JAMES TAYLOR'S LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT
JAMES TAYLOR 1732-1895
Name: James Taylor
Sex: M
Birth: 1732 in Kent Co, VA
Death: 1895 in Patrick Co, VA
Note:
Patrick Co, VA-Jan Court 1807: In name of God, Amen. I James Taylor of Patrick Co and State of Virginia being weak in body yet in my perfect Sence do make Ordain Constitute and appoint this my last Will and Testament in manner and forem following to with I Will my soul to God who gave it trusting through the meritorious mediation of Jesus Christ for the pardon of my sins and salvation of the same and my body to the ground from whence it was taken to be decently buried after and according to the direction of my executors Herin after mention, fully depending for the resurrection For the same at the last day and as for the rest of my Estate which it hath Pleased Almightily God to bestow on me, I will it as follows to wit:
Imprimia, I will that all my Just debts that I owe to any manner of person be punctually paid.
Item, I will my whole and sole estate to my dear and well beloved wife during her natural life or so long as she is my surviving widow.
Item, I will that my Negro Woman slave named Hannah at my wife's death be emancipated, liberated and set free according to the law in that case made and provided.
Item I will & bequeath to my son James Taylor after his mothers death the land and plantation wheron I now live to him and his Heirs for ever. I will and give to my son David Taylor after his mothers death his or the first choice of my three Negroes named Worrick, Issac and Jacob to be to him at the appraisement price and if it amounts to more than his equivalent part of my personal estate to then and in that case my desire is that he should pay to the rest of the legalities or any one or more of them over plus after holding his equivalent part as above to be paid back in property valued either by the same appraiser or some other men against the slave that may be his choice, and the said slave be to him and his Heirs forever.
Item I will to my son James Taylor the next choice of my said slaves after his mothers death on the same terms and in the same manner and under the same restriction as the above Item to my son David Taylor to be to the same James His Heirs for ever.
Item I will to my daughter Ellenor Adams after her Mothers death the next choice of the three slaves in the same form and manner as to my sons David and James to her the said Elenor and her Heirs forever.
Item I will that all the rest of my personal estate be sold and equally divided after my beloved wife's decease or in continuance of Widowhood, between my daughters Grizzle Collins, Verlinda Cummings (tho her part to remain in the Possession of the Executors for her support as she need it and at her decease if any left to go to her lawful issue). Mary Lockhart and Milly Reynolds together with what may be coming from the three legatees to whom I will my slaves if the valuation of them exceed an equivalent part to each to who they are willed, and if they do not amount to an equal share of my Persoanl estate, and Still the slaves to go as before directed to them and their Heirs for ever.
Item, Lastly I appoint my son David Taylor and my son-in-law John Adams my Executors of this my last Will and Testament here after revoking and on annulling all other Wills whatever, I Testimony where of I have here unto set my hand and affixed my Seal this----Day of-------in the year of our Loard one thousand eight ;hundred and five.
Marriage 1: Elenor Smith b. 15 OCT 1727 in Prince George Co, Maryland
Married: 1755 in Kent Co, Va
Children:
Grizelda "Grizzle" Taylor b. 1756 in Belle Haven, Culpepper Co, Va
Mary Taylor b: 1762
Ellenor Taylor b: 1764
Verlinda Taylor b: 1767
Jeremiah Taylor b: 1770
David Taylor b: 1775
Mildred Taylor b. 1777
James Taylor, Jr. b: 1781
Father: Edmond Taylor b: 5JUL 1690 in King and Queen Co, Va; death 1755; burial: Granville, North Carolina
Mother: Sara Booking
Children of Edmond and Sara:
William Taylor
Thomas Taylor
Edmond Taylor II
James Taylor b: 1732 in Kent Co, Va
Grandfather: James Taylor b: 12FEB1610 in Carlisle, Cumberland, England
Grandmother: Mary Bishop Gregory b: 1665 in Essex, Caroline County, Va
They were married 2 AUG 1862 in Caroline Co, Va
Children of James Taylor and Mary Bishop Gregory:
Ann Taylor b: 12 JAN 1685
Mary Bishop Taylor b: 29JUN 1688
Edmond Taylor b: 5 JUL 1689 in King and Queen Co, Va
John Taylor b: 18 NOV 1696
This information was furnished by Walt English regarding his wife's family, The Gregory's! with this documentation mention of the Collier family is presented from John Collier b: 28FEB1707 in Madison or Henry or King and Queen County, death: 1765 in Holliers Creek, Augusta County, Virginia. Noting his military service bet 1740-1742 Officer Va Reg under Adm Vernon at Cathagaen exp 1742 John McDowells Militia, Augusta County Va. It states his father was John Collier, Sr. b: 3 MAR 1685 in King and Queen County, Virginia and his mother was Elizabeth Sallie Gaines Ironmonger b: 3MAY 1685 in Va. He was married to Elizabeth Meredith b: BET 1709 and 1711 in Hanover, Va ;in 1739 in Hanover County, Va. Only one child is mention of this marriage: John Collier b: 17 JAN 1740 in Belle Haven, Culpepper Co, Va.
John Collier b: 1707; father, John Collier, Sr, b: 3 MAR 1685 is described in these documents furnished via the Gregory family as:
"John was a planter and owned 'Porto Bello' plantaton, York County, Virginia. In 1707 according to Crozier, John Colyer/Collier was a Captain in the Infantry of King and Queen County. IN 1711 Queen Ann granted him land in King and Queen County 'for diverse good causes and considerations'. The Colyers were of noble descent and tract their ancestry even to the Crusades. All of the Virginia Colyers were Whigs during the Revolution. Sanders refer to the fact that during the war, 'Sir George Collier, Read Admiral of the British Nacy, was shelling the coast of Rhode Island while his American Cousins, the Colyers of Virgina, were shedding their blood in defense of the Colonies'. Research: Crozier, WM A. FRS>Virginia Colonial Militia, 1651-1776. The Genealogical Assoc, New York.'