, Sally (some furniture), one Negro woman,
Dinnah, daughter Nancy, bed and furniture, loom, chest, Negro boy, Charles;
son William Taylor, $1; daughter, Betsey Ives, $1; daughter Sally Horton, $1;
the rest of my Negroes to be equally divided between my mentioned children,
viz. Jesse Taylor, James Taylor, Richard Taylor, Joshua Taylor, Nancy
Taylor, Betsey Ives' children, Sally Horton's children, Molly Hayes'
children, and William Taylor's child, Andrew; exec. son Jesse Taylor, signed
William Taylor (+), wit. Ezehiah Taylor, Jesse Eastwood, George Canada,
(Sarah ??), proved by Hezakiah Taylor and Jesse Eastwood,
Will of James Taylor, Norfolk Co. WB 4, page 228, date of will 9 May,
1811, date proved 19 Feb. 1816, James Taylor of Norfolk Co., "sick and weak
in body", to my wife, Martha Taylor, all my estate during her natural "with
liberty to cut wood and sell as her necessity should require and that my said
wife shall not be interrupted by any person whatsoever; son James Taylor,
plantation where I now live after my wife's death and one gun; daughter
Betsey Smith, one feather bed and furniture and all the rest of my estate,
cattle, hogs, horses and household furniture I leave unto my four daughters,
Betsey Smith, Mary Owens, Fanny Nimmo, and Nancy Culpeper to be sold and
equally divided , also one tract of land called Fishing Point and one Negro
fellow (Reuben) at the death of my wife; to my son in law, William Smith,
plantation that I purchased of Thomas Sheppard, where he now lives, but he is
to pay my exec. $400 in four installments, exec. son, James Taylor and
William Nimmo, signed James Taylor (no mark), wit. John Day, Wilson
Richardson (X), John Pollich. NOTE: Concerning the "liberty to cut
wood";Norfolk Co, until the early1900s was a large supplier of timber; this
is probably a reference to the lumber business.
Will of James Taylor, Norfolk Co. WB 4, page 233, date of will 26 March,
1816, date proved 20 May 1816, James Taylor of Norfolk Co, "being low in
health" to my brother in law, Theophilus Ives, the money which William
Wallace is due me for land rent viz. $76.16; brother Moses Taylor to have �
my land; William Wallace, the son of my brother in law, William Wallis shall
have the other half of my land, exec. not named, signed James Taylor (X),
wit. Eliz. McPherson (X), Nancy Manning (X), Henry (Speratt).
Will of Andrew Taylor of Norfolk County Va. Deed Book 10, 1718-1719, page 10
In the name of God Amen this 13th day of October I Andrew Taylor of
Norfolk County being weake in body but of good and perfect memory thanks be
to Almighty God and being (??) & uncertain estate of this (??) Life and that
a (??) (??) Unto death when it shall please God to call me make (constitute)
ordain and declare this my last will and testament in manner & form following
revoking and annulling the ( ) (all) and every testament
and testaments will and wills heretofore by me made and (declared) either by
word or writing and this to be taken only for my last will and testament and
none other first pentant and sorry from the bottom of my heart for my sins
past most humbly ( ) forgiveness for the same I give and commit my
soul to Almighty God my savior and Redeemer & my body to the ground to be
decently buried and ( ) of my temporal estate such goods
( ) give and dispose same in manner and
form ( ) is to say first I ( ) these
debts and dutys as I owe in right or conscience to any (manner) o f person or
persons to be ( ) (shall) be well and ( ) ( ) and paid or ordained to
be paid ( ) after my decease by my
executor hereafter named.
Item I give and bequeath unto my grandson Wm. Taylor the plantation where I
now live on being the one halfe of my land to him his heirs ans assigns
forever and likewise I give the land which I leased of (Jno) (Tucker) I give
to my grandson to him his heirs and assigns until the expiration of the lease.
Item I give and bequeath unto my grandson Thomas Taylor the plantation ( )
known by the name of John White(hall) being the other halfe of my land to him
and his heirs and assigns forever.
Item I give and bequeath and my will is that my well beloved wife Ann Taylor
(doe) quietly and peacefully enjoy all my land in ( ) during her natural
life and my grand ( ) my will is that if either of my two
grand(children) should dye without heirs then his part to return to the other
and his heirs and assigns forever and it they boath should dye to the (
)
Item I give and bequeath to my well beloved wife Ann Taylor all my other (
) household goods and stock whatsoever during her widowhood but if she
should marry my will is that my (movable) household goods and stock be
divided between my (wife) and my daughter Elizabeth and her children my wife
to have one half and the other halfe to be divided amongst them.
Item my will and desire is that William Boulton and ( ) Porter divide
(halfe) betwixt them moreover my will and desire is that my (estate) be not
brought to an appraisement but that they may (enjoy) (
) and appoint my well beloved wife Ann Taylor to be my whole and
( ) my last will and testament in witness whereof I have hereunto set my
hand and seal ( ) .
Andrew (could not read rest of name, but had either his seal or mark)
Signed sealed and declared to be his last will and testament in presence of
us Robt Spencer, John (X) Johnson Frances Heilowin, Proved by (
), Subscribed in open court this the ( ) 171? And order to be
recorded. Unreadable signature.
Norfolk Co, Va. deed book 16, page 94, I Ann Taylor, widow and relict of
Archibald Taylor, late of the Borough of Norfolk, dec'd, do hereby
acknowledge to have received of John Willoughby exec. of the last Will and
testament of the said Archibald Taylor, for account of my self and children,
in cash and other articles as it appears by my (acct.) received from the said
exec. to amount of 1225 pounds, four shillings and eleven pence and one
farthing, current money of Virginia as also mine and children's part of bad
debt amounting to 105 pounds 14 shillings and four pence as appears also by a
list thereof which in all amounts to the two third parts of the said
Archibald Taylor estate .... and discharge said John Willoughby, 23 June
1753; Ann Taylor, wit. Robert Tucker, Hugh Blackburn, recorded 23 June 1753.