The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1886-11-30
A. Y. STOKES WILL.
A LARGE ESTATE LEFT TO HIS WIFE
AND SONS.
Generous Treatment of His Ser
wants and Slave
Property.

The will of the late A. Y. Stokes was
,esterday admitted to probate The VIII
was written in 1859, and a codicil to it
was made i'm 1894. Mr.. Stokes, by Will,
directed that at his death his estate should
be settled up, and that on coming OF age
each child should receive $4,000. The
estate was to be divided, when the last
child was 81 years of age, equally. If any
child wished to study for the ministry
he was to be maintained and educated
free of cost None of the children were
to pay interest on any money advanced
The entire will, for which there is not
space in these columns, was liberal ana
generous, and showed the manner of man
he was. The following words deserve
special record:
"In the final division of my property |
wish my negroes so divided that the
family shall not be separated, if it can
possibly be done, and it ould be most
agreeable to me if one of my sons, or
more of them if they can agree upon
terms should take the plantation and keep
it up, or divide it, as it is susceptible OF
making two good farms. My reasons for
this wish is that my experience is that
servants hired out are not cared for
as they should be, and hence hope that
my sons will all buy them small farms
and settle their negroes on them. | do
not make this binding, but give an eX-
preston of my wish.
Il wish and ordain further Should my
executors think it best to dispose OF any
personal property, they are at liberty TO
do so, except slaves, which | do not wish
sold unless for some misbehayiOr or to
prevent separating when they have inter
married with other slaves who are to be
sent off. In that event, if any Of these my
slaves should be so circumstanced and
they desire to be sold, my executors are
authorized to sell them"
This was written in 1859, in the height
of the slavery excitement. 1t Is some
thing for the South-hateI to read and re-
fleet upon.
Mr.. Stokes closed his will as follows
"To carry out this, my last will and
testament, appoint Samuel +. Lathrop
and John Enders, Of Richmond; Thomas
ID. Stokes and Barrymore Green, OF Dan
vile. Va, my executors. | appoint these
gentlemen, living both here and in Dan
vile. from the fact of my property being
so situated that it will be an easy matter
for them to attend to-"
"THE CODICIL."
The codicil was written in this city
January %, 1884 This is as follows;
II. A. Y. Stokes, of the city of Rich
mond, State of Virginia (haying written
myself and signed my name on every
page. on the Goth of December, 1859, my
last will and testament in which ! named
as executors in said will the following
gentlemen Samuel p. LathrOp and John
Enders. of Richmond, and DR.. Thomas
ID. Stokes and Barrymore Green, of Dan
vile. Va, and now wishing to change
nv said executors, all of my children
having arrived at the age of 81, now
add this a codical to said will, dated De
cember %, 1859, and name my sons,
Charles p. Stokes, William G.. Stokes,
and Svlvanus Stokes my executors in the
place of those named in my will, dated
December %, 1859 and it is my further
wish and request that the court will not
require security of my sons named as
executors, but should security be required
my request is that my remaining legatees
shall enter as security on such bond as
the court may require"
The estate is valued at five hundred
and five thousand dollars. This does not
include advances made to his children
and wife, who have received advances to
a large extent.
The parties named as executors in the
will did not qualify, but Mr. Charles p.
Stokes and Mr.. r. ID. Stokes have quail
fed as administrators.
Mr.. Stokes's children are Messrs.
Charles p, William G., George S., A. Y,
Jr., Sylvanus, and 7. ID. Stokes. All
reside in Richmond, except Mr.. George
S. Stokes, who resides at Stokes station,
on the Richmond and Allegheny railroad.