Norfolk Co, VA, Wills for Taylors
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Norfolk 
County, VA

Wills for the Taylor Family

Transcribed and Submitted by: Clyde T. Colbert

    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.


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