John Pleasants III (abt. 1644 - 1698)

In the name of God, Amen-the 27th September 1690 , I John Pleasants of Curle in ye County of Henrico being of good & perfect remembrance praise be given to Almighty God & knowing that naturally I am born to dye & to pass from this Mortall World & transitory life; and minding to put in order as well of all and singular my lands goods & chattles wch it hath pleased God to lend me & bestor upon me also to declare how I have disposed the same to ye intent there should be nor strife in or about them after my decease; And first I will that all those Debts wch I shall owe unto any pson or psons at ye time of my decease be well and truly emtented & paid with in convenient time.

Item: I give grant & bequeath unto John Pleasants my son born of ye body of my dear & loving wife Jane Pleasants , formerly ye wife & extrx. of Saml. Tucker decd, all that plantacon or dividend of land whereon I now dwell called Curles , containing by estimacon three hundred Acres wch sd Plantacon was by me purchased of William Cookson , and for ye better assurance thereof made over and conveyed to me by William Beauchamp as heir at law to his brother John Beauchamp , decd; as also I give unto my sd son John Pleasants all that plantacon or divident of land by me purchased of Phillip Ludwell called Timber Slash being by Pattent Nine hundred Acres be ye same more or less; as also I give unto my son John my part of a tract of land lately taken up between ye John Woodson 's, Henry Rawing & myself the whole tract being about seven hundred Acres one half part thereof being mine called half link? All wch sd plantacon tracts or dividends of land above menconed I give devise & bequeath with their appurtenances unto my sd son John Pleasants & unto ye heirs of his body forever & for lack of such issue I give ye sd lands with their appurtenances unto my son Joseph Pleasants born also of ye body of my dear & loving wife Jane Pleasants & for lack of such issue unto my daughter Eliza. Pleasants born likewise of ye body of my dear & loving wife Jane Pleasants & to both their heirs for ever; for lack of such issue unto my bro. Samll. Pleasants & to his heirs for ever, & for lack of such heirs unto my bro. Benja. Pleasants & to ye heirs of his body for ever & for lack of such issue unto my bro. Tho. Pleasants & to ye heirs of his body for ever & for lack of such issue to ye next right heir of me ye sd John Pleasants ye father forever.

Also I give & bequeath unto my sd Son John Pleasants three young breeding mares (besides those formerly given to him) with their increase both male and female for ever, wch my mind and will is should be delivered by my exerx. (hereafter named) within twelve months after my decease;

Also I do give unto my sd Son John three cows with calves by their sides; Six breeding sows, ten Ewes, & one Ram as also ye New large feather bed, with all furniture belonging to it & two new pair of sheets, as also one Iron pot, six pewter dishes one Iron spitt two gunns besides that wch was sent for for him, one silver tumbler & four silver spoons marked I P. all wch now given unto him except ye land shall be deld to him as aforesaid wth in twelve moneths after my decease by my Exertx. & then to have as much of ye land I now live upon as he wth his servts can make use of or tend upon any part of ye divident where his mother shall think fitt conveniently to place him, wth full priviledge as well upon that as upon any other of ye whole dividents or tracts of land given to him to gett Timber or fencing & what else he may have occasion for any manner of Work, while ye sd Lands & plantacons by ye decease of his mother shall come into his own Actuall possession;

But in case my sd Son John Pleasants should depart this life ere ye time these goods & Chattells should be detd unto him then I do devise & bequeath ye same unto his sister Eliza. & bro. Joseph Pleasants part & part alike to be equally divided & to be deld. unto them at ye age of eighteen years Respectively or within one year after my decease the wch shall first happen & if either of them two should depart this life ere the time limitted, then ye survivor of them to have & enjoy ye whole.

Item: I give grant devise & bequeath unto my sd daughter Eliza. Pleasants born of ye body of my dear & loving wife Jane Pleasants as aforesaid that plantacon or divident of land by me purchased of Abra Childers bounding upon Curls Swamp containing by estimacon twenty acres be ye same more or less as also that plantacon or divident of land by me purchased of Hen Rawing & Robt Woodson both wch contains about four hundred acres be ye same more or less both wch sd plantacons dividents or tracts of land I give unto my sd Daughter Eliza. Pleasants & to the heirs of her body for ever, & for lack of such issue unto my son John Pleasants & ye heirs of his body forever & for lack of such issue unto my son Joseph Pleasants & to ye heirs of his body forever & for lack of such issue to ye next right heir of me ye said John Pleasants the father forever, also I give unto my sd Daughter Eliza. Pleasants two cows wth calves by their sides, one good feather bed wth all furniture belonging to it, two pair good sheets, six ews & one Ram, one silver tumbler & Four silver spoons marked E P & the Tankard, E. W. as also one breeding Mare besides those formerly given her, wch sd Mare shall be young not exceeding seven years nor under four, all wch sd land, goods & chattells now given her my mind and will is should be deld. unto my sd Daughter Eliza. Pleasants (&wt more shall be thought meet to be given her by her Mother) as followeth, Vzt. the Goods & Chattells wth in twelve Months after my decease the land when her Mother pleaseth if sees convenient to lett her have them during her sd Mother's life time if not at her decease but if my sd Daughter Eliza. Pleasants should depart this life before ye time these goods and chattells should be deld to her then I doe give devise & bequeath ye same unto my sons John and Joseph Pleasants , that is to say ye plantacon Joyning upon Curls Swamp unto my son John Pleasants & to his heirs for ever & that bought of Hen Rawen & Robt. Woodson unto my son Joseph Pleasants & to his heirs for ever & ye goods and chattells to be equally divided between them within ye time above sd; But if either of my sons John or Joseph Pleasants should depart this life before ye time limitted then I doe give devise & be queath as well ye sd two plantacons or dividents of land as ye goods & chattells unto ye Survivors of them

Item: I give grant devise & bequeath unto my sd Son Joseph Pleasants born as aforesaid of ye body of my dear & loving wife Jane Pleasants formerly ye wife of & execx. of Samll. Tucker that plantacon or divident of land called Turkey Island point formerly purchased of Benja. Hatcher containing by estimacon one hundred & fifty Acres be ye same more or less, as also that plantacon or divident of land by me purchased of Thomas Cocke lying upon Chickahominy Swamp containing by estimacon fourteen hundred Acres be ye same more or less, as also that Plantacon or divident of land called Colsons wch was by me purchased of William Giles being about one hundred Acres be it more or less, as also that divident or tract of Land by me purchased of Edwd. Mathews containing acres it being all I purchased of ye sd Mathews , also I give unto my sd son Joseph that plantacon or divident of land by me purchased of Abram Childers (lying part upon ye head of ye land I purchased of ye sd Ed. Mathews ) containing by estimacon five hundred fifty and eight acres, as also I give unto him that tract of land for wch have entered wth Richd. Ligon for Joyning down wards upon West-ham creek & to run upwards to ye upper most Mouth of Tuckerhoe Creek part fo wch being Islands & lying between the River & the land taken up by Edmund Jennings & Wm. Randolph being two thousand Acres be ye same more or less all wch sd Plantacons tracts or dividents of Land above mencon'd

I do give grant devise & bequeath unto my sd Son Joseph Pleasants & unto ye heirs of his body forever & for want of such issue unto my son John Pleasants & to the heirs of his body for ever & for want of such issue unto my daughter Eliza. Pleasants & to the heirs of her body forever & for want of such Issue unto Joseph Woodson born of ye body of my wives daughter Mary Woodson the now wife of John Woodson Junr. & to ye heirs of his body for ever & for lack of such Issue unto ye next right heir of me ye sd John Pleasants the father for ever; Also I doe give devise & bequeath unto my sd son Joseph Pleasants all ye horses and mares wch now are or may be justly claymed as mine (branded or else) on ye north side of James River from ye Plantacon of Tho Bayleys upwards as also those cows with calves by their sides two breakable steers besides those two wch he useth to break or yoak as also the lowest pair of thod Cart wheels, ten Ews & one Ram, one feather bed wth Curtaing & vallence & all other furniture 2 pair Sheets 1 iron pott, one Gunn besides that wch was sent for him, six pewter dishes, one Silver tumbler & four silver spoons all Marked I P. Also I give unto sd son Joseph one negro boy named Joseph & six Sowes & one pasture Mare besides all those formerly given him either mares or horses wch are branded I P all wch my Mind & will is should be deld to him at ye age of eighteen years, but if my sd son Joseph Pleasants should depart this life ere he attain to ye age the sd goods should be deld unto him then I doe give devise & bequeath out of ye same unto Joseph Woodson the negro boy called Joseph to be deld unto him at ye age of sixteen years old & to Jane Woodson the daughter of ye sd Mary Woodson six ews & one Ram & two breeding mares to be deld to her with in ten months after my sd Joseph Pleasants decease, the Remainder of ye sd goods & chattlles I do give devise & bequeath unto my son John & daughter Eliza. Pleasants part & part alike to be deld unto them also with in ten Moneths after my sd Son Joseph his decease but if either of X should depart this life before that time then I give ye same to ye Survivor of them two.

Item: I give grant, devise & bequeath unto my aforesd two sons John & Joseph Pleasants all that tract or divident of land by me lately taken up about four Mile Creek part lying on sd back of Edwd Mathews 's land & Joying to Philemon Childers his land &c: contains about two thousand six hundred Acres, as also that part or tract of land taken up by John Woodson , Junr. & my self part of wch lyes on ye North Side of four Mile Creek my part of ye sd Divident being about five hundred Acres, as also the Eleven Acres x land bought of Abram Childers lying on ye South Side of four Mile Creek & Joying to ye Mill, as also the parcell of Land bought of Derby Enraughty lying on ye North side of four-mile Creek being by Estimacon fifty acres be ye same more or less; upon part of wch ye corn Mill Standeth also I give unto them ye corn Mill & Saw-mill with all Manner of Materials wch belongs to either of them & all other edifices buildings or other appurts wch is upon ye sd Sixty one acres of Land on either side of ye Creek wch now are or hereafter may be Erected on ye Same be it for ye use or Convenience of either of ye sd Mills, also I give unto thme all Utensills or things wch belongs to or wch was Sent for either of ye sd Mills be it Iron Work or what ever else belongs or appertains to them, Nothing Reserved or excepted also I give unto them all Smiths tools (as Well), Bellows, Anvill, & wt ever else belongs to them or may be accounted such, as also all Manner of Joyners & Carpenters tools wt ever wch sd Land wth ye appurts, Corn Mill & Saw Mill, Smiths Tools, Carpenters or Joyners tools & all Iron Work or else belonging or appertaining to both or either of ye sd Mills I do grant devise & bequeath unto my Sonns John Pleasants & Joseph Pleasants (all ye Lands & Mills wth their appurts) to them & to ye heirs of their bodyes forever Joyntly, that is to Say part & part alike & ye tools before menconed I give unto them for their use; and for want of such Issue I give devise & bequeath the sd Land & Mills unto my daughter Eliza. Pleasants & to ye heirs of her body forever & for lack of such issue I give grant devise & bequeath ye same unto my brothers & sisters in England wch sd Land & Mills my desire is should be sold & ye Produce thereof to be equally paid to each of them Provided all wayes & I do will & ordain by these presents That if either of my sd two sons John or Joseph Pleasants doe or shall make any suit trouble or demand in Law of or for any part of ye sd Land goods Mills that have now given unto them Joyntly other ways then according to ye true meaning purport & intent of this my last Will & testament & will not neither by any friend or relacons or else be advised or psuaded to desist from Such Courses then either of them soe doing shall clearly loose their part of ye lands & Mills & all other benifitts wch they either of them might have had thereby & that either of them Comencing any such suit trouble or demand as aforesd, or shall endeavor to Lease the Same (except it be unto his brother) to cause strife & Contention wth out his consent or knowledge & good liking if living Shall be as clearly void as if ye same had not been to him given or made. Yett my mind & will is that my Dear & loving Wife Jane Pleasants should have ye whole Profitts & increase both of ye Corn Mill & Saw mill as also all the Rents yearly & other Profitts of all my sd Land & tenements during her Naturall life & I doe freely & fully give grant & bequeath unto Friends in these parts called Quakers (wch now are or hereafter may be) that small parcell of Land by me purchased of Benja. Hatcher Joyning upon Tho. Holms 's land for a Meeting house & burying place with ye Meeting house now upon it, & ye Land purchased as aforesd I doe give devise & bequeath unto friends abovesd called Quakers for ye worship & service of God forever.

Item: I give unto my Daughter in law Mary Woodson twenty pounds sterling to be paid her in ye Country Commodityes wth twelve Moneths after my decease-

Item: I give unto my dear & loving Mother twenty pounds sterling money to be paid her wth in twelve Moneths after my decease if living by good & sufficient bills of Exchange-The rest and residue of my estate remaining unbequeathed after my debts paid and this my last will pformed

I doe wholly give grant devise & bequeath unto my Dear & loving wife Jane Pleasants (formerly wife & execx. of Samll. Tucker , decd.) whom I make & ordain my whole & sole Executrix of this my last will & testament;

Revoking & by these presents disannulling all former or other will or wills by me made or declared either by Word or Writing, & this to be taken for & remain as my last Will & testament.

In witnesse whereof I have hereunto Sett my hand & affixed my Seal the day & year aforesd. John Pleasants Seal of red wax.

Signed, seal'd ownd & declared by ye Testator as his last Will and Testament in presence of us;

John Butler Alexander MaKenny Henco County Octobr 1, 1690.

Presented in open Court pr Mr. John Pleasants & then & there by him declared to be his last Will & testament & at his request Ordere'd to be Enter'd on Record. Teste, Hen. Randolph, C. C.

The Will of John Pleasants of Curles in Henrico County, dated 27th of 7br 1690. Presented by Mr. John Pleasants & recorded at his request 1 Oct. 1698. (This same will was presented by Mr. John Pleasants at a Court held 1, Oct. 1690 and at his request, recorded.) ^[12]

Be it known unto all men by these presents that whereas I, John Pleasants of Curles, in the County of Henrico, Plantr , having made and declared my last Will and Testament in writing bearing Date the 27th day of 7br 1690 wch said will being also upon the records in Henrico County and whereas since ye making of my said Will some of the Lands then given my sonn Joseph Pleasants at Tuckahoe Creek being lost for want of seating and one hundred acres of Land called Caulsens being also given unto my sonn Joseph Pleasants but since sold to Giles Webb , and the Land given my daughter Eliza. Pleasants (vizt) that bought of Abraham Childers being abought seventy acres Joyning upon Curles Swamp as also that given her bought of Henry Rowen &c containing about four hundred acres wch two tracts of Lands being now in her & her husbands James Cocke possession (as being since maryed & conveyment to them by writing under my hand & seal since the making of my sd will as also other things given her in my sd will ye greater part also she hath all ready had ye remainder given her my will & mind is she should have with-six month after my decease, Now Kno yer as aforesd that I the said John Pleasants do by this present Coddicill confirme and rattifie the remainder of my sd last will and Testament in wch it is my reall intent and true meaning that my Dear and loving wife

Jane Pleasants whom I have made my hole and sole Executrix of my sd will should have the Land I now live upon and Orchard? (Puhard) except what she thinks fitt to lett her son John have to live upon and to make use of as also all the whole profitts of Both the mills and the rents yearly and other profitts of all other my said Lands Except what my two Sonns John and Joseph Pleasants shall live upon during her Naturall Life as well those all ready in my sd will mentioned as those hereafter given unto my sd two Sonns and Grandson Thomas Pleasants and I doe hereby give grant confirm and bequeath the same to her during her Naturall life as aforesd.

Item: I do further give and bequeath unto my sonn John Pleasants that tract or pcell of Land bought of Henry Wyat the first time at Poquenackee (o; ?) containing abought two hundred and twelve acres begining upon the lowermost lyne of the said Henry Wyats tract next to the Land wch was formerly Barth Burroughs and so to run upward to the Cattale Swamp including all the sd Land as well meadors? as else mentioned in the said Wyat sale to me for the same, also I give devise and bequeath unto my sd son John Pleasants that plantation or divident of Land by me bought of Edward Ward containing five hundred and fifty acres being part of a Tract of Land taken up by the Gilbert Elam and the said Edwd Ward hath wch two tracts or dividends of Lands as above sd I doe give and bequeath unto my sd son John Pleasants and to his heirs forever and for want of such Issue [then I give and bequeath the said Land ??? Joseph Pleasants and to his heirs for ever and for want of such Issue then

I give and bequeath the said Lands unto my daughter Eliza. Cocke and to her heirs for ever.

Item: I give and bequeath unto my son Joseph Pleasants besides what is given him in my Said will that plantacon or tract of Land, by me lately bought of Henry ??? called Poqunoke containing about three hundred and thirty acres with all the stock of cattle of mine now upon it as well male as female as also all the Hogs wch was formerly belonging to me and John Calyer with all the Horses and mares upon the said Plantacon as also I give and bequeath unto my said son Jos. Pleasants that plantacon that plantacon or divident of Land by me bought of Giles Webb containing about one hundred acres Joyning upon the head of the Land bought of Henry Wyat now given him, also I give and bequeath unto my sd son Joseph Pleasants that plantacon or tract of Land called Powhitee Swamp containing about four hundred and seventy acres wch was by me purchased of Wm. Drury &c for ye better assurance thereof of Jeremy Beuskin all wch said three tracts Plantation or dividends of Land I give and bequeath unto my sonn Joseph Pleasants as aforesaid and to his heirs for ever, and for want of such issue I give devise and Bequeath the same unto my grandson Thomas Pleasants and to his heirs for ever, and for want of such issue then I give the same to the next son or Daughter of my son John Pleasants and to his or her heirs forever and for want of such issue then I give the same unto my Grandson James Cocke and to his heirs for ever.

Item: I give and bequeath unto my grandson Thomas Pleasants that plantacon or Dividen of Land by me purchased of James Lyles containing about one hundred and fifty Acres as also that plantation or tract of Land by me purchased of James More Anthony Moore and Jno. Field containing in all three hundred thirty four acres wch sd tracts or dividends of Land I give devise and bequeath unto my sd Grand son and to his heirs forever/and for want of such issue y n i give ye sd Lad unto ye next male child of my sd son John Pleasants & his heirs for ever//and for want of such issue then I give and bequeath unto my Son Joseph Pleasants and to his heirs for ever as also I give and bequeath unto my sd Grand son Thomas Pleasants and to his heirs for ever all that Land by me lately taken up Joy ing upon the land above given him being about one thousand acres be it more or less and for want of such Issue then I give the same to the heirs ??? formerly given his other Land to (vizt) to my son John next sonnes to his heirs and for want of said Issue then I give the same into my sonn Joseph Pleasants and to his heirs for ever and my will and meaning is that this Codicill or scheduall-be and be adjudged to be part and prcell of my said last will & testament and that all things herein contayned and mentioned be faithfully and truly performed as fully and amply in every Respect as if the sd last will and Testament-In Witness whereof I have hereunto sett my hand and affixed my Seal this 11th day of 3 called May 1697 . m John Pleasants

Signd, seald and deled by the Subscriber as his act & Deed in prsence of Entered upon Record by Order of Court upon the prayer of Mrs. Jane Pleasants. Pr. James Cocke, Cl. Cur." ^[14]