Source Information

Short, E. B. “Unrecorded Wills of Dinwiddie County.” Virginia Genealogical Society Quarterly, vol. 10, no. 1, January 1972, p. 3-13.

Note: The article has no introductory notes, and no notes following the transcribed wills. Presumably these unrecorded wills were found by Mrs. Short at the Dinwiddie County, VA Courthouse. The following transcription is on the top of p. 5 of the above-mentioned article (with spelling, capitalization, sentence structure & punctuation as shown in the article).

FRANCIS POYTHRESS
In the name of God Amen. I Francis Poythress being in health of [illegible] and of a sound disposing mind but calling to mind the mortality of my body do make and ordain this my last will and Testament in manner and form following in primis
I give devise and bequeath unto my loving wife all my estate of every kind that I do possess Reserving unto my Daughter Mary Peterson Randolph which I give five shillings which said sum I give unto my daughter to her and her heirs forever.
Item. Whereas there was a marriage contract between my wife and myself and whereas the true intent and meaning of the said writing was that my said wife was to enjoy and have the full and free disposal of all the Estate of every kind that came by her without the [ ? ] or hindrance of me and my Heirs. Now if there should be any deficiences in the said writing so as to [illegible] my Heirs to any of the property [illegible] my wife my will and desire is and I do hereby revoke all such claim and desire that my wife and her Heirs should enjoy all the Estate that came by her without the hindrance or molestation of my Heirs. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 10th Day of December Anno Dommini 1796.
Francis Poythress

Signed sealed Published and
declared in presence of
Reuben Wilkinson
Robert Reese