Amanuensis Monday: Henry's Estate

"In the name of God, Amen.  I Henry Wellons of the County if Southampton being weak of body but of sound memory do make and ordain this my last will and testament in manner and form as follows that is to say - First I give and bequeath to my loving wife Elenor Wellons the use of all my Estate of what nature or kind soever during her natural life or widowhood, and after the death or widowhood of my wife Elenor I give and bequeath my Estate aforesaid to be equally divided amongst all my children that may then be living all shear and shear alike to them their heirs and assigns forever.

I do hereby constitute and appoint my loving wife Elenor Wellons my Executor of this my last will and testament.  In Willings whereof I have hereunto set my hand I seal this tenth day of June one thousand seven hundred and seventy nine

Signed, seald in presence of                                               Henry  + (his mark) Wellons   {seal}
Thomas Lane
Henry Powers

At a court held for the county of Southampton the 13th day of Mary 1784
This will was presented in court by Elenor Wellons the Executrix therein
named and proved by the oath of Thomas Lain one of the witnesses the therein
who also deposed that he saw Henry Powers the other witness /who is said
dead/ sign his name theirto at the publishing thereof and was ordered to
be recorded.  And on the motion of the said Executrix who made oath accor-
ding to law a certificate is granted her for obtaining a Probat thereof in
due form giving feverty.  Whereupon se"

Southampton Co., Virginia Will Book 4, pages 58 and 59.

"An Inventory and appraisement of the Estate of Henry Wellons dead.
1 cow and heifer...............£9.5.0
1 Bull and a yearling...........1.7.-
1 Cow and a calf................2.--
2 Sows and 7 Sheats[?]......2.15.-
4 Sheep..............................1.4.-
3 feather beds and furniture.5.15.-
1 flap wheel.........................-.10.-
1 woollen wheel...................-.5.-
2 chests...............................-.8.-
1 Table and 2 chairs............-.3.6
1 stone jug and 4 bottles.....-.2.7
carried over     £17.15.1

Brought over......................£17.15.1
2 Basins, 2 dishes and 5 plates......-.17.3
1 looking glass and box[?] iron[?]...-.7.6
7 spoons and a pepper box............-.2.0
1 frying pan and 6 hoes..................-.9.-
1 whip[?] san[?].............................1.10.-
1 Gun, sword and bayonet..............-.10.-
1 plough hoe and 3 oxes[?].............-.11.-
1 iron pot and 2 pair of hooks.........-.2.-
3 piggins and 2 trays.......................-.5.6
5 Cyder casks................................-.5.-
     £22.14.4  Elender +(her mark) Wellons, Extr.
                     Sam. Pitman
                     Wm. Wellons} appraiser
                     Thos. Lain} appraiser
At a court held for the county of Southampton the 8th day of July 1784.  This inventory and appraisment of the Estate of Henry Wellons dead, was this day returned and ordered to be recorded."

Southampton Co., Virginia Will Book 4, page 67

"The last will and testament of Henry Wellons dead, was presented in court by Elenor Wellons
the executrix therein named proved by the oath of Thomas Lane Sr.[?] of the witnesses thereto who also
deposed that he saw Henry Powers another witness who is since dead sign his name thereto
at the publishing thereof and ordered to be recorded.  And on the motion of the said executrix who
made oath according to law certificate is granted her for obtaining a probat thereof in due form
giving security.  Whereupon the said Elenor Wellons with Thomas Lain her security entered unto and acknowledged their bond in the penalty of Two hundred pounds for the said Elenor
due and faithful administration on the estate of the said decedent and performance of his will

Ordered that Thomas Lain, William Wellons, Sampson Pitman and Charles Powers or an three of them being first sworn before a justice of the peace for this county do appraise in current money the slaves /if any/ and personal estate of Henry Wellons dead, and return the appraisement to the next court"

Southampton Co., Virginia Court Order Book 1778-1784, page 387

If you have ancestors from Southampton Co., consider yourself lucky because the Brantley Association has been diligently indexing and scanning pages of these early records and making them available online here.
 
[I am descended from Henry and Elenor's son, also Henry.  I do not know Elenor's maiden name but after reading these estate papers, I have to wonder if she is in some way related to Thomas Lain/Lane or the Powers family.]