Last Will and Testament of Joseph Gilbert

In the name of God, Amen, I Joseph Gilbert in the County of Lee and State of Virginia being very weak in body but in perfect mind and memory thanks be given to God calling unto mind the mortality of my body and knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die do make and ordain this my last will and testament that is to say princably and first of all I give and recommend my soul into the hands of Almighty God that give it my body I recommend to the Earth to be buried in decent Christian burial at the decresion (sic) of my Executors nothing doubting but at the general resurection shall receive the same again by the mighty power of God and as touching such worldly Estate herewith in this life I give demise and dispose of the same in the following manner and form.

First, I give and bequeath to Nancy my dearly beloved wife whom I make and ordain the sole Executrix of this my last will my home plantation whereon I now live and all the movable and perishable property debts and movable effects as her right and property and wholy at her disposal according to her own mind and will within her own family.  I also give and bequeath to my son Thomas Gilbert one horse beast which he hath received and also to my son James Gilbert one horse which he hath received and then to my daughter Mary Gilbert one mare, also to my two youngest sons Joseph and John Gilbert whom I likewise consitute and make sole heirs of my lower plantation adjoining the former, to wit, beginning at a small sugar tree near a small cave on the west side of the branch, running along the rocky ridge leaving a flat of Land known by the beach flat to a marked forked Chestnut thence on the same ridge to another forked Chestnut on the line of said survey this formerly a conditional line between Francis McGuire deceased and said Joseph Gilbert and said Land to be Equally divided for quality as well as quantity.   Ratifying and confirming this and no other to be my last will and testament.

In witness hereeof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this seventeenth day of December in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and four.

Signed sealed in the presence of Hezekiah Applegate, Jas. Fulkerson

Signed Joseph (X his mark) Gilbert

Seal

Be it _____men by these presents that I Joseph Gilbert in the county of Lee and state of Virginia, former had made and declared my last will and testament in writing bearing date the seventeenth day of December one thousand Eight hundred and four.   I the said Joseph Gilbert by this present codical do rectify and confirm my said last will and testament and farther give and bequeath unto my loving grand son and namesake the Joseph Cheek the some of ten dollards and also to my loving stepson William Cheek the some of ten dollars to be paid unto them by the Executors out of any Estate my will and meaning is that this codical be adjudged to be a part and parcel of my last will and testament and all things therein mentioned and contained be faithfully and timely performed and as fully and amply in every respect as of the same more so declared and set down in my last will and testament writings my hand this seventeenth day of December one thousand Eight hundred and four.

Signed sealed in the presents of: Herekiah Applegate and Jas. Fulkerson.

Signed Joseph (X his mark) Gilbert.