County of Hampshire

Be it remembered that on the sixteenth day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy seven 1777, I, Robert Denton of Hampshire County in the colony of Virginia yeoman being very sick and weak of Body but of perfect mind and memory thanks be given to God therefore calling to mind the mortality of my body and knowing that it is appointed for all men once to dye do make and ordain this my last will and testament that is to say principally and first of all I give and recommend my soul unto the hands of God that gave it and for my body I recommend it to the earth to be buried in a Christian like decent manner at the discretion of Executors and for any such worldly estate where with it that pleased God to Bless me with in this life I give and devise and depose of the same in the following manner and form.

IMPRIMIS it is my will and I do order that in the first place all my last debts and funeral charges be paid and satisfied.

ITEM I give and bequeath unto Jane Denton my dearly beloved wife the use and benifit of the Plantation which I now lives on during her natural life as she continues my widow and after her death or marage to goe to my soninlaw Joel Robinson unto him his Heirs and assigns forever. The said Joel Robinson to pay unto my son Jacob Denton oldest son Robert Denton the sum of one hundred and fifty pounds good and lawfull money of Virginia to be paid at my beloved wife's decease if the said Robert should become of age of twenty one years - but not to be paid till he comes to that age. ITEM I give and bequeath unto my dearly beloved wife one full third part of my moveable estate to her own proper use for ever.

ITEM I give and bequeath unto my oldest son Jacob Denton a certain track of land containing eighty acres that lies joining his own plantation to him his heirs and assigns for ever.

ITEM I give and beueath unto my second son John Denton one negro boy two year old next May the boys name is Gilburd to him his heirs and assigns for ever.

ITEM I give and bequeath unto my third son Thomas Denton the sum of five shilings as an acknowledgement.

ITEM I give and bequeath unto my soninlaw John Crow the sum of five shilings as an acknowledgement.

ITEM I give and bequeath unto my soninlaw David Williams the sum of five shilings as an acknowledgement.

ITEM I give and bequeath unto my son Jacob Denton and John Denton and my soninlaw Joel Robinson all the remaining part of my moveable estate to be equally divided amongst them and their heirs but to be continued on the place and not divided till after my beloved wife's decease.

ITEM I do hereby constitute make and ordain my liveing sons Jacob Dentain and Joel Robinson my only and sole executors of this my last will and testament and I do hereby verily disallow revoke and disanull all and every other former testament wills legacies and executors by me in any Ways before this time named willed and bequeathed ratifying and confirming this and other to be my last will and testament in witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the day and year above written.

At a Court held for Hampshire County the 12th day of May 1778 --

This last will and testament of Robert Denton Deceased was presented in court by Jacob Denton and Joel Robinson the executors therein named Proved by the oaths of the witnesses thereto and ordered to be recorded. And on the motion of the said Executors who made oath according to Law. Certificate is granted them for obtaining a probate thereof in due form giving security. Whereupon they together with Stephen Ruddell and John McNeer. Their securities entered into and acknowledged a bond in the penalty of two thousand pounds for their due and faithful administration of the said decedents estate and performances of his will.

(NOTE: Robert Denton is my 6th great-grandfather. Through the DENTON & CLAYPOOL/E lines intermarrying a few times, the parents of my mother were 6th cousins once removed, 6th cousins and 9th cousins.) Antoinette