The Will of Susanna Burgess Braswell October: the 22: 1714 IN THE NAME OF GOD AMEN I Susannah Braswell in the Upper Parish of the Isle of Wight County in Virginia being Sick & Weak in Body but in perfect Memory thanks be to God I do therefore make this my last Will & Testament as followeth ffirst I commit my Soul to Almighty God our Heavenly ffather trusting to be saved by the Merits of Jesus Christ our Lord and my Body to the Earth untill the Resurrection and for my Worldly Goods I bestow as followeth. I GIVE & Bequeath unto my Son Richard Braswelland to his Heirs the plantation I now live upon with Sixty Acres of Land I say to him and to his heirs for ever & ever I give and bequeaath unto my Son William Braswell my Old Plantation House with fforty Acres of Land joining to it out of theHundred Acres in all, I say to him and to his Heirs for Ever & Ever. I give & Bequeath to Elizabeth Braswell my Grandughter a Heifer of three years old, and one brass Kettle, one pewter Dish, one Pewter plate and four Spoons, one Box Iron and ffire Tongs. I GIVE and Bequeath to my Son William Braswell a Chest of ffeathers, a small Iron Pot one pewter Dish and one plate, and one Quart Pot and a Cup and four Spoons. I GIVE to my daughter Ann one shilling. I GIVE to my Grandson John Riggs One Shilling. And for rest of my worldly Goods within Doors and Without I Give and Bequeath unto my Son James Braswell to him and his Heirs leaving my Son Richard Braswell and my Son William Braswell my true and lawful Executors to pay my Debts and to receive what is oweing me and I desire you my trusty ffriends Richard Jones & Richard Jordan to see this my last Will and Testament performed. In Witness hereof I set to my Hand. WITNESSED By us William Allen Richd R Jones Susanna B Braswell (Seal) mark mark Richd R Jordan mark
PROBATE RECORD: At a Court held for the Isle of Wight County June 26: 1732 THE last Will & Testament of Susannah Braswell deceased was presented in Court by William Braswell Executor Therein named who made Oath thereto and being likewise proved by the Oaths of William Allen & Richard Jordan two of the Witnesses thereto It is admitted to Record.Teste. James Ingles Clk CurtVera Recordatur Test: Ja: Ingles C CWILL BOOK, Vol. 3, PAGE 304-305, 1726-1734 Part of index to Isle of Wight County Wills and Administrations (1628-1800)
This Will was copied by Walter S. Gabennesch from a photocopy of the original found at the Richmond, Virginia Archives.
The probate record of Susannah Burgess Braswell proves that her son William was alive and well in Isle of Wight in 1732 and couldn't possibly be the William Braswell who died in Chowan County, North Carolina in 1721.
Susannah's husband Robert Bracewell Jr. sold his inheritance before they married and left a Power of Attorney to his "loving wife" March 27, 1696, giving her sole power over the 100 acres Susannah inherited from her mother Mary.
Compare with the will of Richard Towle dated 1692.