Be it remembered that I Robert Tate of the county of Russell in the state of Virginia being in a very weak and infirm state of body but of sound mind and desirous of settling my worldly affairs do make this my last will and testament giving and bequeathing as follows, viz:
Imprimis,
1st I do give to my wife Mary Tate one negro woman named Luce and one negro boy named Jim and also one negro boy named Sulas and also four cows and calves two two year old heifers one two year steer and also two bay horses and one gray horse, and also all my household furniture and also all my stock of hogs and also the land I now live on and also all working tools thereto belonging except that piece or parcel of land lying on the south west side of the mill dam Beginning at the big spring thence with the dam to the saw pit thence to the cave by the big sink hole thence to the line where it crosses Ovaltons road and also do give to my wife Mary Tate one still and the complements thereto belonging and also all my flock of sheep and also one yearling steer to hold during her natural life or widowhood then at her death or marriage to be divided between my son Joseph Tate and my son Alexander Tate and my son Aaron Tate and my daughter Polly Tate reserving to my wife Mary Tate her third part only in case she should marry.
Item, I give to my son John Tate and my son James Tate that piece or parcel of land above mentioned lying south-west of the mill dam and bounded as above directed, only that my son John Tate and my son James Tate do pay my son Robert Tate a ten pounds horse each at the time they receive the land.
Item, I give to my son Robert Tate one negro girl named Ryah and also one mans saddle.
Item, I do direct that the above mentioned part of my estate except the land be appraised but not sold and also do except the negro girl named Ryah which I gave to my son Robert Tate.
Item, I do direct that one mare and colt and one two year old mare, three steers, one two year old heifer and four of the ____ size of the big barrows to be sold to discharge my debts.
Confirmed and subscribed by me this twentieth day of July one thousand seven hundred and ninety _____.
Robert X Tate (Seal)
Test: Robert Tate junr.
Isaac Tate
John Tate
At a court held for Russell County the third day of February 1807.
This instrument of writing was exhibited in court as and for the last will and testament of Robert Tate dec'd and proven by the oath of John Tate one of the witnesses thereto and the hand writing of Robert Tate junr. another of the witnesses proven by the oath of the said John Tate and William Fugate and thereupon ordered to be recorded. And on motion of Mary Tate who made oath according to law and together with Richard Davis and Colebird Fugate her securities entered into and acknowledged their bond in the penalty of $2,500 conditioned as the law directs administration with the will annexed is granted her on the said decedents estate in due form.
Teste Henry Dickenson C.R.C.