Jane Pleasants

[Genealogy.com WFT Vol. 47, Ed. 1, Tree #1375, Date of Import: Jun 5, 2002]

Buried at Friends Burying Ground, Curles, Henrico Co., VA

Smith Manuscript, Ridgeway Library, Philadelphia: Jane Pleasants, wife of John Pleasants, was zealous for the cause of Truth and had a Gift in the ministry which was very acceptable to Friends and particularly serviceable at that early time in a wilderness country, the good effect thereof was very visible in the place where she lived for a long time and where her ability of Body would not admit her to Ride alone which was for several years before her death she used to ride behind one of her servants and so continue to visit Friends and attend meetings to near the last period of her time. She survived her worthy husband by nine or ten years and then departed this life in a good old age in the year 1708, and

was Buryed in Friends Burying Ground near Curles Meeting House in the presence of a numerous Assembly fo Friends and neighbors."

Marraige: Based on the first use of married name by Jane Pleasants.

Death: Based on presentation of Will.

Will of Jane Larcome Pleasants

Henrico County Records 1706-1709, p. 166

Recorded June 1709

Henrico Wills, Vol. 1706-1709, p. 166 :

In the name of God Amen. I Jane Pleasants of Curles in the County of Henrico being in good and perfect memory thanks be to Almighty God and Knowing that Naturally I am born to die and to pass through this Mortall world and Transitory Life and minding to put in order all my Goods and Chattells that God hath Sent me and also how I have disposed of the Sames to the Intent that No Strife may happen after my Death concerning the same. Impr. My will is that all my Debts and funeral Expences be first paid.

Item - I give and bequeath unto my Daughter Mary Woodson one Spruce chest one Ovel Table with black leggs one negro woman nammed Merca, two pairs of sheets the one Holland the other

Canvis one Brass Sterr pan with Cover, two Diapery Table cloths & eight Napkins market ETI and one half of my warring apparell unto her the sd Mary & to her heirs forever.

Item - I give John Woodson Daughter (sic) of the sd Jane Woodson two silver spoons, I Like give unto Mary Daughter of ye said Jane one silver spoon; I Likewise give unto Joseph Daughter (sic) of ye said Jane one silver Spoon, unto them the sd John, Mary and Joseph and to their heirs forever.

Item - I give & bequeath unto my Grandson Joseph Woodson one negro Girle Named Bridget one cow with calf by her side one Drawing Table one pair of tongs & a great Spitt unto him the sd Joseph and to his heirs forever.

Item - I give & bequeath unto my Grandson Tucker Woodson one negro Girl Named Nancey to be Delivered to him when he shall attaine to the age of one and twenty years, And if I Die before, my will is that ye sd Nanny Remain with his mother Mary untill he attain the age aforesaid. the sd Negro being given unto him ye sd Tucker and his heirs forever.

Item - I give and bequeath unto my Grandson Benjamin Woodson and to his heirs forever one Small feather bed with boulster a pair of canvas sheets one Rugg and a pair of Blanketts two silver Spoons, one pair of Iron Doggs with Brass Topps a pair of Iron Tongs with brass Knobbs and Iron Spit & a brass Pott to be paid when he shall attain ye age of one & twenty years.

Item - I give and bequeath unto my son Joseph Pleasants one Negro man Named Dick and one Large feather bed with boulster and Flox bed & boulster under it which I usually Lodg in my self and four

pair of sheets two pair Holland two canvass two boulster cases two pillow cases one pr white cotten sheets one Rugg & pair Blankets one Set of Led Cullrd hangings one Large black trunk, one Ceile Skin trunk with Drawers four silver spoons one large Oval Table one brass fire shovell and Tongs one Iron Shovell & tongs one Brass Skellit one Table Cloth & Dozen of Napkins of Huckaback, two towells and a Dozen of plates marked I x P Two great Dishes, to be pd within a month after my Decease and also

one Negro Boy called Neddy to be Delivered at ye time aforesaid unto him to Said Joseph & to his heirs forever. My desire is that ye sd Neddy should be a Shoemaker.

Item - I give and bequeath unto my Daughter Elizabeth Cocke ten pounds sterling to be paid in Goods to the full value six months after my Decease and five pounds sterling more to her Daughter Elizabeth Cocke, to be paid when they come to the age of one and twenty years Or if ye sd Elizabeth should marry before, then to be paid her six months after her day of marriage.

Item - I give and bequeath unto my Daughter Dorothy Pleasants half of my wearing appearall, one large silver Salt one Brass Chaffing Dish and one Black Trunk with Drawers unto her the said Dorothy and to her heirs forever.

Item - I give and Bequeath unto my Grandson Thomas Pleasants one Negro Woman Named Jenny with her two Negro children Named Betty and Billy to be Delivered him at the age of fourteen years, if his father should happento Die, otherwise when he shall come to the age of eighteen years, one New large feather bed & bolster two pair sheets the one Cotten the other Canvass a large Rugg & one blanket one silver Candle Cup marked with I P I unto him the sd Thomas and to his heirs forever.

Item - I give and bequeath unto my Grandson John Pleasants one Negro woman Named Sarah two young cows two breeding Sows and one chest to be Delivered him at ye age of eighteen years, But if it

should Happen that his father should Die before that it be then Delivered to him at ye age of fourteen years, unto him ye sd John & to his heirs forever.

Item - I give and bequeath unto my Grand Daughter Anne Pleasants one Negro Girl Named Beck and Six large Dishes unto her the said Anne and to her heirs forever.

Item - I give and bequeath unto my Grand Daughter Jane Pleasants one hair trunk, No Drawer, Market I P one silver Porrenger two silver Spoons one Great Looking Glass one Great Bible and two Brass Candle sticks and a Little brass Chafing Dish unto her the said Jane and to her heirs forever, Also six Diaper Napkins and two towells, unto her the said Jane as above said.

Item - I give and bequeath unto my son Joseph's Daughter Elizabeth one Negro Girl Named Moll, a great Pewter flaggon unto her the said Elizabeth and to her heirs forever.

Item - I give and bequeath unto my Grandson Joseph Pleasants one Negro Girl Named Judith one pair Iron Doggs with Racks when X comes to ye age of Eighteen years, and my will is that presently after my Decease my son Joseph shall take unto his Custody the sd two Negro girls and Keepe them till the time above Limitted unto him the said Joseph and to his heirs forever.

Item - I give and bequeath unto my son Joseph's Daughter Named Jane one young mare with her increase one large Silver Tumbler and two Silver Spoons unto her the sd Jane and to her Heirs

forever.

Item - I give unto my Grand Daughter Martha Pleasants one Silver Porrengers and two Spoons unto her the said Martha and to her heirs forever with one Silver Dram Cup.

Item - I give and bequeath unto my friend Mary Howard one Good Broad Cloth Gown and Petty coate one Camlet Cloak and Riding Hood unto her ye sd Mary & to her heirs forever.

Item - I give unto William Porter the Elder one Kersie Coate and Briches with Canvis shirt and felt Hat, unto him the sd William and to his heirs forever.

Item - I give & bequeath unto my son John Pleasants one Negro man Named Ceasar, one Negro woman Named Betty unto him the sd John Pleasants and to his heirs forever.

Lastly as for all the Rest Residue and Remainder of my estate Reall and Personall moveable & Immovable in what Kinde or Nature Soever it be I give give & bequeath unto my aforesd Son John Pleasants and Doth by these presents Nominate Constitute and appoint my said Son John Pleasants my whole and sole Execr. of this my Last will and testament Revokeing and annulling all former wills and Deeds of gift by me at any time heretofore made.

My will is that the old Stock of Hoggs at ye Mill shall be Divided between my Exer. and son Joseph.

Item - My will is that all the Deeds and Legacies Given and Bequeathed as afore mentioned shall and is given and bequeathed to them and their heirs forever.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my

Seal this Second day of January Anno Dom. 1708:

Jane Pleasants (sealed with red wax)

Signed Sealed Published and Declared in presence of Robert Blaws,

Nicholas Hutchins, William M. Porter, Junr.

o Henrico County Court, June 1709 :

The last will and Testament of Mrs. Jane Pleasants Decd. this day brought into Court by Mr. John Pleasants Execr. therein Named and Proved by the Oath of Mr. Robert Blaise one of the Subscribed

Witnesses, and also the sd Will was further Proved by the Testimony of Nicholas Hutchins & William Porter, Junr: two other witnesses Subscribed (they being both Quakers) declared according to ye method prescribed by Act of Parliament, By all which Evidences It appeared to the Court that ye sd Decd. Did Sign Seal Publish and Declare the Will Produced as aforesd to be her Last Will & Testament and that She was at the same time sound mine & Perfect memory to the best of their Judgments; whereupon at the motion of the aforesaid Executor the Said will was admitted to Record, And Ordered for Probate granted him. Mr. William Randolph Junr. in open Court Entering himself Security for the said

Executors Due performance and Execution of the aforesd Will &c.

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From Karen Wood <KarenWood@aol.com>

Jane "Executrix of Samuel Tucker to Martin Elam for 15000 lbs tobacco and cask she conveys 2 tracts of land in Bermuda Hundred both of which were given said Jane by her husband the said Tucker as by his last will ec., may more fuly appear" The said tracts were purchased by Tucker of Gilbert Elam. "Whereon we Leive" containing 40 acrs and that purchased by Tucker of Anthony Patrum and Rebecca his wife, on of the heirs of Gilbert Evan (Elam) decs. containing 23 acres (Henrico Records Nov 167-,

page 176) 01 Jun and 10 Oct 1698.

After Samuel's death Jane married a prominent Quaker in his Virginia community named John Pleasants. Persecution against the Quakers was at his height with the Quaker marriage ceremony especially viewed with contempt. A complaint was entered in Henrico County courts against Jane and John as "two p'sons doe unlawfully accompany themselves together as man and wife without legall marriage, and also that they have made a breach of three penal laws of this Country Viz't ,,,absemce from the church...refuseing to have their children baptized...for having and suffering a Conventicle at or near their house...and as being pr'sent and members of the sd. conventicle." Judgement was found in their favor on the first charge of not being legally married, but they were found guilty of the last three charges, and fined. An appeal was entered and carried to England to stay execution against the Quaker.

• Reference: Ancestry Genealogy - SmartCopy: Jul 22 2018, 22:33:47 UTC