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In the name of God, Amen, I Robert Mays of Amherst County being in my proper senses and knowing the certainty of death, and the uncertainty of the time it may happen, do make and ordain this my last will and testament in manner and form following ( to wit)
I give to my son Jesse Mays one hundred and six acres of land, it being part of the tract of Land I purchased of Wm Tucker, whereon the said Jesse Mays has built and is now living,
Item I give to my son Pearce the ballance of the tract of land I purchase from Wm Tucker,
Item I give to my beloved wife Susannah the tract of land whereon I now live during her natural life, and at her death to be equally divided between my two sons Joseph B Mays and Ballinger Mays,
Item I give to my Joseph B Mays one sorrel mare mare [sic] a feather bed and furniture and a cow and calf;
Item I give to my son Ballenger Mays a sorrel mare (called Dimond), a feather bed and furniture and a cow and calf,
Item I give to my daughter Polly Mays one Negroe Girl named Sarah, a sorrel horse colt (out of mare called Kitty) a feather bed and furniture and a cow and calf,
The whole of the ballance of my estate I wish to remain in possession of my wife during her natural life and at her death for the whole with its increase to be equally divided between my childrfen above named, to wit Jesse, Pearce, Joseph B., Ballenger and Polly Mays, to theirs and to their heirs forever.
Finally I appoint my trusty friends Charles Tucker, J Smith and my son Pearce Mays Executors to this my last will and testament.
Given under my hand and seal this third day of June One Thousand Eight Hundred and Six.
At a Court held for Amherst County the 18th day of July 1808 this last will and testament of Robert Mays deceased was proven by the oaths of Charles Taliaferro, and Jas Clements, three witnesses thereto and ordered to be recorded. And Charles Tucker, John Smith and Pearce Mays the Executors named in said Will personally came into Court and qualified according to Law and together with John Crawford and John Fulcher their securities entered into and acknowledged their Bond in the penalty of $5000 current money conditioned as the law directs.