The will of John Dunn of the County of Essex and Parish of Southfarnham was dated 3 June 1828. To beloved wife Caty Dunn during her natural life negro boy Tom and negro girl Dicey, and after her death Tom and Dicey to my daughter Letty Dunn. To wife Caty Dunn one yoke of oxen and choice of cows and calves, six silver table spoons marked on the handles I R, one black walnut table that I bought of James Paul, one trunk, half dozen Windsor chairs, choice of beds and furniture in the home wherein she lived when I married her, and the house and plantation I bought that was her thirds, six silver tea spoons marked I D which I bought in Fredericksburg, five hundred pounds of good fatted pork, fodder sufficient to keep her stock during the winter, one bed with all the furniture belonging to the said bed which was hers when I married her, and I also give up my interest that I have on the land that is called Edmondsons being one hundred acres more or less, also six gallons of wine of my own make. To daughter Letty Dunn the tract of land called Banks’s, the tract called Cauthorns, the tract I bought from the estate of William Purkins, also the Mill, and Mill seat, the pond wherin the water overflowed, and all the year belonging to the said mill. Also to daughter Letty Dunn one yoke of oxen, two cows and calves, six silver table spoons marked I D which I had made in the City of Richmond, also seven silver tea spoons which I bought at the sale of Henry Gaines, one bed, bedsted and furniture, one large black walnut table, one small one that I bought at Gaines’s sale, one negro girl Ophelia, one negro boy Andrews, one negro girl named Emily the daughter of Dicey, small tea caddy which I bought of Alexander Smith. To grandson Samuel Nicholas Smith all my land on the south side of the canal of Chaneys bridge run, beginning at the aforesaid bridge and running down the middle of the canal to the bestland canal at the fork, and thence up the middle of the bestland canal to John Smith’s line, thence along said John Smith’s line, and around up the same to the beginning at the bridge. To grandson William F. Smith the land I bought of the estate of Robert Jeffries decd. and a small part of the land that was Wm Chaney’s, beginning on the bridge called Chaneys & running along the road to a red oak a line between John Smith and myself at the mouth of the land, thence along the said Jeffries line (formerly) around to the middle of the canal of Chaney’s run, thence up the middle of the said canal to the bridge at the beginning, also the land I bought of John Newbill, the land I bought of Nathaniel Newbill, and the land I bought of John H. Beale, William to pay to his aunt Letty twenty dollars annually as long as she lives. To grandson John Hancock Smith, the land I bought of Joseph Janey and the land I bought of the heirs of Charles Howerton decd. To my grandson Charles C. Smith the balance of the land which I now hold that I received from my Fathers Estate, together with the mill seat attached thereto, and all appurtenances. To granddaughter Sophronia Smith, a small negro girl named Chloe (a daughter of Hannah). The remainder of my estate both real and personal to be divided between my daughters Polly Smith and Letty Dunn after my just debts are paid, and for that purpose it is my will that my executors sell the tract of land on which I now live called New Glasgow. Son in law John Smith and grandson John H Smith to be executors. Signed Jno Dunn. Witnesses: Was: H: Purkins, Wm S Croxton, Josiah Minter, James Boughan, Vincent Taylor. Proved 15 September 1828. John Smith and John H Smith the nominal executors renounce their right of executorship, whereupon the motion of Peter J Derieux a certificate was granted him in order to his obtaining letters of administration, with bond in the penalty of $20,000, securities Charles Bray, James Croxton Jr. and Thomas Pilcher. [Essex County, Virginia, Will Book 21, pages 286–288.]

On 15 September 1828, Peter J. Derieux, Charles Bray, James Croxton Jr., and Thomas Pilcher were bound in the penalty of $20,000 for Peter J. Derieux’s administration with the will annexed of John Dunn, deceased. [Essex County, Virginia, Will Book 21, pages 288–289.]

On 29 September 1828, an inventory and appraisal of the estate of John Dunn was made by James Wright, James Cauthorn, and Jno: Trible. [Essex County, Virginia, Will Book 21, pages 394–399.]

On 1 October 1828, sales of the estate of John Dunn were made. [Essex County, Virginia, Will Book 21, pages 399–411.]

On 31 December 1829, the slaves belonging to the estate of John Dunn, deceased, were divided into equal lots to John Smith and to Letty Dunn. [Essex County, Virginia, Will Book 23, page 56.]

On 2 January 1830, John Smith, John H. Smith and Charles C. Smith entered into a bond of $2,102 payable to Peter J. Derieux, adminsitrator with the will annexed of John Dunn deceased. Whereas Peter Derieux has delivered to John Smith, in right of his wife Polly Smith, as a legatee under the will of John Dunn, her proportion of the slaves of John Dunn — Dick, Hannah and child, Cyrus, James, Susanna, William and Fanny — and whereas claims against John Dunn may hereafter be brought against Peter J. Derieux, and if the estate should not be sufficient to pay those claims, then John Smith, John H. Smith and Charles C. Smith shall refund to Peter J. Derieux sufficient money to satisfy the claim. [Essex County, Virginia, Will Book 22, page 66.]

The estate of John Dunn, deceased, in account Peter J. Derieux, administrator with the will annexed, from 1828 to 1830 was ordered recorded on 19 July 1830. [Essex County, Virginia, Will Book 22, pages 129–132.]