Person:John McNeill (23)

Will Abstract

McNeal, John. Will probate Feb. 1773.

Names wife, Mary, and children: Rebeckah, Nancy, Mary, Sarah and one unborn.

[Source: Early Marriages, Wills, and some Revolutionary War Records, Botetourt County, Virginia, compiled by Anne Lowry Worrell, pg. 60].

Will Transcript

In the name of God amain [Amen], I John McNeill of the County of Botetourt and Colony of Virginia being very weak in Body, but of perfect Mind & Memory blesed be Gods Marea? for it; Therfore calling to Mind the Mortality of my Body ^{and knowing that is appointed for all men once to die} do make and ordain this my last Will and Testament. That is to say. Principally and first of all I give and recommend my soul until the Almighty God that gave it and my Body I recomend unto the Earth to be buried in desant [decent] Christian lie Burel [Buriel] at the Descration of Executors, nothing doubting but at the General Resurrection I shall receive the same again by the mighty Power of God, and as touching such worldly Estate where with it has pleased God to Bless me with in this Life, I give and Devise in the folowing maner and form ~

That is to say First of all my Debts to be payd [paid].

I Give unto Mary my Dearly Beloved Wife the third Part of all my movable Estate and the Remainder to be divided betwixt my four Childring [Children] Rebecca, Nancy, Mary & Sarah and as to the Child that my Wife is With if it should be a Son I [lave] leave it the Track [Tract] of Land in Bedford County on Magoty Creek the other track [tract] in here on I now live to be sold and Divided betwixt My fore [four] Girals [Girls] to be sold also & it to share with the ^other. Four and I do appoint Daniel McNeill & James McNeill my hole & sole Executers of this my Last Will & Testament Giveing them full Power and Athority [authority] and I disallow and Revock all other Wills Legasees Retifying and Confirming thsi and no other to be my last Will and Testement in Witness whereunto I have set my hand & Seal this Eight Day of Desember [December] in the year of our Lord on[e] thousand seven hundred and seventy two.

[Signed] John McNeill {Seal]

Test: William Campbell, James Ritchie, Samuel Bosswell

At a Court held for Botetourt County the 9th Feby. 1773. This Instrument of Writing was presented in Court as & for the last Will & Testament of John McNeel Dec'd by the Executors and proved by the Oaths of William & James Ritchie Witnesses and ordered to be recorded.

Teste: John May C.D.C.

Records in Virginia

Botetourt County Court Minutes, 14 February 1775: Mary McNeel to be summoned to court to shew cause why her children shall not bo taken from her and bound out according to law. Source: USGenWeb Archives