Last Will and Testament
John Drewry (1805 - 1848)
Southampton County, Va.

In the name of God, Amen. I, John Drewry, of the County of Southampton and State of Virginia, do hereby make and publish this to be my last will and testament in manner and form following, that is to say:
Item 1st I give unto my daughter, Mary Jane Drewry, one negro woman named Olive and her two children Coleman and Rich provided the said woman be alive and considered to be sound and the future increase but should the said woman not be alive and considered to be sound then it is my will and desire that she shall have the choice of my female negroes also one thousand dollars and equal portion of my whole estate not hereafter given away.
Item 2nd I give unto my son, William H. Drewry, my gold watch to him and his heirs forever.
Item 3rd It is my will and desire that the whole of my lands shall be equally divided between my two sons William H. and James H. Drewry and should either of them die before arriving to lawful age or marrying and bearing an issue then it is my will that my surviving son shall heir the whole of my lands and should both of them die before arriving to lawful age and leaving no issue then it is my will that my daughters or their descendants shall heir the same. It is my will and desire that the profits arising from the rents to be applied as I have willed the land that is to my sons I also will to each of my two sons an equal portion such of my whole estate not before nor hereafter disposed of to them and their heirs forever.
Item 4th I give unto my daughter, Martha Francis Drewry, one negro girl named Luser and her increase provided the said negro is living and considered to be sound after my death and the same as to Olive given Mary Jane, that is to be alive and sound after my death but should the same girl be dead or considered not to be sound then it is my will that she the said Martha F. shall have her choice of any of my female negroes excepting the one which is given to Mary Jane I also give my said daughter Martha Francis one thousand dollars and an equal portion of my whole estate not heretofore or hereafter disposed of to her and her heirs forever.
Item 5th It is my will and desire that in the event of the death of any of my children before arriving to lawful age or marrying that the survivor or survivors shall heir the deceased portion which they would if living be entitled to.
Item 6th It is my will and desire that my executor shall use any money belonging to my estate to keep in repair my Harris and Phipps plantation such as building or repairing the houses in such a manner as he may think beneficial in those places renting for the best price as it is my will and intention that the whole of my lands shall be rented out until my son William H. Drewry arrives to the age of twenty one at which time I wish my lands as before named equally divided between my two sons William H. and James H. Drewry provided they both be living.
Item 7th It is my will and desire and by this I fully authorize my executor to use any money due my estate for the education of my children or for any other purpose which he may consider necessary for their welfare health and promotion.
Item 8th In case I have no child to live to arrive to the age of twenty one years or marry I give unto my nephew James B. Lundy one thousand dollars.
Item 9th In case I have no child to live to arrive to the age of twenty one years or marry I give unto my brother Samuel Drewry all my lands except Harris plantation and Hays old field including the place I live on the blue pond tract Phipps tract and all the land lying in front of my house on the south side of the road leading from my house to James Drewry's down to a hickory tree standing on the south side of said road not far from the where the old school house formerly stood from the said hickory running a direct line to an oak corner in my line near James D. Westbrook's barn. I also give him one half of my whole estate excepting the amount bequeathed James B. Lundy to him and his heirs forever.
Item 10th In case I have no child to arrive to the age of twenty years or marry I give unto my brother James Drewry my Harris Plantation I also give him the lands lying on the south side of the road looking from my residence to his marking the two white oaks which stands on the south side of the said road or corner between him and my brother Samuel from three oaks up the road by an apple tree to a hickory standing on the south side of said road which hickory is alluded to in the above item from said tree to be in a corner running a direct line to an oak in corner in my line near James D. Westbrook's barn as above item alludes to including Hays old field I also give him one half of my whole estate excepting what is not heretofore disposed of to him and his heirs fervor.
Item 11th The three last items say the 8th, ninth and tenth is obvious to be even they are intended not to have a bearing unless all of my children should die and leaving no issue to enjoy my estate under such circumstances these items referred to is my will.
Item 12th And, lastly, I do hereby constitute, nominate and appoint my brother Samuel Drewry and in case he should not act my brother James Drewry guardian for my children and my whole and sole executor to this my last will and testament hereby revoking all others heretofore by me made and declaring this to be my last in witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed by seal this 28th day of July in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and forty six.

In the 6th item of the above will I have authorized my executors to use any money due my estate for the purpose of building or keeping my buildings in repair on my different plantations. My will and desire is this amount expended for the purpose shall be taken out of the rents of the lands in witness my hand and seal this 28th day of July 1846

It is my will and desire that the tract of land I purchased of Byrd Lundy lying in the upper part of Southampton and a part of Greenville is to (Need to verify to original.) (appvan) more fully being the land conveyed to me by William B. Westbrook to be sold at such time and on such (Need to verify to original.) (ersdels) as my executor may think best and the money arising from the sale thereof to be equally divided between my four children or their descendants and should either child bearing no issue them to the survivor. I also give to my daughter Mary Jane my piano. It is further my will and desire that my executor shall not give security for his administration of my estate. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 21st day of Dec., 1848

John Drewry