In the name of God Amen. On the seventh day of December in the year of our Lord one thousand seven Hundred and thirty four, I Daniel Hicks of Brunswick County being very sick and weak in body, but of perfect mind and memory thanks be given to God, therefore bring unto mind the mortality of my body and knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die, do make and ordain this my last will and Testament that is to say principally and first of all, I give and recommend my soul to God that gave it, and for my body recommend it to the earth to be buried in a Christian like manner at the discretion of my executors nothing doubting but at the General Resurection I shall receive the same again by the mighty power of God, touching such worldly estate wherewith it hath pleased to bless me in this life, I give devise and dispose of the same in the following manner. I give and bequeath to Edith my dearly beloved wife two negroes named Dick and Annake a horse called Lap side saddle and Bridel and half my household goods to her, her heirs and assigns forever and I likewise give to the sd. Edith the use of one Negro called Valentine during her widowhood and that at her death or marriage the said Negro Valentine to be delivered to my son Benjamin Hicks or to his heirs or assigns. And I do give to the sd. Edith the use of my dwelling house and plantation during her natural life. I give unto my well beloved son Thomas Hicks three negroes named Nero, Brandon and Peter and it is my desire that the tract of land where my plantation is be equally divided into two parts and the lower part of the sd. tract of land I do give to the said Thomas Hicks and to his heirs and assigns forever. I give to my well beloved son Daniel Hicks two negroes named Austine and Little Dick and my dwelling house and plantation with the appurtenances thereof to him and his heirs or assigns forever. I give to my well beloved daughter Mary Hicks two negroes named Dorcas and Phillis to her and to her heirs or assigns forever. I give to my well beloved son Benjamin Hicks two negroes named Bess and Hannah and their increase and the tract of land below Reves Swamp where John Hicks lived with the appurtenances thereof to him and his heirs or assigns forever. And it is my desire that after my just debts and funeral charges is turly paid that all my estate which is not herein mentioned by equally divided amongst my four children and I do likwise constitute make and ordain Edith my beloved wife and John Hicks my only and sole Executors of this my last Will and Testament and I do hereby utterly disallow, revoke and disammul all and every other former testaments, wills, legacies, bequests and executors by me in any ways before this time named willed and bequeathed ratifying and confirming this and no other to be my last will and testament. IN WITNESS whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the day and year above written.
This is the copie made by Daniel Hix at the house of George Wallton in the Parish of St. Andrews in the County of Brunswick in his last Sickness on the day herein mentioned as right as we can remember. Witness our hands. Signed by George Wallton, Robert Hicks, Sr., Frances Hicks, and James Hicks.
At a court held for Brunswick County the third day of Aprill, 1735 this copy of the will of Daniel Hicks was presented in Court by Edith Hicks Executrix therein named who made oath thereto according to law and the same being proved by George Wallton, Robert Hicks, Francis Hicks James Hicks witnesses thereto the same is admitted to record.
Deed and Will Book 1, page 168, Brunswick County, Virginia