The will of George Bates 1625-1677
York County, Virginia

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 my 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 saviour Jesus Christ to have full and free pardon and forgiveness of all my sins and to inherit everlasting life, and my body to 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 it hath pleased Almighty God to bestow upon mee, I give and dispose as followeth -

First my will is that my Debts and funerall 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 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 chattelle whatsoever I doe give and bequeath unto my loving wife Mary, to be sole Executrix of this my last will and testament and I doe hereby revoke, disannull and made void all former will and testament by mee heretofore made.

In witness whereof I hereto set my hand and seale January 6, 1676

George Bates X his mark

Wm. Lane
James Cooper

[will proved April 1677]