1698 Will of Richard Baker

Richard Baker (I) died in 1698. His will divided his property (land, slaves, and livestock) among his children and his sons-in-law. He left Archdale Hall Plantation to his eldest son Edward. However, Edward did not live to inherit so his brother William received the plantation. Below is a transcribed copy of the will.

In this transcription abbreviations, spellings, and punctuation marks have been preserved. Line breaks also remain intact, as well as column structure. Indentations and spacing are difficult to replicate on the Web and may be distorted or omitted. [?] represents an unknown word.

                                          Will of
                                    Richard Baker

In y^e Name of God Amen I richard Baker of this province Esq^r be-
ing Sick of Body but of Sound Judm.^t & perfect Memory praised be
to almighty God for y^e Same & knowing y^e frailty of this Mortal
Life do make this my last Will & Testam^t in manner & form follow-
ing Imprimis I will and Bequeath my Soul to God my Creator & my
Body to y^e ground from whence it was taken there to be Interrd
in Christian manner & as for w^t temporal Estate it hath Pleased
God to Endow me w^th in this Province I Give & Bequeath in manner
& form following, I Give to my Son Edward this house & Plantation
Great Jack his Wife & four Children also Tom his Wife & Son, I
Give to my Son William Pegg, Andrew, little abraham & little
franck, to my Son John Mingo Ansebah her three Children & Cuddye
to my Son in Law Jn^o Palmer Hector his Wife daughter & y^e Boy
Jammey to My Son in Law W^m Canty Negro franck & his two Children
flower & her Children to my daughter Elizabeth Negro Will his
Wife & her five Children     Negro Bek I Give to my daughter Eliz-
abeth twenty head of Cattle which s^d Cattle are to be numbred
w^th those my Son richard Left her, I Give twenty head of Cattle
to my Son Jn^o Baker & one of y^e Mares To my Son in Law W^m Canty
a Stone Colt, I order y^e whole Stock of Sheep to be equally di-
vided amongst my Children, I order a horse & Mare for y^e Planta-
tion use I Give to my Son y^e       one hundred acres whereon he
is now Settled also three hundred acres Joining upon my Son W^m
Canty I Order [?] Moreah if she doth well to my Son John Palmer I
order old robbin & old Betty for y^e Plantation use I give to my
Son in Law Jn^o Palmer Six Cowes & Calves to my Son in Law W^m
Canty Six Cowes & Calves to my Son W^m Baker Six Cowes & Calves,
to my Son John Baker one feather Bedd I order all y^e remaneing
part of my Cattle to y^e Plantation use I Do hereby alsoe Nominate
ordain & appoint my Loveing Wife Elizabeth Baker Sole Executex
of this my Last Will & Testam.^t disallowing of all other Wills or
Testam.^ts by me or in my name made ratifying & Confirming this as
my Last Will and Testam.^t In Witness I have here Sett my hand &
Seale this twenty Eight day of January Anno. Dom.   169 ^7/8

W^m Canty                                       Richard Baker (Seale)
James Hulbert

Recorded in Original Will Book 1687-1710
Recorded on Page 23