George Bates I
12th Generation
Will in York County, Virginia
W.W. 6 January 1676; W.P. April 1677





In the name of God Amen
I George Bates being sicke in body but of sound and perfect mind and memory, praise be therefore given to Almighty God, doe make and ordeyne this present, last will and testament in manner and form following (yt is to say) first and principally I comit my soule unto the hand of Almighty God, hoping through the meritts, death and passion of my savior Jesus Christ to have full and free pardon and forgiveness of all my sins and to inherit everlasting life, and my body I comit to the earth to be decently buried at the discresion of my Executrix hereafter named, and as touching all such trust and all Estate which itt hath pleased Almighty God to bestowe upon mee, I give and dispose as followeth --
First my will is that my debts and funeral charges shall be paid and discharged.
ITEM I will that my land be equally divided between my loving wife and my two sonnes, John Bates and James Bates, and in case either of my two sonnes afore mentioned should die before my loving daughter, Mary Bates, then their part of the land to fall to my said daughter.
ITEM I will that my two sonnes John Bates and James Bates and my daughter Mary Bates have each of them a cowe delivered to them when of age.
ITEM I will that my two sonnes John Bates and James Bates and my daughter Mary Bates have each of them a foale in case the mare lives to bring them, and if the old mare should die after her first foale and the first foale be a mare foale, then to have each of them a foale being the produce of that foale.
ITEM The rest and residue of my personall Estate, goods and chattells whatsoever I do give and bequeath unto my loving wife Mary, to be my sole Executrix of this my last will and testament and I doe hereby revoke, disannull and make void all former will and testament my mee heretofore made. In witness whereof I hereto sett my hand and seale January 6, 1776
his
William Lane George (X) Bates
James Cooper mark

Deed of Gift from Mary Bates to her infant son, George Bates, born posthumisly York County

Know all men by these presents that I Mary Bates, the widow of George Bates, deceased, doe for me, my heyres, Executiors and Administrators freely and willingly give unto my sonne George Bates out of my owne part of the estate left me by my beloved husband George Bates, he not being borne at the death of his father, this is to say one blacke cowe called by the name of Cole about foure yeares, marked with a flower de luce on the right eare and slitt and underlooker in the left with her female encrease, one feather bedd, bolster rugg and blankette to his and his heyres forever from me heyres, Executors and Administrators. In witness hereof I have sett my hand this day being the 24th of April 1677.
her
Teste Mary (X) Bates
Henry Knighton mark
James Cooper

Acknowledged in open court April the 24th 1677 to be the afementioned Mary Bates.