In the Name of God amen. This first day of March in the year of Man's Redemption
one thousand seven hundred & sixty five I Benjamin Cheatham being very sick & weak
in body but of perfect sense & memory thanks be given to God therefore and calling
to mind my Mortality and knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die,
do make & ordain this my last Will & Testament in the hands of almighty God that
gave it to me and as for my body I commend it to the Earth therein to be decently
Interd at the discretion of my Exr. and as touching my Worldly Estate
wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me in this I give devise & dispose of in
the following Manner & form.
Item I give unto my Son Stephen Cheatham the Land he now lives
on Including two hundred & sixty acres also one Negro man named Frank to him & his
Heirs and assigns forever.
Item I give and bequeath to my son Richard Cheatham two
hundred acres of Land adjoining the Land of Stephen Cheatham Including the
Plantation he now lives on also one Negro Woman named Lucy as also my ridiing
Horse annd Saddle to him and his heirs & Assigns for ever.
Item I give & bequeath to my Daughter Phebe farmer the Wife
of Elam Farmer five shillings sterling to her and her Heirs & Assigns for ever.
Item I give & bequeath to my Daughter Anngillicho pitchford
the Wife of Samuel Pitchford one Negro girl named Cate to her and her Heirs & Assigns
for ever.
Item I Give & bequeath to my Daughter Martha Witt Wife of
Jesse Witt one Negro girl named Jenney to her and her Heirs & Assigns for ever.
Item I give & bequeath to my Daughter Sarah Farmer the Wife of
Ladowick Farmer Five shillings Sterling to her and her Heirs & Assigns forever.
Item I give & bequeath to my Daughter Mary Cheatham one Negro
boy named Simon also I give to my daughter Mary One Hundred acres of Land being
part of my Dividend of land ajoining on Winter Pock [Winterpock] Creek also I give
to my Daughter Mary one half of my Gold & Silver that belongs to me in hand & out
of hand to her and her Heirs & Assigns forever.
Item I give & bequeath to my Daughter Tabitha Cheatham one Negro
boy named Frank also I give to my daughter Tabitha One Hundred acres of Land
part of my Dividend ajoining Skinquarter Road also one half of the Gold & Silver
that belongs to me in hand & out of hand to her and her Heirs & Assigns forever.
Item I give & Bequeath to my beloved wife Grace Cheatham the
use of one Chest with a Lock on it and one Box Iron, as also all ye.
pewter & earthenware & stone & glass that I now own and all the Iron Potts and
one frying pan and all my Water pales and all my feathers that I now own, and all
the Corn & Wheat & Tobacco that is now on my said Plantation whereon I now Dwell
as also all the Skins Leather and the Plantation whereon I now Dwell during her
Widowhood and one bay mare & one side saddle & eight head of Cattle such as she
shall chuse among my stock of Cattle and all the fowls that belongs to me also I
give to my beloved Wife Grace the use of one Negro Man named Jimme & one Negro
Woman named Mangey during her Widowhood but in case she Marries or dies the several
articles before mentioned to my Wife to be equally divided between my two
youngest Daughter Mary & Tabitha.
Item I give & bequeath to my son Joel Cheatham three hundred
acreas of land including the Plantation I now live on & one Negro Man named Bowzer
to him and his Heirs and assigns forever and all the Residue and Remainder of my
Estate Real [two or three words illegible] I give to my son Joel Cheatham my
[more illegible words] Estate may not be apraised I do hereby make & ordain my
two sons Joel & Richard my only Executrs of this my last Will &
Testament hereby declaring this to be my last Will & Testament In Witness whereof
I have hereunti set my Hand & seal the day & year above written. Signed Sealed
and Delivered in presents of
Silvanus Witt
Wm Moseley Senr
Benjamin Cheatham
[with his Mark]
Mary Moseley