“I revoke all and every bequest in my said will, or in any former codicil thereto (except as aforesaid, to my executor Wm. Leigh, and my slaves, whether by name or otherwise), of every description whatsoever, whether of my own proper estate or in expectancy or reversion from the Bland and Bizaree estate, or from any other contingency or source whatsoever. These reversions or remainders, or executor’s devises, or whatsoever the law chooses to call them, I bequeath to my said executor, as a fund to be used at his discretion for the benefit of my slaves aforesaid, the surplus, if any, to be his own.
“I also give and bequeath to the said Wm. Leigh, my executor, the land that I bought of Pleasant Lipscomb’s estate, to him and his heirs forever.
“I also give and bequeath to my said executor and his heirs forever the lot of fifty-three acres of land lying at the deep gut on Staunton river, in Halifax county, that I bought of Wm. Sims Daniel, and I request my said executor not to sell or lease the same, but to work it in three shifts, and to enable him to do so, I give and bequeath to him the lot of one hundred and seventy-five acres of land in Halifax county, which I also bought of Wm. Sims Daniel, to have and to hold during his natural life, and at his decease to that one of his children to whom he shall bequeath the aforesaid lot of fifty-three acres at the deep gut.
“I give and bequeath to my friend, Thomas H. Benton, all that part of the tract of land that I bought of Jonathan Read’s heirs, that lies on the south-eastern side of Little Roanoke, containing about six hundred acres, as a mark of my regard to one whose friendship toward me was not expressed merely in words. I also give him my large pistols, made by Woydon & Burton.
“To my friend, Doctor John Brokenbough, I leave all my plate made by Rundle, Bridge & Rundle, viz.: 1 tea pot, one coffee pot, 1 sugar dish and tongs, two tureens, 4 sauce dishes. All the rest and residue of my plate, furniture of every sort, plantation utensils, &c., I give to my said executor, Wm. Leigh, and all my books, maps, charts, pictures, prints, and &c., except three folio manuscript volumes, bound in parchment, which I bequeath to the master and fellows (and their successors) of Trinity College, Cambridge, Old England, the first college of the first University of the world.
“To my friend Wm. J. Barksdale, of Haw Branch, Esquire, I bequeath my new English saddle and bridle, my silver spurs, my new English boots, and shoes, two pair each, my gold watch made by Baiwese, with the chain and seals, except the oldest seal with the Randolph arms and motto nil admirari, which I leave to R. Kidder Randolph, of Rhode Island.
“I also leave to the said W. J. Barksdale the choice of any of my mares or fillies.
“I leave to Edmond Irby, of Nottoway, the next choice of my mares or fillies, and any one of my horses or colts, to be selected by himself; also, my double barrel gun.
“To Peyton Randolph, of Buck river, Prince Edward, I leave my small cockney gun by Mortimer.
“All the rest and residue of my estate, real or personal, I leave to my executor, Wm. Leigh, hereby directing that no inventory or appraisement be made of my estate, and that no security shall be required of my said executor for the faithful discharge of the trust reposed in him—his own character being the best security, and where that is wanting, all other is unavailing.