Person:John Kercheval (2)

In the Name of God Amen. I John Kercheval of the County of Frederick and State of Virginia being very sick but of perfect mind and memory do make and ordain this my last will and testament.

First I recommend my soul to God who gave it and my body to be decently buried at the discretion of my Executors hereafter mentioned and as to such worldly Estate which it hath pleased God to bless me with I give and bequest in manner and form following Items.

I Give and Bequeath to my dearly beloved wife Winifred Kercheval four negroes to wit, Joe, Solomon, Rose and Cate, my wagon and two horses to Remain her property during her life of widowhood and at her death or marriage to be eqully divided between my Ten children.

I also Give my wife all my household and kitchen furniture, all the Stock of hoggs, cattle, Sheep and Plantation utensils and one white mare to Remain her property during her life or widowhood as above mentioned.

Item:I leave the whole of my Estate both real and personal except as above mentioned to be equally divided between my Ten Children (to wit) Sueky, John, Peggy, Samuel, Winney, Lydia, Sally, Frances, Betsey and James.

It is further my will and desire that my Estate as above mentioned be divided by John Milton, Edward McGuire and Thomas Berry and lastly I leave my dearly beloved wife Winifred Kercheval Executrix and John Kercheval and Samuel Kercheval my whole and sole Executors of this my last Will and Testament. In witness wereof I hereunto set my hand and seal this fourth day of March in the Year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and Eighty Eight.

(Signed) John Kercheval (seal)

Signed Sealed and delivered

In the presence of

Thomas Berry

J. Milton

W. Kercheval

[edit]

Information on John Kercheval

From "Biographical Sketches" from "Shenandoah Valley Pioneers and Their Descendents", A History of Fredrick County, Virginia by T.K. Cartmell:

Page 439 - The Kercheval Family

The first appearance of this family as one of the pioneers of the County, near Wheeling, was prior to the Revolutionary War. John Kercheval settled on Buffalo Creek, about twenty miles above its junction with the Ohio River. There quite a number of families took possession of tracts of land under the supported "Tomahawk Right", in 1773, just in time to suffer from the Dunmore War, started the next spring. The settlers erected cabins and forts. The section was adapted to easy cultivation; and several families crossed the high mountains to the east every spring, and raised crops of corn and potatoes on the land where there was less timber and more sunshine. In the fall they would return and spend the winter in their cabins and near the forts. John Kercheval's was one of these families. When the Indian outbreak occurred in 1774, the families deserted the first settlement, to find better security at Morris's Fort in Sandy Creek Glade. We find this family at Dodridge's Fort also, during the historic siege. Samuel Kercheval, the Valley historian, says he was about fourteen years old at the time and "ranked as a fort solider". John Kercheval and his family in 1782 drifted slowly through the mountains, and took up their abode on the Opecquon, a few miles from Berryville, Virginia.; and in 1784 purchased the family farm where he died in 1788, leaving a large family and his wife Winifred, the step-mother of his four oldest children. He devised his plantation to the following ten children : Sukey, John, Peggy, Samuel, Winney, Lydia, Sally, Frances, Betsy, and James . He willed four Negroes to his widow. His sons John and Samuel were his exec utors. Thomas Berry, J. Milton and William Kercheval his grandson, witnessed the will. John(2) lived in Winchester and purchased two tracts of land in 1791 on Abrams Creek. Samuel purchased a tract of land on Buffalo Marsh. Part of this he sold in 1792 to Lee. He then established a home a few miles northwest, adjoining lands of Elisha Fawcett and others. There Samuel lived out the remainder of his days. During the latter part of his life, he traveled extensively through the Shenandoah Valley, gathering material facts and incidents, which he wove into what has been known as "Kercheval's History of the Valley of Virginia", which he published in 1833. Although three editions of this qua int, peculiar and valuable history have been published, the book is rarely seen, and is highly prized by those who are fortunate enough to have preserved a copy.

[edit]