New Kent once formed part of Charles River County, one of the eight shires into which the colony of Virginia was divided in 1634. Originally including part or all of the present day counties of King & Queen, King William, Spotsylvania and Hanover, the modern day borders of New Kent took place in 1766 through exchange of land with James City County.
A brief summary on the system of head right claim (A "by" B) as found in "Early Virginia Immigrants 1623-1666" (Originally published in 1912; republished 1989), 376 pp., by Greer, George C.. Taken from the Land Office in Richmond, Virginia: Head right was the reward of 50 acres that was granted (land patent) to anyone (patentee)who imported a person (importee) to the colony. The year given is that in which the land patent was granted; it is not the year the person was imported, an event which usually took place years and sometimes a decade or more before the head right claim was made. The County named is that in which the land was granted, usually but not necessarily where the patentee or the importee resided.
The system normally worked like this: a rich landowner would pay for the passage of one or several (sometimes dozens at a time) indentured servants who would have to serve 5-7 years as re-imbursement for their passage. The patentee also got the 50 acres, so it was a great system to encourage the movement of people into the new colony.
a)Anthony Arnold, Sr. – 1657, received 500 acres in New Kent Co. - d. 1676 New Kent Co. (was tried and executed in 1676 for treason) Children were:
Anthony Arnold Jr. b. abt. 1664; Benjamin Arnold, Catherine Arnold and an
unknown Arnold.
“Patent Book 4, pg.(157) 105 - Samuel Mottram, Esquire, grants unto Anthony Arnell 500 acres in New Kent County on North East side of a branch of Chickahominy Swamp running north 250 perches to Mary Cosbyes land. For transport of ten persons to this colony. (Named) 25 October 1657” (Src. AFAS, Vol. 3, No.1-2 , pg. 10 – Virginia Land Grants)
“Patent Book 5, p. (88)195 - Susan Austin granted 50 acres in New Kent County, beginning at a branch below an Indian field called Rockhockaw, formerly belonging to Anthony Arnold and by him sold to Ed. Price. For transportation of one person. John Browne. 23 October 1664” (Src. AFAS, Vol. 3, No.1-2, pg. 10 – Virginia Land Grants)
“Patent Book 6, p. 191 - Granted to Thomas Brereton* and Anthony Arnell 1700 acres in New Kent County on south side of Pamunkey River and part upon branches of Chickahominy Swamp and upon Westover path behind Rice Hughes and formerly land Capt. Anthony Langstones. Adjoining John Jackson. 500 acres granted said Arnell 25 October 1657; 1200 acres entered in the office 26 September 1661 and due for transporting twenty— four persons (named.) 2 October 1668” (Src. AFAS, Vol. 3, No.1-2, pg. 11 – Virginia Land
Grants)
“Patent Book 7, p. 635 - Francis, Lord Howard, grants unto Mr. Benjamin Arnold 1754 acres of land in New Kent County on north side of Mattapony River, 1050 acres formerly granted to Captain (James) Taylor and by him sold to Anthony Arnold, deceased. 704 acres beginning below the Mill Creek as near the River as could be ... in sight of Daniel Coleman´s plantation, to Pick´s hill, by William and Thomas Campe; over the Mill Creek ... etc. For transportation of 15 persons (named — all negroes). 23 April 1688” (Src. AFAS, Vol. 3, No.1-2, pg. 12 – Virginia Land Grants)
NOTE: According to the “Arnold Family Association of the South”, by Hazel Arnold MacIvor, Anthony Arnold appeared in the records of Colonial Virginia in Lancaster Co., on October 3, 1654, when he witnessed a deed of Nicholas Meriwether, who sold 400 acres of land on the South Side of the Rappahannock River, to Humphrey Haggett (Src. “Lancaster Co. Court Orders, 1652-1655”, pg. 178).
Quoting from the “AFAS” material by Hazel Arnold MacIvor published in 1974, “Anthony Arnold first received land in his own right when he was granted a patent to 500 acres of land in New Kent County on October 25, 1657. This land was located on the Northeast Side of a branch of Chickahominy Swamp and ran north by Mary Cosby´s property. He received this land, under the headright system, for the transportation of ten persons.
Anthony Arnold had plantations in three districts. The home plantation was North of the Mattaponi River at Rickahock. The second plantation was located on the Black Creek which flowed into the Pamunkey River; and the third was on a branch of the Chickahominy Swamp between present day Bottom Bridge and Providence Forge. He also owned property at one time in Westmoreland County but sold the land soon after obtaining the patent to it (Src. “Westmoreland County Deed Book, Book 1”, pg. 340).
By October 1662, Anthony Arnold was established in New Kent County and had land on the Black Creek with neighboring land owners, Capt. George Lydall and Col. John West. Black Creek is in the present day Hanover County and it empties into the Pamunkey River a little north and east of Tunstall. He also owned land on the North Side of the Mattaponi River on a branch near the Rockahockaw Indian Field but sold part of that land to a Edmund Price before 1664”.
The 1200 acre home plantation on the Mattaponi River at Rickahock that Anthony Arnold obtained from Capt. Taylor, was passed down to Benjamin Arnold, Sr., Anthony Arnold's eldest son, by virtue of a re-grant. It is here that Benjamin Arnold Sr. and Captain Jacob Lumpkin went to court in October of 1690.
b)Benjamin Arnold – 1683 first became on record in St. Stephen´s Parish when he and sixty-five others signed a petition to allow them to elect a new vestry. (Src. AFAS Vol. II, Page 320: "Benjamin Arnold, 1754 acres, New Kent County; N. side of Mattapony River, 23 Apr. 1688, 1050 acres granted to Capt. Taylor, & sold to Anthony Arnold, deceased; 704 acres beginning below the Mill Creek as near the River as could be; in sight of William Nicholls' Plantation; by John Pigg; in sight of Daniel Coleman's Plantation, to Peck's Hill, by William & Thomas Campe; over the Mill Creek; &c. Transport of 15 persons: Jack, Nell, Quow, Cromwell, George, Matthew, Joe, Tom, Barows, Mingo, Jack, Peter, Robin, Sue, Jenny, Jasper.") (believed to be son of Anthony Arnold who was hung)
NOTE: These deeds make reference to the Anthony Arnold Sr.´s property in New Kent County. He lost his property after he was tried and executed in 1676 for treason in Virginia. I believe the Benjamin Arnold who is buying the property of Anthony Arnold is Benjamin Arnold Sr., father to Benjamin of Greenville Co., SC. I also believe that Benjamin Sr. is either Anthony ‘s son or possibly his brother.
Benjamin Arnold made a deal with the Chickahomini Indians in the early 1690s whereby they gave him 1800 acres in Pamunkey Neck in return for 600 acres between the Mattaponi and the Rappahannock.
Benjamin Arnold was born between 1660-1662 in New Kent County and he died between 1719-1724 in Hanover County. He married Anne Bogardus (?) and their children were: Benjamin Jr., Ann and Rachel Arnold. Benjamin Jr. married Ann Hendricks, Ann married Joseph Temple and Rachel married Francis Arnold.
c) Francis Arnold – 1719, is shown being brought in to New Kent Co. for the first time, along with William Davenport. (Src. CAVALIERS AND PIONEERS by Nugent, Bk. 11, pg. 9)
NOTE: Francis Arnold married Rachel Arnold, daughter to Benjamin Arnold, Sr. and she was the granddaughter to Anthony Arnold, the hung. Francis Arnolds daughter, Anne Arnold married William Davenport, the son of Martin Davenport of the Pamunkey Davenports.
d) Davis Davenport – 1696 had landing on the South Side of the Mattonponi River in Pamunkey Neck (then King & Queen County) across from Benjamin Arnold.
NOTE: According to “The Pamunkey Chronicles” by Dr. John Scott Davenport, Davis Davenport owned land located on the south side of Mattaponi approximately 20 miles up from its confluence with the Pamunkey River to form the York River. It was established sometime after 1667. A survey in 1667 shows a 1600-acre tract adjoining the later Davenport plantation and an Edward Holmes is the adjoining landowner where Davenport was later located. This gave no indication either of a plantation or landing in 1667 but the 1696 survey did. In 1699, the land to the south of the Mattonponi River was taken up by Indian leases obtained by Benjamin Arnold from the Chickahominies and Richard Yarbrough from the Pamunkeys.
e) William Davenport – 1719, is shown being brought in to New Kent Co. for the first time, along with Francis Arnold. (Src. CAVALIERS AND PIONEERS by Nugent, Bk. 11, pg. 9)
“Reuben Welch of Essex co. 3273 ac. in New Kent, fork of Pamunkey River between Little and New Found River 20 Feb 1719 Importation of 66 including Thomas Grove (Grone), Francis Arnold. William Davenport, Richard Joanes, Margaret Joanes.”
f) Edward Arnold – 1701 (Src. AFAS, Vol. 3, No.-2, pg. 12 – Virginia Land Grants).
“Patent Book 9, p. 317 Edward Arnold granted 89 acres in Upper Parish of Nansemond County on Southwest side of Oropeak Swamp and northwest side of the Rich Thickett Swamp, near Battle´s corner, For transportation of two persons (named). 25 April 1701”
g) Samuel Gray – d. 1709 Minister at St. Peter´s in New Kent Co. (Src. “The Douglas Register”, W. Mac. Jones, reprinted by Clearfield Pub., 1996 - A detailed record of Births, Marriages, and Deaths together with other interesting notes, as kept by the Rev. William Douglas, from 1750 to 1797 in Goochland Parish, Goochland County, VA.)
“Samuel Gray minister of this Parish departed this Life ye 25th of December 1709 (pg. 60)”
h) William Gray – 1748 (Src. “Pole of the votes for elections of Burgesses. Deed Book 3, page 510-518”) Wife´s name was Elizabeth and they had daughter named Martha:
“Martha daughter of William and Elizabeth Gray, born Feb'ry 7, baptized Feb'ry 11, died Feb'ry 13 1738.” (p. 138) (Src. “The Douglas Register”, W. Mac. Jones, reprinted by Clearfield Pub., 1996)
“1 June 1747. Deed of sale between William Gray, Gent., of parish of St. Peter, County of New Kent and Matthew Anderson, merchant, of the same place, whereby Gray sells to Anderson for L#920 Virginia currency, messuage and plantation in St. Peter known as Fort Royal alias Rockahock, containing 670 acres. The plantation was conveyed to Gray by deeds of 8 and 9 March 1740/1 by John Lightfoot. Signed by Gray: and fragment of seal remains. Witnesses to sealing: Hum. Brooke John Herndon Phil: Aylett, J. Power W. Wright Benj Hubbard Fairfax” (Src. “Survey Report No. GH 18 07062) Depository: Gays House, Holyport, Berks Title: Plantation Lease, 1747. - Gray. - Anderson. - New Kent, U.S.A)
I) Alexander Watson – Is listed with Elizabeth, Esther, Foster, Hester, Mary, Rachel, Richard, Theophelus, Thomas, and William Watson. (Src. “The Parish Register of St. Peter's, New Kent Co., VA 1680-1787, The National Society of the Colonial Dames of America in the State of Virginia, 1904, reprinted Genealogical Pub. 1996”)
j) Charles Graves – Is listed with Dyonysia, Elizabeth, Mathew, Mary, Ralph, Richard, Sara, Susanna and William Graves (Src. “The Parish Register of St. Peter's, New Kent Co., VA 1680-1787, The National Society of the Colonial Dames of America in the State of Virginia, 1904, reprinted Genealogical Pub. 1996”)
k) Stephen Terry – 1699, filed claim in the House of Burgesses for land that was subleased from the Indians along with James Edwards, Lewis Davis. Was father to Grace Terry, wife of Thomas Davenport (son of Davis).
l) James Edwards – 1699, filed claim in the House of Burgesses for land that was subleased from the Indians along with Lewis Davis and Stephen Terry.
m) John Pettus Sr. – died 1690 New Kent County. Had two sons, John Pettus Jr. and Thomas Pettus.
n) Stephen Pettus – 1667 New Kent County
8 Jan 1667: PETTUS, Stephen of New Kent County. 350 a. on the branches of the Ware Creek. (Src. “Virginia Land Office Patents and Grants”, Patent 6, pg. 99)
o) John Pettus Jr. – born 1672 New Kent County to John Pettus Sr.
NOTE: John Pettus Jr.´s father was John Pettus Sr., son of Col. Thomas Pettus and his first wife. The date of marriage for Col. Thomas Pettus and his second wife, Elizabeth
Mourning was 1645. John Sr. was born 1635
p) John Waller – 1635 first time in the US
NOTE: John Waller born about 1617. Married Mary Key in England and settled in the Pamunkey Neck of New Kent County. Children are said to be John b. 1639, William b. 1641, Leonard b. 1643 and Benjamin b.? Waller. The son, William born 1641, known as Captain William in Virginia.
John Waller moved to Spotsylvania County with the Arnold family and appeared on a list for a road crew in 1755 with Francis Arnold. He became legal guardian to the children of Benjamin Arnold in 1788: Betty, Barbary, Susannah and James Arnold and in 1791 he was a neighbor to John Arnold, all in Spotsylvania County.
KING GEORGE County ( and Old Rappahannock County):
The lands that I speak of here deals with that part of Old Rappahannock County in 1692 which first became Richmond County then in 1720 it became King George County.
a) John Doyle, Sr. – died 1718 Richmond, Virginia. Wife was named Mary and daughter was Grace. Grace Doyle married Thomas Arnold.
b) Grace Doyle – born before 1668 in Old Rappahannock Co., Virginia. Married Thomas Arnold
c)Thomas Arnold – 1679 Sittingbourne Parish. Husband of Grace Doyle. Thomas and Grace´s children were: Isaac Arnold, Sr. (m. Margaret Goffe), Thomas Jr., John and James who married Sarah.
NOTE: A Thomas ARNOLD bought land from Simon MILLER in Sittingbourne Parish, 1679. He and his wife Grace lived on the south side of Gingoteague Creek, which became part of King George Co.
That same year he bought land from Adam Wolfendale on the south side of the Creek, which is variously spelled “Chingoteak”, “Quigoteaque”, “Ginoteak”, etc. this land when first
purchased, was in old Rappahannock County.
In Surry County in 1682, Thomas Arnold appointed his friend B. Perry, merchant, his attorney to sue recovery from James Barrott and Mr. John Nicholls, executors of the will of Ann Arnold in regard to the plantation “that was formerly my brother, Edward Arnold, of Chickahominy in James City County, Virginia in his will of 14 August 1679, left said plantation to her for life and at her death to me and my heirs.”
Thomas and Grace Arnolds´ home sat on the south side of Gingoteaque Creek and was part of Rappahannock County that later became king George County.
d) Isaac Arnold Sr. – born 1685 in old Rappahannock co. died 4 may 1758 in king George, virginia. married Margaret (Mary) Goffe 1707, daughter of Thomas Goffe. Isaac Sr. is the son of Thomas and Grace Doyle Arnold.
“Will Book #1, page 89. Written 15 Sept. 1757. Eldest son Isaac "all land whereon I formerly did live" land bounded of Capt. Joseph Murdock and land of Moses Pittman and others "and also given to the said Isaac my said son by Thomas Goffe grandfather to the said Isaac Arnold and that the said Isaac Arnold and his heirs hold and enjoy the said land forever. Daughter - Dianah Wharton and Samuel Wharton her now husband (land on which she then lived from Duff´s ordinary to king George court house) son - William; son - Benjamin; youngest son - Mark "was 18 years old the 26th day of July last"; daughters: Sarah Moran; Isabell Rogers; Elizabeth; Mary; Jemima; Susanna, wife Mary date proved, probated and recorded -- 4 may 1758 (presented by Mary Arnold)”
NOTE: Isaac Arnold Sr. married Margaret Goffe and had children Isaac Jr. (m. Sarah and moved to Spotsylvania co.), Dianah Wharton, William (m. Lydia Bell and moved to Spotsylvania Co.), Benjamin (m. Bathsheba Bell and went to Spotsylvania Co.), Mark, Thomas, Sarah Moran, Isabell Rogers, Elizabeth (m. William boon), Mary, Jemima and Susanna Goode.
e) Isaac Arnold Jr. – born abt. 1708? in old Rappahannock Co.
“Arnold, Isaac, Sr. . Doyle, Jno DB—1a 214 28 July 1732 4 Aug 1732 of n.c. (lease & release 226 mb han. par. pat. to Jno. Doyle Sr. (F) Jan 23, 1716/17) 226 a. "granted by the proprietors of the northern neck of Virginia unto John Doyle Sr." "beg. at three red oakes standing in the fork of a small branch of Gongoteague Creek being corner to a patent of land formerly granted to Prosser and Chattwood." Mentions as one corner the cleared ground of Thomas Arnold. wit: Pittman, Thomas Goff, Hawkins, Willis. 1721-34”
“Isaac Jr. Arnold, Mary COB 635 4 May 1733 (w) Isaac Sr. (rel. dower in 100 a. sold by husband)”
NOTE: Parents are Isaac Arnold Sr. and Margaret Goffe. Isaac Arnold Jr. died 18 Oct 1770 in Spotsylvania County, Virginia.
f) Thomas Arnold – 1733 son of Isaac Arnold, Sr.. Thomas Arnold had children: John Arnold, James Arnold and Humphrey Arnold.
“Thomas Arnold, Isaac (f) db-4 74 3 may 1733 7 Feb 1754 (lease & release 60 mb han par Gingoteague Creek – see Arnold to Turner —reference) Humphrey Arnold of the parish of Hamilton, County of prince William, to Thomas turner, lease of land whereon my father Thomas Arnold formerly lived and was given and conveyed him by his father Isaac Arnold deed of gift bearing day 3 may 1733. land whereon Edward Jones containing by estimation 60 a. in King George”.
g) John Arnold – 1760 served as witness on deed in Rappahannock County.
“John Arnold bought land, 200 acres, of David Mansell in 1669” (Src. “Rappahannock County deed book iv”, pg. 130)
“29 September 1671, John Arnold witnessed a deed for Ambrose Clare” (Src. “Rappahannock County deed book iv”, pg. 487-488)
NOTE: This John Arnold had passed away by december 21, 1683. He left a will, in which he named his wife, Grace, and their daughters: Ruth, Susan, Ann and Margaret Arnold. Witnesses for the will were Nicholar George, Thomas Parfitt and William Therriatt.
h) Robert Arnold – 1671 purchased a heifer from a Robert Fristoe. in this deed, Robert´s father is named as John Arnold (Src. “Rappahannock County Deed Book iv, pg. 485)
NOTE: Robert Arnold is the son of the John Arnold who purchased 200 acres from David Mansell in 1669.
I) Mary Arnold – was transported by John Stephens on march 13, 1657 (Src. “some ancestors and descendants of Benjamin Arnold, King William County, Virginia and Greenville, South Carolina”, by Hazel Arnold MacIvor – 1974 pg. 32)
j) James Arnold – november 18, 1663 was transported by William Moseley. (Src. “some ancestors and descendants of Benjamin Arnold, king William County, Virginia and Greenville, South Carolina”, by Hazel Arnold MacIvor – 1974 pg. 32)
k) Edward Davenport – 1643 Rappahannock County. was found 30 miles from where Davis Davenport had his plantation on the Mattonponi River.
“Rappahannock 1643: Edward Davenport a head right of sir Thomas Wyatt”
l) Richard Barber – 1671 purchased land from John Davenport and his wife, Margaret.
m)Joseph Berry – will made 1743 King George County. father was William Berry. Joseph married Catherine Simcock and had children: Enoch, Joseph Jr., Benjamin, withers, Thomas, Baldwin, Reuben Berry.
“In the name of God Amen. I Joseph Berry of the County of King George and Parish of Hanover being in good health and sound and perfect sense and memory as usually at other times past for which blessing I give thanks and praise to almighty god, but calling to mind the uncertainty of this life and that it is appointed for all men once to die do make and ordain this to be my last will and testament in manner and form following, that
is to say first and inprimis I commend my soul into the protection of my great and merciful creator and my body to the earth from whence it came to be decently buried at the discretion of my execurtix hereafter named in sure and certain hope of a joyful resurrection at the last day, and for such worldly goods as it hath pleased god to bless me with I give as follows, vizt. item: that, whereas by the last will and testament of my father William Berry, deceased, bearing date the 5th of Feb. 1720 he has therein demised to my brother Enoch Berry the plantation and land whereon he then lived in the following words, vizt. I give to my son Enoch Berry the plantation I how live on with all the land joining thereto now in my possession being the third part of a certain patent granted to Enoch Doughty by computation five hundred acres to him and his heirs lawfully begotten of his own body and for want of such heirs to fall to my son, Joseph Berry and to his heirs lawfully begotten of his own body. now that I am heir at law to my mother, she being the daughter of said Enoch Doughty, I am apprehensive that the said clause or paragraph mentioned in my said father's will does not convey a legal title to my said brother Enoch Berry in the said land, but notwithstanding as I know it was my mother's desire and my father's will that my said brother Enoch Berry should have a part of the said land, I do therefore declare and am well contented that it should be according to their will and desire, but as my brother Enoch Berry and I have formerly agreed that he the said Enoch should have in lieu of the said land given to him by my father's will the upper part of the said land being the plantation whereon I formerly lived before the death of my father Wm. Berry, now I do hereby desire and it is my will that my said brother Enoch Berry do hold the said plantation whereon I formerly lived as above said it being the same plantation whereon my brother Enoch Berry now lives with all the land lying between the north easternmost bounds of the said patent and the Creek called Doughty's Creek which Creek is the division between his land and mine, his land being the upper part of the whole tract to him and the heirs of his body lawfully begotten and for want of such heirs to return to the heirs of my body lawfully begotten in the same manner as is mentioned and intended in my fathers will aforesaid, but if it shall happen at any time hereafter that my brother Enoch Berry or his heirs or any other person or persons claiming under them shall claim any right or title to the land whereon I now live it being the same land what is mentioned in my father's will aforesaid or shall bring any troublesome or vexatious suit in law against my heirs, executors or any other person or persons claiming by me or my heirs on account of the aforesaid gift intail mentioned in my father's will as aforesaid, that then this paragraph in my will as it above recited shall be utterly void and of none effect and that my heirs, executors or administrators or any other person claiming by them shall have power and authority to enter and possess the premises above mentioned as if this demise had never been mentioned in my will. item: it is my will and desire that my well beloved wife
Catherine Simcock Berry do hold and possess my land and plantation whereon I now live during her life only allowing to my son Joseph Berry the liberty of the house which he has lately built and the liberty of building such other houses as he has occasion for with a reasonable portion of ground to work on provided that he shall have no privilege to work any land but such as his mother is willing to let him have without being prejudicial to herself. item: it is my will and desire that after the death of my wife Catherine Simcock, my land whereon I now live be equally divided between my 2 sons Joseph and Benjamin Berry allowing to each part an equal breadth upon the River counting from the mouth of the Creek to the lower corner of the tract next to col. carter's land, the line or lines for the division to extend back from the River to parallel carter's lines, my son Joseph to have the first choice after the division the said land to them and their heirs forever, but if it shall happen that either of my said sons Joseph and
Benjamin shall die without heirs or maKing any legal disposition of their parts of the said land that then the inheritance shall descend to their next brother, vizt. my son
withers he being my third son, and if they should both dye without heirs or otherwise disposing of their land in their lifetime that then the inheritance thereof shall descent to the said son withers and his next brother Thomas, my fourth son, to be held by them in the same manner as is above mentioned to their older brothers. likewise if my 2 sons withers and Thomas should both or either of them dye then the inheritance shall descend to their 2 youngest brothers, Baldwin and Reuben, my 5th and 6th sons, in the same manner as is above mentioned to their other brothers. the meaning of my intent and desire that my 2 oldest sons then living or their heirs may from time to time hold my said land between them, and if my said sons or any of them or their heirs they being at the same time in right and property to sell or convey the whole or any part thereof belonging to them as they shall think fit. item: it is my will and desire that my wife Catherine Simcock do hold all my other estate both real and personal during her life to use and dispose thereof at her own discretion in paying my debts and funeral expenses and likewise for her own support and the support and maintenance of my children until
the youngest come of age which I desire may be under her tuition and if any part of my estate or the profits thereof(excepting the reversion of my land as above demised to my
sons) be left at her death that it may go to my children to be distributed amongst them according to the discretion of my aforesaid wife Catherine Simcock Berry whom I do hereby constitute and appoint to be whole and sole executor of this my last will and testament and I do hereby revoke and disannull all former wills by me heretofore made and do ratify this to be my true and last will as witness my hand and seal.”
n) William Berry – will made 1720 Richmond County. Sons were Joseph Berry and Enoch Berry.
“In the name of God Amen I William Berry of Richmond County in the Parish of Hanover being indisposed in body but of perfect memory blessed be almighty god for the same, and calling top mind the uncertainty of this life, do make ordain and constitute this to be my last will and testament, revoking and disannulling all former wills and this to be my true last will in manner and from following.
First and principally , I reccomend my soul into the hands of the Almighty God, hoping through the merits of Jesus Christ my Savior to have a joyful resurrection and full pardon and remission of all my sins, and my body I commit to the earth to be decently buried at the discretion of my executors hereafter named and as for that worldly goods it hath pleased god to bestow upon and bless me with, I shall dispose and leave them
as followeth.
item: I give and bequeath to my 2 sons Joseph and Enoch all the land I now stand possessed with in Essex County being 950 acres more or less to be equally divided between them allowing my eldest son Joseph to have the first choice and if my son Joseph shall see cause before his brother come to age to dispose or make sale of the whole or any part of the said land, there in his own or his brother's behalf, that then he shall doe as he sees meet and convenient, and if my sons Enoch and Joseph shall die with out heir then shall the said land return to the other brother, and if they shall both die without heirs, then it shall fall to my 2 daughters Margaret and Elizabeth to them and their heirs forever.
item: I will give to my 2 sons Joseph and Enoch Berry my mill with that parcel of land adjacent to the millswamp, binding upon Andrew Harrison and James key, to each an equal part to be at the dispose of my oldest son Joseph to see or make use of untill his brother comes to age.
item: I give and bequeath to my son Enoch Berry the plantation I now live on with all the land joining thereto now in my possission being the third part of 500 acres to him and his heirs lawfully begotten of his body and for want of such heirs to fall to my son Joseph Berry and to his heirs lawfully begotten of his body.
item: I give to m daughters Margaret Rogers and Elizabeth Strother a certain tract of land known and distinguished by the name of the forest land binding upon henry Berry, mr. Fitzhugh and William Pannell, divided between them by a path and marked trees, my daughter Margaret to have her part where she now lives and the other part to my daughter Elizabeth to her and her heirs lawfully begotten of her own body.
item: I give to my son Enoch Berry 2 beds and furniture, 2 cows and calves and one thousand pounds of tobacco to be paid to him when he shall come to age.
item: I give to my daughter Margaret 1 bed and furniture, one cow and calf and seal skin trunk
item: I give to my daughter Elizabeth Strother one bed and furniture, a chest of drawers and a cow and calf.
item: I give to my son Joseph Berry one bed and furniture, and all my carpenter's and coopers tools and broad-cloth linen and trimming for a suit of clothes, viz: coat vest and breeches.
item: and it is my desire that all my other movable estate be equally divided between my 4 children.
item: and lastly I do constitute ordain and appoint my son Joseph to be whole and sole executor of this my last will and testament in witness whereof I have set my hand and seal this fifth day of February, 1720.”
