In the Name of God Amen. The Twenty ninth day of August
in the year of our Lord God One thousand Seven hundred and
Seventy five I Cecelia Stokes of the Parish of Albemarle and
County of Sussex being of perfect mind + memory do make
and ordan this my last Will + Testament as followeth that is
to say, first and Principally I commend my Soul to God that
gave it and my Body to the Earth to be decently Buried at
the discretion of my Executors hereafter named and as
___ such worldly ___ hath pleased God to
bless me with, I give -- devise & dispose of the same
in manner + form following,

 

 

I give and bequeath to my son Micajah Stokes Two Negroes now in
his possession viz: Jesse and Emanuel
My Will and desire is that all my Wearing apparel + Books[?] be
equally divided between[?] my Daughters that shall be living at my
Death --
My Will and desire is that all the residue of my estate of what
kind soever be sold and the money arising from such sale after
my Debts + Funeral expenses be paid be equally divided among
my children that shall be living at my Death except my Son
Micajah Stokes which I exclude having given him what I intend[?]
as before, and except my daughter Elizabeth Knight, for I
desire Thirty Pounds may be taken out of her Porportion [sic] of my
estate In consideration of the use of a Negroe they have had in
my lifetime
And I do hereby appoint, constitute and Ordain my two sons
Marcus Stokes + Silvanus Stokes sole executors of this my last
Will & Testament + do hereby disannul revoke and make Void
all former Wills + Testament whatsoever ratifying + confirming
this + none other to be my last Will + Testament Sealed with my
Seal and dated the day & year above written
    Acknowledged in presence of
    Silvanus Bell                                       Cecilia Stokes {seal}
    Nathaniel Newsom
    Robert Jones

At a Court held for Sussex County the 19th day of Oct. 1786
The last Will + Testament of Cecilia Stokes was presented in Court
and proved by the Oaths of Robert Jones + Silvanus Bell two of
the witnesses thereto and ordered to be recorded + on Motion of
Hamlin Stokes Freeman administration with the Will
annexed is granted him he gave Bond with John Knight
and Isham Gilliam his securities on the Penalty of Two
Thousand pounds conditioned as the law directs
                          Teste Michl [Michael] Bailey