Person:John Washington (37)

Will of John Washington

In Name of God Amen I JOHN WASHINGTON of Stafford County do make this to be my Last Will and Testament .. First I give my Soul into hands of Almighty Cod .. and my body to the Earth .. as for what worldly Estate I give as Follaweth Vizt.

I give to my son LAWRENCE WASHINGTON all my lands, to him and his heirs Lawfully begotten and in case of his death with-out heirs I give all my lands to my daughters MILDRED and ANNE WASHINGTON Equally betwixt to them and their heirs as afsd and if any of my said daughters should die without lawfull heirs then the share of the daughter so dieing to devolve to my next oldest daughter and so down in course according to their Seniority. Provided always that any one of my daughters shall not inherit more then the half of my said Land if any other of my daughters or Lawful heirs .. Survive.

Item I give to my son Lawrence Four Slaves (named) and in case one or more of the said Slaves should dye before he comes at age then the same number to be Supplied of equal value as near as can be judged out of the rest of my Slaves in the hands of my Executors.

Item I give to my daughters MILDRED ANNE, MARY, FRANCIS, ELIZABETH and CATHERINE WASHINGTON all the rest of my Negroes and Mullattoos to be Equally divided amongst at the discretion of my Executors. and in case of the death of any of the said daughters before marriage then her or their Shares to fall to the rest of my daughters Equally among them. Item I give to my said daughters my house clock and copper Still to be equally divided among therm at the discretion of my Exers.

Item I give to my Son Lawrence My Silver watch my will and desire is that the mullato wench old Hanna and her husband Mingo be part of my wife's thirds and remain on the plantation where I now live till they both dye and whatever children the said wench old Hanna may bring, henceforth I give and devise to my daughters to be divided equally as afsd.

Item I give to each of my said daughters a feather bed and furniture and the remainder of my household stuff after my wife's thirds to my said Son.

Item I give to my said Son Lawrence all my Stock of cattle sheep and hoggs (always excepting qty Wife's thirds) which I intend for the maintenance of my younger children and such as remain on this plantation till he is of age.

Item I give to my son Lawrence the black mare and colt (called his) and the bay horse called Watt, also the horse he now Rides on called Bob.

Item I likewise give to each of my said daughters an horse or mare as far as those left undevised will go to begin with my daughter Mildred who is to have the first choice and so down and to each of them a dozen pewter plates, three dishes and an Iron pot.

Item I give to my loving wife my Riding chair and furniture likewise all my geese and Poultry and to my daughter Anne the best Side Saddle and furniture now on the plantation.

Item I also give and transfer to my daughter Mildred what ballance may be due to me in Mr. JOHN BUCHANAN of London, his hands when he has received and disposed of an hogshead of Stemed Tobacco now under prize which I ordain to be shipt to him by the first opportunity.

Item I will them when any of my said daughters shall chance to marry that my Exers do divide the Slaves etc as above directed and after she has received her portion that the rest shall be thrown together in common till the marriage of the next, and so to proceed till the Last. My will is that my Estate shall not be appraised, and I hereby constitute and appoint MARY WASHINCTON my Loving wife, TOWNSHEND WASHINGTON, ROBERT WASHINGTON, SIGISMOND MASSEY and my on LAWRENCE WASHINGTON Executors Revoking all other

will .. this 27th day of February 1741/2.

(signed) Jno. Washington

Presence David Stuart, Tho. Atchison, Henry Washington Junr., Robert Scott

At Court held for Stafford County June the 8th 1742 Last Will .. produced by Executors .. made oath .. further proved .. admitted to record .. Certificate granted for obtaining Probate, and MARY WASHINGTON one of the Executors in the saad will mentioned in open Court declared that her taking the oath of an Executor should be no prejudice to her claim of Dower and thirds, the other Executors consenting thereto and ordered to be Certified.

[Source: STAFFORD COUNTY VA WILL BOOK M; 1729-1748; THE ANTIENT PRESS pp. 329-330].

Citations

http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=mrmarsha&id=I22578