Davis Family Wills and Records
Brunswick County, VA
Will Book 4, Part 1, Brunswick Co, VA, 
by Dr. Stephen E. Bradley, Jr.
Submitted by Audrey Pool

 
Source:  Will Book 4, Part 1, Brunswick Co, VA:
By Dr Stephen E. Bradley, Junior
 
“Will of William DAVIS     17 Sep 1771   24 Aug 1772
‘sick in body’

   To my wife Martha – the use of my land while she is single 
until my son John DAVIS is age 21 & then I lend to her half 
of my said land during her life or widowhood; also lend to her 
Negroes Jo & James during her life or widowhood & then they to 
be sold & the money divided among my children.
   To my son John – half my land when he is age 21 & after the 
death or marriage of my wife I give him the other half of my land; 
also Negro girl Tab at age 21.
   To my daughter Nancy DAVIS – Negro girl Grace at age 18.
   To my daughter Mary DAVIS – Negro girl Dinah at age 18.
The residue of my estate after my debts are paid I lend to my wife 
during her life or widowhood.
   I appoint my wife Martha DAVIS guardian to my 3 children, namely, 
John, Nancy & Mary.
   Other provisions.
Ex:  my wife, my brother Benjamin DAVIS.
Wit:  Amy (x) THOMPSON, Dedmund ROW, John JONES.
Probate indicates that the said widow renounced all rights under 
the will, that Moses QUARLES & Peter THOMPSON were her securities, 
& an order for letters of administration with the will annexed was 
given.”
 

“Will of William (x) DAVIS – 23 March 1773   26 April 1773
   To my son William – the land I now live on; also Negro fellow Jack, 
   wench Tab.
   To my son Charles – my Negro wench Lusey, boy Frank.
   The rest of my Negroes to be divided among John DAVIS, Frederick 
DAVIS, Jessee DAVIS, Thomas DAVIS, Patty ROSSER; the rest of my estate 
to be divided between William DAVIS & Charles DAVIS. 

Ex:  William & Charles DAVIS. 
Wit:  David ROSSER, Ben CHEATHAM, Eads SMITH.
Probate indicates that William DAVIS qualified with John BREWER 
& Benjamin RIVES as his securities.”


 
“Will of Thomas DAVIS   30 Nov 1778   22 Feb 1779
Of Meherrin Parish.  ‘sick and weak’
   After debts are paid, I wish the rest of my estate sold & the 
money divided among my brothers & sister, John DAVIS, Frederick DAVIS, 
Jesse DAVIS, & Martha ROSSER.
Ex:  Frederick DAVIS, Sterling HARRIS.
Probate indicates that Frederick DAVIS qualified with John PRITCHETT 
& Lewis THORP his securities.”


 
Source:  Will Book 5, Brunswick Co, VA:  Ibid
 
“Will of Peterson THWEATT  25 Aug 1779   27 Sep 1779
‘very sick & weak in body’
   To my wife Rebecca – lend to her during her widowhood all my 
estate except my Negro Long Fib & her 2 children Peg & Anthoney; 
these I wish to be sold to discharge my debts.
   All the remainder of my estate to be kept on the plantation & the 
profits to support my wife & children;  after here death or marriage, 
I wish my estate to be divided between my son John Peterson THWEATT & 
the child my wife is now pregnant with if a son; if not, I give all my 
land to my son John Peterson THWEATT & the remainder of my estate to be 
divided between them; if either die before age 21, my estate to go to 
the other; should both die before age 21 or marriage, then my estate to 
be divided among my brothers James THWEATT & Thomas THWEATT, & my sisters 
Tabitha HAMILTON, & Sarah MITCHELL.
Ex:  my wife Rebecca THWEATT, my brother James THWEATT, my friend 
John TURNER.
Wit:  Sam DAVIS, Archable DANCY, Mary (x) SLATE, Sally (x) DAVIS.
Probate indicates that James THWEATT qualified with John HAMILTON & 
Robert RIVERS his securities.”
 

Source:  Will Book 6, Brunswick Co, VA:  Ibid
 
“Will of William PRITCHETT  3 (torn)  4 Sep 1795
Of St Andrews Parish.  ‘sick and weak in body’
   To my wife Susanna – 6 painted rush bottomed chairs, side saddle, 
1 feather bed & furniture, & all rights I have to any part of the estate 
devised to her by her father Richard BAGWELL; also, after my debts are 
paid, I leave to her for her life all my personal estate, including money, 
Negroes, livestock, & after her death this to be divided among my then 
surviving children.  
   To my son in law Hezekiah DAVIS during his wife Mary’s life – the 
plantation they live on which is on the west side of Little Creek joining 
SAMPSONS Branch, POTTS; after her decease, I give the said land to my 
grandson Sterling DAVIS son of Hezekiah & Mary DAVIS.
   The rest of the plantation I now live on I leave to my wife during 
her life & after her decease I give the part of the west side of 
Little Creek to my grandson Sterling DAVIS and the (rest?) of my land 
I give to my grandson Moses PRITCHETT (son o?) William PRITCHELL, Jr.
   To my daughter Anne POTTS – 10 shillings.
   To my daughter Mary DAVIS – 10 shillings.
   To my daughter Agness RAWLINGS – 10 shillings.
   To my son Moses PRITCHETT – 10 shillings.
   To my son William PRITCHETT – shillings.
Ex:  my wife Susanna PRITCHELL, Drury BAGWELL.
Wit:  William ROBERTS, Jeremiah HAMPTON, Samuel BAGWELL.”
 
James & Benja DAVIS are the excrs for the estate of John ROSE, 1795.*
 
Phebe DAVIS is a daughter of Charles FLOYD and named on his will, 
22 Dec 1795.

 
Source:  Will Book 7, IBID
 
“Account 1805 – 1808 for the Willis S. DAVIS, Rebecca A. DAVIS & 
Charles L. DAVIS as orphans of Lewis DAVIS, dec’d, by Gregory B. HUDSON 
guardian of the said orphans.
Noted was the hire of 1 Negro woman (not named).
Audited 19 April 1809 by Thomas STEGALL, Asa GRISHAM, George MALONE.  
Returned to Court 24 Apr 1809.”


 
Source:  “Emigration To Other States From Southside Virginia, Volume I:  
by  Elliott
 
“DAVIS, Benjamin et alls    Oglethorpe County, GA
   William DAVIS, John BROWN and Elizabeth his wife, Martha DAVIS and 
Merritt DAVIS of the County of Brunswick, State of Virginia, Benjamin DAVIS 
of Oglethorpe County, State of Georgia, Peter RAGSDALE of Bedford County, 
State of Tennessee, as attorney in fact for Thomas DAVIS and Henry DAVIS 
of the County of Bedford, State of Tennessee, and as attorney in fact for 
John DAVIS of the County of Robertson, state of Tennessee, of one part, 
and Nicholas E. LEWIS, of the other part, witnesseth:
   Whereas, Benjamin DAVIS, deceased, by his last will and testament 
bequeathed his lands to be divided equally between all of his children.
   William DAVIS, John BROWN and wife Elizabeth, Martha DAVIS, Merritt DAVIS, 
Benjamin DAVIS and Peter RAGSDALE as attorney in fact for Thomas DAVIS, 
Henry DAVIS and John DAVIS, heirs and devisees of Benjamin DAVIS, deceased, 
to Nicholas E. LEWIS…cons. $2,900.00…276 acres in Brunswick County…being the 
land where Benjamin DAVIS, deceased, lived.  Dated:  29 Dec 1817   
Recorded:  25 Sep 1818.”


 
WILL OF BENJAMIN DAVIS
“Names:  Wife not named
Children:  William, Elizabeth, John, Martha, Benjamin, Henry, Thomas and 
Merritt DAVIS.
Executors:  Sons William and Merritt DAVIS.
Dated 8 April 1817   Recorded 28 April 1817
Ref:  Brunswick County Deed Book 24, page 52
         Brunswick County Will Book 8, page 342
M. B. 27 Feb 1800 – John BROWN and Elizabeth DAVIS
Surety:  Benjamin DAVIS
Married 27 Feb 1800 by Rev Aaron BROWN.
Ref:  Brunswick County Marriage Records, page 119.”
 
M. B. Brunswick County, VA:
 
*28 January 1775.  John ROSE and Elizabeth DAVIS.  Surety:  Benjamin DAVIS.  
Wit:  Randol DAVIS and Hannah MARRIOTT.  P. 16.
 
Note:  There are several DAVIS marriages in Brunswick County, VA that 
seem to be pertinent to the wills and deeds.  Notice a transaction of 
MARRIOTT as “Merritt” (sometimes seen a MERRIOTT) DAVIS in the will of 
Benjamin DAVIS above.  (Audrey)