Edward Tuck

Narrative:

     Edward Tuck was born in 1732.²
     Edward left a will dated 14 Aug 1780, in which he named his brother John and friend Thomas Lacy as his executors. He left his daughter Mary a feather bed and a woman's saddle and bridle, his sons Moses and Josiah each half of a 334-acre tract on "Bufelow Creek," and his house and plantation with 125 acres to his son Edward. He left the balance of his land, 185 acres, to his son Cary, and his "household goods and moveables" were to be divided equally between his daughters Sarah, Vashti, Tabitha and Susannah. He left his house and plantation to Patty Ashlock to raise her children so long as she remained single, or until Edward reached lawful age. If any of his sons did not "follow a good and lawful course of living" his executors were to have them bound out.¹
     Edward died between 14 Aug 1780 and 17 May 1781 in Halifax Co., Virginia.^3,4
     On 1 Feb 1781 Edward was granted a patent for 344 acres "on the draughts of Buffaloe creek" in Halifax Co., having paid the Commonwealth of Virginia 35s. This seems to be the same land he had six months before included in his will. The patent was signed by Governor Thomas Jefferson.⁵
     His will was probated on 17 May 1781 in Halifax Co., Virginia.¹ His brother John posted bond as executor on 18 Oct 1781 with David Powel and Thomas Tuck his securities. The other named executor, Thomas Lacy, declined to serve.⁶
     An inventory of his personal property was made on 20 Oct 1781 but was not filed with the Halifax Co. Court until the Jan 1790 term. It listed slaves, livestock, furniture and tools with total value of £82 12s 6d. The most significant items were "one Negro fellow" valued at £9, a horse at £5, 32 hogs at £15, a yoke of oxen at £10. six cattle at £16, a pair of cotton cards at £8 2s, and two feather beds at £7 7s 6d and £2 12s 6d respectively.⁷
     His personal property was sold on 1 Nov 1781 for substantially more than the appraised value. Some entries are unclear, but they totaled over £437. Several items sold for much higher than their appraised values, including the Negro man appraised at £9 and sold for £47 10s, the yoke of oxen appraised at £10 sold for £30, the cotton cards appraised at £8 2s sold for $550, recorded as £165, and a loom, not listed on the inventory, sold for $201, recorded as £60 6s.⁸