Notes for 4 Philip Burrow #3

Sources: James R. Blanks author of Burrow Family History, Gerald Burrow, and Jay Burrow

Will of Philip Burrow
Deed Book C, Page 97
Sussex County Virginia

  In the name of God amen, I Philip Burrow, Senr. of the County of Dinwiddie, being of perfect sense and memory, thanks be to almighty God for the same, and knowing that it is appointed for all men to die do make and ordain this to be my last will and testament in manner and form following that is to say Imprimis, I will that all my just debts and funeral expenses be first paid and discharged.

Item; I give and bequeath unto my daughter Mary, one Negro boy, Aaron son of Sue to her and her heirs forever.

Item; I give and bequeath unto my son in law James Magnum, fifty acres of land whereon he now lives (be the same more or less) and bonded as followeth to wit; Beginning at the Reedy branch on the Whitfield's line, thence along my line to the county road, thence along the said road to the corner of my fence to the bottom; thence down the bottom to the branch; thence up the branch to the beginning, to him and his heirs forever. I also give to my said son in law James Magnum, one Negro boy named Lewis to him and his heirs forever.

Item; I give and bequeath unto my son in law William Martin, one Negro girl name Chloe, daughter of Doll, and her increase to him, and his heirs forever, also twenty five pounds cash and to be paid him by my executors whom I shall hereafter appoint.

Item; I give and bequeath unto my son Gray Burrow, two Negroes named Bob and Isaac to him and his heirs forever.

Item; I lend unto my dear and well beloved wife Martha Burrow the use of the plantation and tract of land whereon I now live containing three hundred and ninety acres (be the same more or less) together with all my household and kitchen furniture, stocks of all kinds, during her life or widowhood, and after her death or marriage then I give the said land, household and kitchen furniture together with stocks of all kinds to my son Gray Burrow to him and his heirs forever. I also lend my wife during her life or widowhood, two Negroes Tony and Sue, and after her death or marriage then I give the said Negroes, Tony and Sue to my son Gray Burrow to him and his heirs forever.

Item; I lend unto my dear and well beloved wife during her life three Negroes Indian Sue, Doll, and Phyllis and their increases, and after her death then I give the said wench Philips and her increase to my son Gray Burrow, to him and his heirs forever. And the other two, Sue and Doll and their increase to be equally divided between my children, to wit, Jerrold, Phillip, Martha, Mary, Gray and two sons in law James Magnum and William Martin to them and there heirs forever. My will and desire is that there be neither inventory nor appraisement of my estate.

And lastly, I do nominate and appoint my wife Martha Burrow executrix, and my son Gray Burrow executor to this last will and testament, revoking all other wills by me formerly made. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this thirteenth day of October, one thousand seven hundred and seventy seven.

Signed sealed published declared to be his last will and testament
Edward Watt, Gray Burrow, John Dixon  

At a Court held for Dinwiddie County in March one thousand seven hundred & seventy eighty; The last will and testament of Philip Burrow deed was exhibited into Court by Gray Burrow the executor therein named and proved by the oath of Henry Burrow one of the witnesses thereto. And at another court held for the said county in the month of April following the same was further proved by the oaths of Edward Wyatt and John Dixon the other witnesses thereto, and ordered to be recorded. And on the motion of the said executor, who made oath thereto according to Law, and having, together with Edward Walker and John Dixon his securities, entered into and acknowledged their bond in the penalty of ten thousand pounds, conditioned as the Law directs, certificate is granted him for obtaining a probate thereof in due form.

Teste Jno. Nicholas CDCu A copy teste Edm. Gee, DC
From this information  we can assume that Phillip and Martha were fairly wealthy.  

According to the Tax records for Dinwiddie County during 1787-1798, Martha was taxed on 135 acres. This would indicate that she must have died around 1798-1799 .