Cook, Valentine, Sr., Will — 1797

In the name of God, amen, I Valentine Cook of the County of Greenbrier - being very sick but in perfect mind and memory, thanks be unto God, and calling to mind the mortality of my body and knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die, do make ordain this my last will and testament, that is to say principally and first of all I give and recommend my soul to almighty God that give it and my body. I recommend to the earth to be buried in decent Christian burial and as touching such worldly estate wherewith the Lord has blessed me in this life, I give demise and dispose of the same in manner and form following.

First of all I give and bequeath to Susanna, my dearly beloved wife, the dwelling house which I now live in with all the movables pertaining thereunto, likewise two negroes, to witt Ben and Hannah, also a horse or mare and saddle and bridle, as also two cows - likewise the Gristmill as also the third part of the land that may be sold hereafter and stock.

Likewise to Jacob Cook and Valentine Cook my sons I give and bequeath two hundred acres of land each. The land that I give and bequeath to Jacob Cook is to begin at the foot of the hill by the knob and from thence extending in a direct course to where the line strikes the road beyond the Meeting House and thence going with the road to the ford of the mill creek and from thence extending a north east course to the north east end of the high ridge keeping the ridge westward of the other end of the same to a tree marked with the letters V and C from thence extending to a hickory tree about 50 yards above the mill field (in the deed version of this description, the words are middle field) and then keeping near a south west course to the foot of the big hill and extending along the same to the place first mentioned namely the foot of the knob.

To Valentine Cook I will give and bequeath that part of my plantation which includes what is called the lower and middle and tobacco fields with their bottoms, the boundary lines to begin at the southwest corner of Jacob Cook's line bordering upon his line to the end of the high ridge to the said tree containing V and C and from thence extending nearly north to an ash tree standing in the Indian Draft marked with the letters V and C from thence down to the foot of the hill to the ford of Indian Creek below the lower field from thence going to the lowest corner of my line and from thence extending to the corner of Jacob's line including the lick and part of the hill. This is all that I allow to Jacob and Valentine Cook, my two sons.

The rest of my estate is to be equally divided between the children. To Jaean (Jean?) daughter to William Cook I give and bequeath the sum of one hundred and thirty three dollars and two shillings when levied out of my estate.

Likewise I give and bequeath to Robert Ricey (Richey?) the one half of the powder mill that is now builing (building?) with out any lett (lease ?) or molestation what ever.

Likewise in whatever hand my son Adam Cook deceases this life the same is to receive his estate.

And I do hereby utterly disallow, revoke and disannul every other former testaments, wills, legacies, bequests and executors by me in any wise before named, willed and bequeathed, ratify and confirming this and no other to be my last will and testament in witness where I have hereunto set my hand and seal this eighteenth day of November the year of our Lord, One Thousand Seven Hundred Ninety Seven.

Signed, sealed and published, and pronounced and declared by the said Vallentine Cook as his last will and testament in his presence and in the presence of each other have here unto subscribed our names.

Vallentine Cook (seal)

Dennis Ready
Michael Maddix
Robert Richey

Greenbrier December Court 1797

The last will and testament of Vallentine Cook, deceased was presented in court and proved by the oaths of Dennis Ready and Michael Maddix, two of the Witnesses thereto, who also made oath they seen Robert Richey, the other witness, subscribe his name to the same in presence of the others and administration of the said deceased estate with the will annexed is granted to Susanna Cook, the widow who was duly sworn and with Isaac Estille, her security entered into bond to the court in the sum of ten thousand dollars for her due and faithful administration.

Teste

John Stuart CGC