Will of Elizabeth Worsham Eppes,
mother of Elizabeth Worsham Kennon of Old Brick House
as recorded in the Henrico Co., VA, Court Order Book 1678-1693, pp 59-60, from Worsham and Washum Family History
NOTE: The Worshams were early settlers in the Bermuda Hundred area. After William Worsham the immigrant died, his wife Elizabeth (maiden name probably Littleberry) married Col. Francis (Frances) Eppes II of Henrico Co., VA, about 1661. Their children were therefore brothers and sisters to Elizabeth’s Worsham children, one of whom went on to become the wife of Richard Kennon of Old Brick House.
Elizabeth Worsham Eppes’ will and codicil were recorded in Henrico County. They were proved Oct. 1678, and read as follows:
In the name of God amen. I Elizabeth Epes of Burmody Hundred Widdow being very sicke and weake but of good and perfect memory doe make this my last will and testament in manner and forme as following.
I bequeath my soule to Jesus Christ that made it my only maker and redeemer hoping in him to be redeemed into Everlasting Glory.
I bequeath my body to the ground from whence it came to be buried decently according to the will and disposal of my Exec? or Adm?
I give and bequeath unto my daughter Elizabeth Kennon a stone ring wch came in this year, and my black gown, green silke peticoate, green satin boddice, and her fourth part of that money wch is due to me lyeing in the hands of Mr. Samll Claphamson.
Also a stone ring wch was given me by my sister King I give unto Mary Kennon, my daughter Eliz. child. I give my daughter Mary Worsham a feather bed, bolster, curtaines and vallainces, and two pr of sheetes one of hollan the other of canois, and her part of that money before expressed, and my thumb ring, and all the rest of my wearing cloaths, except one new suite wch came in this yeare, wch I give to my daughter Mary Epes.
I give unto my sonne John Worsham my silver tobacco box, and his equall part of that money, and also to my sonne Charles the other part of the money, and a fether bed and furniture, belonging thereto, and for the rest of my estate I give unto my husband Epes children they paying these small legacies out of their estate to say, two fether beds and furniture, and lastly I make my sonne Kennon Execr revoking all other wills, to see my Will performed as Witt. my hand and seale this 28 of Aug 1678.
/s/ Elizabeth Epes (Sealed in red wax)
Test. Tho. Fitzherbert and Frances Burrell (her mark)
Proved in Court to be the act of Mrs. Epes by the oath of Thos. Fitzherbert and Frances Burrell. Test. Wm. Randolph.
[The codicil]
In the name of God amen. I Elizabeth Epes Widdow and relict of Coll Frances Epes of the County of Henrico decd being sicke and weake in body, but (I thanke the Almighty God) of a sound perfect and disposeing memory, doe hereby revoke and annull all Wills and testament at any heretofore made (except what I have made in this my sicknesse conserning some estate wch I have given to my children wch I had by my husband Mr. Wm. Worsham decd) And doe hereby make ordaine publish and declare this present to be my last will and testament.
I bequeath my soule unto the hands of Almighty God my creatour hopeing and assuredly believing that I shall (after this transitory life ended) receive a joyfull resurrection and Eternal salvacion by the Meritts of my only saviour Jesus Christ and my body I bequeath to the earth to be decently buryed at the discrecion of my Execrs:
I doe hereby ratifie and confirme that part of my estate wch I have in this my last sicknesse given to my children wch I had by my former husband Mr. Wm. Worsham decd. and doe bequeath that the same be disposed of according to my sd gift.
I doe hereby give and bequeath all that remaining part of my Estate (after my funerall expenses and debts are paid) wch was given me by my late husband Col Francis Epes decd by his last verball will to be disposed of and equally divided betweene my children wch I had by my sd husband Epes (namely William, Littleberry and Mary Epes) the same to be equally divided and delivered in kinde to my sd three children, as they come to lawfull age, and if either of my sd children should dye before they come to age as aforesd then I doe bequeath that their part of the Estate soe dyeing shall be equally divided betweene the survivor or survivors of them.
I doe hereby nominate and appoint my sonne in law Richard Kennon and Frances Epes to be Execors of this my last Will and testament and doe request my friends Lt. Coll John Farrar Mr. Tho. Cocke Mr Rich Cocke and Mr. William Randolph Overseers of this my sd last will hopeing that they will see the same performed truly and justly according to the purport hereof. Witness my hand and seal this 23 day of September 1678.
/s/ Elizabeth Epes Sealed with red wax
Signed Sealed and delivered in presents of us Mary Randolph, Elizabeth Cocke, Anne Isham