Person:William Hall (241)

Will of William Hall

Will Abstract:

William Hall wrote a will on October 21, 1764, probated 4 December 1764. He divided his land among his children. To son William Hall he gave the land where said William lived and below his plantation to son James Hall; the northern section he gave to son Richard Hall. His old plantation was to be divided between sons John Hall and Anthony Hall [our ancestor]. To son Thomas Hall and Joseph Hall he gave his new ‘dwelling and the mill thereon.’ But all of the above tract of land were only to his sons for their life time and then to their eldest son or daughter. He gave to his son William Hall the right to cut hay around his mill and 3 acres of the meadow next to the mill to his son James Hall. His children were to have the right to have their grain ground ‘tool free’ at the mill for their life time. To his daughters Elizabeth Pemberton, Ruth Heavin, Hannah Harris and Sarah Keyes he left his new survey which was to be sold by his executors and the money divided between them. To his beloved wife, sister of Richard Richardson, he gave his stock and everything on his plantation for her life. (Frederick Co., Va. Will Book 3, page 233)

Will Transcription:

In the Name of God Amen, I William Hall of Frederick County in the Colony of Virginia being sick and weak in body body but of perfect mind and memory thanks to Almighty God and calling to mind the transitory estate of this life and well knowing that all flesh must yield unto death when it shall please God to call do make and Ordain this to be my last Will and Testament in manner and form following viz. First I Recommend my soul into the hands of Almighty God that gave it me trusting in the merits of my blessed Lord and Savior Jesus Christ to receive it again at the last day. And as for such worldly goods as my blessed God has been pleased to bestow on me in this life I give and bequeath the same in manner and form folowing Viz: My just debts being duly paid and my funeral charges also.

Item I give or let my son William Hall have that piece of land he now lives on during his natural life, and no longer and then I give and bequeath the said piece of Land to the Eldest son of said William said Moiety of Land and his heirs forever, and "if" [inserted above] in case there should be no son to heir the same my will is that the Eldest daughter of said William shall posses the same to her and heirs forever, said Land begining where this home patent ends and taking its coarse below the lower field.

Item I give or let to my son James Hall have from the top of the hill between his brother William and him the remaining part of the above first mentioned land during his natural life and no longer and then I will and bequeath the said moiety of Land to the Eldest Son of said James Hall and if no male Issue to the eldest daughter and her heirs forever, but if a son to him and his heirs forever.

Item I give or let my son Richard Hall them lands adjoining Macals line thence runing within a few poles of the place I bought of John Hountson Mounts on during his natural life and no longer and after I will and bequeath the same to his Eldest Son and his heirs forever but if no male Issue to his Eldest daughter and her heirs forever.

Item I give or let to my sons John Hall and Anthony Hall the old place or plantation beginning at Macals line and thence runing to McCormacks line during their natural life and no longer and then I will and bequeath the same to each of their eldest sons and their heirs forever, but if no male Issue to each of their Eldest daughters and their heirs forever.

Item I give or let to my son Thomas Hall & Joseph Hall my new dwelling Plantation and the mill thereon during their natural life and no longer, and then I will and bequeath the same to each of their Eldest sons and their heirs forever and if no male Issue to each of their Eldest daughters and their heirs forever.

Item my will is that my new Survey of land shall be sold by my Executor hereafter mentioned and the money got for the same shall be Equally divided among my four daughters Viz: – Elizabeth Pemberton, Ruth Heavin, Hannah Harris and Sarah Keyes and it is my will also that my full children always to have their grain ground toll free during their natural life or the mill ingoing.

I also Will to my son William a full liberty of cuting hay on that meadow ground next the mill during his life time.

I also will to my son James three acres of said meadow next the fence his Lifetime.

Item I will to my beloved wife during her Widowhood my full stock and all now belonging to said Plantation during her natural life yet– notwithstanding if my said wife should waste or Embazel said Effects unlawful I then Impower my said Executor to take all but her third out of her hands and make an Equal dvision [sic] of the same amongst all the children in full.

Lastly constitute nominate and appoint my well beloved son William Hall my whole and sole Executor of this my last will and Testament Confirming this only to be my last will and I hereby revoke make void all other will or wills made heretofore by me allowing this alone to be my last will and Testament and in witness hereof I set my hand and affix my seal this twenty first of October one thousand seven hundred and sixty four.

[Source: Frederick County Virginia Will Book "3", pg. 233-36].

Information on William Hall

William Hall, the elder, died on the 10th day of November, 1764, leaving seven sons; viz. William, (his eldest son, and heir at law,) James, Richard, John, Anthony, Thomas and Joseph; and four daughters; viz. Elizabeth, Ruth, Hannah, and Sarah, that Joseph Hall, aforesaid, died on the first day of January, 1797, leaving no child, and never having had any; having first made his last will and testament, (which was also found in haec verba.) devising to his wife, Mary Hall, the tract of land on which he resided, containing 396 acres, during her life, with remainder in fee to Elizabeth North, wife of George North, and John Hall, son of his brother, John Hall, deceased, to be equally divided between them.

[Source: Hall vs. Hall, Virginia Reports: Jefferson--33 Grattan, 1730-1880]