Description:

Slavery
Norfolk County, VA, January 10, 1752
Great Slave Content in Colonial Virginia Will, Rare
MDS
Through this will, Virginia planter Edward Lewelling divided seventeen enslaved African Americans by name among his wife, nine of their children, and a godson. Lewelling made this will in January 1752, and it was probated in August of the same year. In August 1754, his widow remarried to Peter Dyer. Also in 1754, Lemuel Veale (ca. 1714-1756), the father of Edward Lewelling's godson George Veale (d. 1773), sued Margaret Lewelling, perhaps for the portion of Edward Lewelling's estate promised to George Veale, the enslaved African-American "girl called Hannah." The opinion by Ben Waller at the end of the will may be related to this case or another one that arose in the administration of the estate.

[SLAVERY.] Samuel Boush II, Manuscript Document Signed, Copy of Edward Lewelling, Last Will and Testament, January 10, 1752, [Norfolk County, Virginia]. Probated in August 1752. Opinion by Ben Waller at end. 2 pp., 8" x 13". Some separation on folds; small holes at intersections of folds; soiling; toning.

Complete Transcript
"In the Name of God Amen I Edward Lewelling of Norfolk County in Virginia Imprimus
"Item I Give my Dearly beloved Wife Margaret Lewelling the use of the dwelling House where I now live & all the Houses belonging thereunto during her Widowhood & if she marry Again my Will is that my Son Thomas Lewelling shall deliver to her the House wherein he now dwells with the Kitchen which she shall have the use of during her Natural Life. I also Give my said Wife a Negro fellow called Canan also a Negro boy called Jeffery also a Negro Girl Called Phebee & a Negro fellow called Tom which said Negros I give to her during her Natural Life & also one Negro Girl called China & at her decease the sd five Negroes to be Equally divided between my Son Lewelling & Lettetia Lewelling.
"Item I Give my Son John Lewelling a Negro boy called Harry to him & His Heirs forever Lawfully begotten of his Body I also give to my the use of all my Negroes that I shall Give to my Children until they come to the age of twenty one years or do marry. I also Give to my wife the third part of my Houshold Goods during her Natural Life & after her decease to be Equally divided between all my Children I also Constitute & Appoint my Wife Margt Lewelling & Thomas Lewelling to be Joint Executrix & Executor of this my Last Will & Testament.
"Item I Give to my son Thomas Lewelling the mannor Plantation whereon I now dwell which I bought of John Tully fulfilling what I have above given to my Wife to him & the Heirs of his body lawfully begotten & if he the said Thomas offers to sell or Transfer the said Land so bequeathed to him then my Will is that my said Mannor Plantation may be Invested in my son Lewis & if he die without Lawful Heir then my Will is that the said Plantation may remain in the Possession of my son Lewis Lewelling I also give my son Thomas Lewelling a Negro Wench called Dina a Feather Bed & furniture which he has the said Bed lent to him a Chest of Drawers made of Mahogany six leather Chairs a large Looking Glass which said Articles not to be removed out of the House I also give him my long Gun and if he the Thomas Complys with this my Last will & Testament in regard to my Wife then my Will is that the said Land bequeathed shall be Invested in him and his Heirs forever.
"Item I Give and Bequeath unto my Son Benjamin Lewelling the Land and Plantation which I bought of John Green to him and his Heirs Lawfully begotten and if my son Benjamin Offers to Sell or Transfer the said Land to any Person or if he dies without Lawful Heirs then my Will is that the said Land fall to my son Edward Lewelling I also Give my Son Benjamin a Negro Man called Dick and a feather Bed and furniture which he has already lent to him one small Gun he not coming in for any more of my Estate & my Will is that my son Thomas may not come in for any Part of my Estate more than what is already Given to him.
"I Give and Bequeath to my Son Edward Lewelling a Negro Man named Jemmy & a Negro Girl called Kate to him & the Heirs of his Body Lawfully begotten forever
"Item I Give to my Son Lewis Lewelling two Negro boys Named Peter & London to him & the Heirs of his body Lawfully begotten forever if he die without Heir my will is that the Negro London go to my Son Thomas Lewelling for want of such Heirs then My Will is that my Negro Peter go to my Son Edward Lewelling.
"Item I Give to my Daughter Elizabeth Bustin a Negro Girl Called Affia to her & the Heirs of her Body Lawfully begotten forever I also Giver her a flowered Truck which was her Mothers.
"Item I give to my Godson George Veale a negro Girl called Hannah to him & the Heirs of his Body Lawfully begotten forever he not coming for any more of my Estate.
"Item I Give and bequeath to my Daughter Lydia Ewell a Molotto Girl called Nanny to her and the Heirs of her body Lawfully begotten of he[r] body forever.
"Item I give & bequeath to my Daughter Mary Lewelling and the Heirs of her Body Lawfully begotten a Negro Wench called Sarah.
"I Give and bequeath to my Daughter Lettitia Lewelling & the Heirs of her Body Lawfully begotten a Negro Girl called Rachel And all the Rest of my Estate not already disposed of my Will is that if my Estate at my Decease is found to be in Debt then my Will and desire is that so much of my Estate may be Sold such as Cattle Sheep Hogs &c to pay off such Lawful Debts my Will is that it be Equally Divided between my son Edward, Lewis my Daughter Elizabeth Lydia Mary Lettitia Lettie & John Lewelling to be divided by two Indifferent Men chosen by my Children, Revoking Disannulling & making Void all & all manner of Will & Wills by me heretofore by me made ratifying and Confirming this & none other to be my Last Will & Testament. In Witness whereof I have hereunto sett my hand and Seal this Tenth Day of January in the year of our Lod One Thousand Seven Hundred & Fifty two
"Edward Lewelling O Seal
"Signed Sealed & Ackd to be the Last Will & Testamt of Edward Lewelling in the presence of us
"Henry Hughs / Jos Gibson / Thos Campbell
"Copy Saml Boush Ck Ct

"I am of Opinion that ye Widow of ye Testator will have only a Right to the Houses devised her by this Will & not to any Lands besides that on which they stand by this Will & where a Woman died Intestate leaving a Negro & some Personal Estate & a Daughter & Grand Children by another daughter [then the Right?] descends to the Daughters & ye Eldest Son of the deceased Daughter equally & ye Personal Estate ought to go one half to ye Daughter & ye other half equally among ye Children of ye deceasd Daughter
"Ben Waller"

Note: The apparent absence of several words throughout this copy suggests that clerk Boush or Burgess Waller prepared it poorly and perhaps hurriedly.

Edward Lewelling Jr. (ca. 1673-1752) was born in Norfolk County, Virginia. He became a planter and married Margaret Rose Chollmondeley in ca. 1695. They had ten children, five sons and five daughters.

Samuel Boush II served as the first borough clerk for Norfolk, Virginia, beginning in 1736. He was the son of Samuel Boush I, who had been named in the charter as the first mayor. However, the elder Boush died before the first borough council meeting, so George Newton was named mayor in his place. Samuel Boush II served as burgess for Norfolk County (1752-1755) and clerk of Norfolk County (1742-1774).

Ben Waller (1716-1786) was born in King William County to an attorney and burgess and was a member of the First Families of Virginia. He was admitted to the Virginia Bar by 1738 and began serving as King's Attorney in Gloucester County. He also served as clerk of the James City County court and the general court for several years. He represented James City County in the House of Burgesses from 1744 to 1761. During the Revolutionary War, he was a patriot and served on the Williamsburg Committee of Safety from December 1774. As clerk of the courts, he read the Declaration of Independence on the Williamsburg courthouse steps on July 25, 1776. In 1777, he was appointed as presiding judge of the court of admiralty in Williamsburg. From 1779 to 1785, he served as a judge on the first Court of Appeals in Virginia.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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