Will of Francis Lightfoot Lee

Richmond County, Virginia, Will Book, No. 9, 1794--1822

Dated December 30, 1795, Probated February 6, 1797

In the name of God, Amen. I Francis Lightfoot Lee of the County of Richmond in Virginia being in pretty good health and of sound memory do make and Constitute this my last Will and Testament Vizt.

First I give to my beloved wife Rebecca Lee, forever, a mulatto woman named Cate, who is at present my wife's maid, and all the said Cate's female issue. 2dly. I give my dearest wife all the furniture in the room we lye in, called the Chamber, and also the following pieces of silver plate, to wit, a coffee pot, a Chamber Candlestick, two tea Canisters, a Milk pot, and a sugar sifting spoon.

3dly. I Lend my dearest wife during her life all the furniture not before given, all the Liquors and family necessaries in the house and offices, all my negroes on the Menokin Plantation, with the utensils of Husbandry, all the stocks of every kind on the plantation, all the Grain and provisions in hand and growing at the time of my death, and the post Chaise or other carriage I may have and Horses and also whatever family goods and necessaries I may have ordered from Europe or elsewhere, and not arrived before my death. I mean hereby a comfortable provision for my dearest wife during her life. After her death, I give all the said negroes, furniture and what my remain of the other articles mentioned in this clause to my nephew Ludwell Lee, second son of my Brother Richard Henry Lee, forever.

4thly. It is my will and desire that if at any time my dear wife should be of the opinion that it would contribute to her ease and Comfort to have any or all of the negroes at Menokin Sold, in such case, my Executors shall sell them, on reasonable credit or for ready money if they see fitt, and the money arising from such sale, to be, at her option, laid out in the purchase of other negroes, for her use during her lifetime or to be put to Interest on good landed security, and the interest paid to my said wife during her life. The negroes so purchased of the money at Interest, I give to my nephew Ludwell Lee forever, after the death of my wife.

5thly. I give my dearest wife Two hundred and fifty pounds a year during her life, and my will is that the said Two hundred and fifty pounds be always rated according to the present value of Gold and silver Coins legally Current, and as it may be more convenient to my dearest wife, I desire my Executors, if she should desire it, to pay the said £250 half yearly, that is to say £125 at the expiration of each six months.

6thly. I give to my dearest wife £250 to be paid to her as soon after my death as may be, independent of the £250 yearly before Given to her.

7thly. I direct that the taxes on the land and negroes at Menokin, for which my wife may be liable during her widowhood, shall be paid out of the Estate hereafter given to my nephew Ludwell Lee, and that two able well broke young horses may be furnished for her use during her life, occasionally as she may call for them, at the expense of my estate given to Ludwell Lee. It is also my will and desire that in case my dear wife should chuse to remove from Menokin that then all the furniture, necessaries and provisions that she shall not reserve for her use shall be sold with her consent and the principal and interest issuing from such sale shall be applied in the same manner as is directed in the 4 th clause of this will with respect to the Principal and Interest arising from the sale of the negroes.

7thly. The provision herein made for and the bequests herein given to my dear wife I mean and declare to be in lieu of dower, but if she should prefer her dower, in that case, I do revoke them all and declare them void, Except her maid Cate, the furniture in the Chamber and the Six pieces of silver plate. 8thly. I give to my nephew Tmoas Lee of Loudoun all my lots in the town of Matildaville to him and his heirs forever. 9thly. I five to my nephew George Lee my Tract of Land near Colchester in Fairfax to him and his heirs forever. 10thly. I give my Gold enameled snuff Box and the picture set with diamonds belonging to it, which was given to me by my ever lamented brother Arthur Lee, to my nephew Francis Lightfoot Lee. 11thly. I give to my much esteemed friend Doctor William Shippen, Jr., of Philadelphia, fifty guineas to be laid out in a piece or pieces of Silver plate, as he may chuse, as a small testimony of my gratefull sense of the many Civilities shown to me and Mrs. Lee when in Philadelphia.

12. I give to my nephew Thomas Lee Shippen of Pennsylvania a ring of two guineas value. 13. I give and bequeath all the rest of my Estate real and personal and of whatever kind soever to my nephew Ludwell Lee, to him and his heirs forever. And I do hereby make Constitute and appoint him the said Ludwell Lee heir and residuary legatee.

And it is my meaning and intent that all the monies and annuities given my wife and my Debts be paid out of the Estate which I have given to my nephew Ludwell Lee. 14. It is my desire that in case my dearest wife shall accept the provision herein made for her that then there be no Appraisement made nor Inventory taken of the furniture, family necessaries &tc. lent her herein, but that she may at any time convenient to herself deliver a list of them to my Nephew Ludwell Lee. Lastly, I do Constitute and appoint my much beloved wife Rebecca Lee, my nephews Ludwell Lee, Thomas Ludwell Lee of Loudoun and George Lee, Executors of this my will, all written with my own hand and each page signed with my name and this last page with my Seale affixed to it. On the 30th day of December in the year of our Lord, 1795.