Belmont-Noble-Monroe County OhArchives Wills.....Wilson, William December 18, 1826
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Source: Ohio, Probate Records, 1790-1967, Belmont Wills, Vol. F., Page 283
Written: December 18, 1826
Recorded: June 13, 1831

Estate of Wm Wilson dec’d
     Be it remembered that at a term of the Court of Common pleas within and 
for the County of Belmont and State of Ohio, began and held I the Court house 
of the County of Belmont aforesaid on the twentieth day of March in the year 
of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty seven; On motion of Daniel 
Peck Esquire, and on producing to the Court an authenticated copy of the last 
will and testament of William Wilson late of Berkley County State of Virginia 
deceased, duly proven according to laws of the state of Virginia, It is 
ordered by the Court that the same be entered or read in this Court which said 
authenticated copy of said will is here now entered of record, and is on the 
words and figures following; to wit; 1st Page
“I William Wilson, of Prospect Hill in the County of Berkley and State of 
Virginai do make ordain and declare this instrument, which is written with my 
own hand, and every page thereof subscribed with my name, to be my last will 
and testament, revoking all others – Imprimes All my debts of which there are 
but few and none of magnitude, are to be punctually and speedily paid and the 
cask legacies hereinafter bequeathed, are to be discharged in the manner 
hereinafter directed. 
Item 2.  To my dearly beloved wife Mary Wilson, I give and bequeath, the use, 
profit and benefit of the following Estate, real and personal, for the term of 
her natural life, viz; the new stone house on the plantation whereon I now 
live, with all its out buildings and other appurtenances, with use of so much 
of the fruit and firewood of the said plantation as may be necessary for her 
comfort; also two horses and such other stock as she may wish to have (all 
which are to be selected by her from the stock which may be on the plantation 
at the time of my death) with keeping for the same; also my riding carriage 
and harness, and one moiety in value of the household and kitchen furniture, 
or so much thereof as she may wish to have, not exceeding that amount, to be 
selected by her; Also the following negroes viz; Red, Harry, Tom, Grace, and 
her daughter Nancy, Kitty and her child Bailey – also the rent and profits of 
the whole of my property in Gerard’s Town and the dividends on fifty shares of 
the stock which I now hold in the Bank of the Valley in Virginia.
2nd Page
Item.  To my daughter Isabella Wilson, I give and bequeath the tract of land 
on Middle Creek which I bought from the heirs of Joseph Park dec’d, formerly 
of the said County of Berkeley – Also the gig and harness now making for her – 
also that part of my household furniture, now considered as appropriated to 
her – also the following negroes viz; Jack, Harriet and her child, Clara and 
Ann and thirteen shares of the stock which I now hold in the Bank of the 
Valley in Virginia, in addition to the six shares formerly given to her, and 
which now stand in her name on the Books of said Bank – also a young sorrel 
horse called Selim, or if he should die, or be unfitted for service before my 
death, then another of equal value.  Item.  To William V. Wilson, James M. 
Wilson, and Mary C. Wilson, children and heirs of my son Samuel H,. Wilson 
dec’d, or to the survivors or survivor of them, I give and bequeath my tract 
of land on Back Creek which I purchased from James Blue formerly of Berkely 
County – Also the undivided moiety of a tract of land (lying on the East side 
of Back creek, opposite to and adjoining the before mentioned Blue tract) 
purchased jointly by my son Samuel H. Wilson and John P. Wilson from Daniel 
Seaburn and Theodore Seaburn, formerly of said County; which said undivided 
moiety of the said Seaburn tract, I have purchased from my son John P. Wilson 
for the benefit of my three grand children hereinbefore mentioned – This 
purchase I have made for the purpose of making one compact body of all the 
land held by my son Samuel H. Wilson dec’d, and that now I have given and 
bequeathed to his children.  It is my further Will and desire that should my 
three grand children aforesaid the words “or to the survivors or survivor of 
them” between the second and third lines of the second Item on this page, and 
the words “my sons” between the seventh and eight lines of the same, 
interlined before signed.  Wm Wilson.
3rd Page
All live until the youngest shall arrive, at the age of twenty one years, then 
that the Blue tract on the West side of Back creek, hereinbefore bequeathed, 
shall be equally divided, with just regard, to timber, as well as quantity and 
quality between my two grand sons aforesaid; and that the entire Seaburn 
tract, and all the lands held by their father, adjoining or contiguous to it 
be assigned to my granddaughter, their sister, and that they convey to her by 
deed in fee simple all the right title and interest in and to them, to which 
they are respectively entitled as joint heirs with her to their father’s 
estate.  This arrangement with the special bequeaths hereinafter made to my 
said granddaughter, will place them very nearly upon an equality, and will in 
my judgment be best and most advantageous for them all.  I Also give and 
bequeath to my grandson William P. Wilson, the negro boy named Daniel now in 
the service of my daughter-in-law his mother so my grand son James M. Wilson, 
I give and bequeath a negro boy named David, brothers of the boy Daniel; and 
to my grand daughter Mary C. Wilson, I give and bequeath a negro girl named 
Emily and five hundred dollars in cash, to be paid to her when she arrives at 
the age of twenty one years.  I do also further give and bequeath to my three 
grandchildren aforesaid, or to the survivors or survivor of them, one thousand 
dollars to be expended by my Executor hereinafter named in educating them 
according to their respective capacities for literary and intellectual 
improvement, and in the manner which shall in his opinion be most effectual in 
the attainment of that.
Wm Wilson.
4th Page
Important object, consulting at the same time, so far as circumstances may 
permit a prudent economy in the expenditure.  The surplus, if any, of their 
respective shares, of the one thousand dollars aforesaid, which may remain 
unexpended, to be paid to each of them in cash, as they respectively arrive at 
the age of twenty one years, or sooner at the discretion of my eExecutor.  I 
do hereby cancel and annul all claims upon the Estate of my son Samuel H. 
Wilson dec’d, for the amount of the advance of mercantile capital made to him 
the September eighteen hundred and fifteen, and for which I have his receipt.  
Item.  I give and bequeath to my Grand daughter Mary Wilson Sherrard a negro 
girl named Evelena, and five hundred dollars in cash when she shall arrive at 
the age of twenty one years, or sooner if circumstances will,  in the 
estimation of my Executor render it proper.  Also I will and bequeath to my 
grandsons Robert Sherrard, Edward Sherrard and John Broome Sherrard, or to the 
survivors ar survivor of them, one thousand dollars to be expended by my 
Executor, hereinafter named, in educating them according to their respective 
capacities for literary and intellectual improvement in the same manner and 
with the same views as directed for the sons of my deceased son Samuel H. 
Wilson, and the unexpended surplus, if any, shall remain of their respective 
shares of the said one thousand dollars to be paid to them in like manner as 
they respectively arrive at the age of twenty one years, or sooner at the 
discretion of my Executor.  These bequests to the children of my deceased 
daughter Elizabeth Sherrard, though of small amount when com-
Wm Wilson
5th Page
Pared with the provision made in this will for my other daughters yet when 
added to the gifts  of real Estate and personal property (including Bank 
stock) at various times since her marriage, in the year eighteen hundred and 
thirteen, they make a larger amount, than the whole allotment to either of her 
sisters – and although the real Estate given to her and her husband, was when 
conveyed to them, in consequence of the then enhances value, of all landed 
property estimated at a higher rate than it would be now, yet the intrinsic 
value of the property itself, the advantages of its situation, and the many 
years that they have enjoyed the use and profits of it, I consider as giving 
it a still higher comparative value than it bears in the estimate then made of 
it.  It is my further will and desire that should my son-in-laww Robert 
Sherrard, the father of my three grand sons aforesaid, refuse to permit them 
to be educated in the manner herein before directed, then my Executor shall 
have the amount of my bequest for that object vested in some safe and 
productive stock, or lent out upon good landed security for their benefit, and 
the respective share of each one of them, paid to them as they respectively 
arrive at the age of twenty one years.
Item.  I give and bequeath to my daughter Mary Coe, the tract of land on Back 
Creek which I bought of Alexander Fleming, formerly of Berkley County – also 
the tract of land adjoining the same, which I bought of Joseph Ritchew, and 
that tract of land at Gano Town, which I bought of the heirs of James Gano and 
others, generally called the Gano Town tract; with all the houses and lots in 
said Town, purchased from various persons, reserving from the said Gano Town 
tract, a parcel of woodland, to be cut off from the North western part 
thereof, by a lien running from the Southeastern corner of the tract of land 
which I purchased from the
Wm Wilson.
6th Page
Executors of Tomas Middleton deceased, in a Southwesterly direction so as to 
intersect the line of Joseph Henderson, at or near the land upon the usual 
road leading from Gano Town to said Hendersons saw mill, which said parcel of 
land, so cut off from the said Gano Town tract, by the said new line is 
supposed to contain twenty acres, more or less – and reserving also one acre 
of land, on that part of the said Gano Town tract where it borders on Back 
creek, opposite to, and a little above the old mansion house of James Gano 
dec’d, and near to where Back creek washes the base of the steep hill near the 
upper part of the creek line of said tract, for the purpose of abutting a mill 
dam with rights of way to and from the said place of abutment, along the 
eastern margin of the ow grounds, down to the eastern termination of the 
street of Gano Town- also a right of raceway for a canal and embankment, of 
forty feet in width along the foot of the hill, down through or near the lake 
to the southern line of the Middletown tract, with the right of a wagon way 
along the margin of the same – also I give to my said daughter Mary Coe the 
following negroes to wit: A negro girl named Maria, a negro man named Jim, and 
a negro boy named Jerry, also the new gig and harness now on hand, and two 
horses worth eight dollars each – and also one thousand dollars in cash, or so 
much of that sum as may not be advanced to her during my life time; to be paid 
to her as soon after my decease, as the circumstances of the funds of my 
Estate will permit.
Wm Wilson
7th Page
Item I give and bequeath to my son John Park Wilson the plantation whereon I 
now live, including the mountain tract purchased of John Baker and all other 
tracts or parcels of land purchased of James Hair and others and now 
considered as part of or attached to the plantation, with all its 
appurtenances, (subject to the provision hereinbefore made for my wife during 
her natural life) with all the farming instruments and utensils entire, 
including wagons, carts etc. – also the remainder of the household and kitchen 
furniture, after deducting the appropriations hereinbefore made – also the 
remainder of all the live stock (including) horses, cattle etc.) which may be 
on the plantation at the time of my decease, after deducting such parts 
thereof as are hereinbefore bequeathed.  I do also hereby cancel and annul the 
claims which I have upon him for the amount of mercantile capital advanced to 
himin the year eighteen hundred and sixteen, also for the amount of money 
advanced to him in the year eighteen hundred and twenty one when about going 
to Europe, for both which I have his receipts.  I also give and bequeath to my 
said son John P. Wilson the sum of one thousand dollars, to be paid to him as 
soon as all claims or debts against me which may be due or demandable at the 
time of my decease, shall be fully paid and satisfied, which said sum of one 
thousand dollars, is to be in full payment to him, for his undivided moiety of 
the Seaburn tract of land on Back creek, which I have purchased from him for 
the benefit of the children of my deceased son Samuel H. Wilson, as per his 
deed executed to me on the 16th day of December in the year eighteen hundred 
and twenty six.  Also I give and bequeath to my said son John P. Wilson the 
following negroes to wit; Adam, John Mark, Sandy, Sally and Milly
Wm Wilson
8th Page
Item.  I give and bequeath to my son-in-law Robert Sherrard, all my lands on 
and near the waters of the three fork creek, formerly lying in the County of 
Monongalia, and now perhaps in the County of Preston, and commonly called the 
three fork lands – also my tract of land in Harrison County commonly called 
the Bingam one tract; and also my tract of land in Belmont County in the State 
of Ohio, whereon Peter Tallman now lives, to hold the same in trust for the 
benefit of the children of my deceased daughter Elizabeth Sherrard of the 
survivors or survivor of them, with power if he should deem it most 
advantageous to my said grand children to sell and convey the said lands or 
any part of them, and to vest the proceeds in some safe and productive stock, 
or to place them at interest with good and sufficient landed security and pay 
to each of my said grand children or of the survivors or survivor of them the 
total amount thereof, according to their proportionate interest therein, as 
they respectively arrive at the age of twenty one years.
Wm. Wilson
9th Page.
Item.  Whereas I did in the month of October in the year of our Lord one 
thousand eight hundred and twenty five, determine to found and establish in 
the _____________ a scholarship for the education de novo, of poor and pious 
youth, for the purpose of qualifying them for the ministery of the Gospel in 
the Presbyterian Church as that church is now constituted in Virginia, I do 
hereby give and bequeath to the board of trustees of the ____ in the County of 
____ in the State of ____ and their successors for the time being, forever 
after, the sum of two thousand five hundred dollars, to be by them held in 
trust for the purpose aforesaid that is to say, that the said trustees shall 
hold the same vested in some productive stock, and appropriate all the income 
annually accruing therefrom to the support and education of poor and pious 
youth as aforesaid, in the manner following to wit:  the youth who are to 
receive the benefit of this scholarship, are to be taken in Succession from 
the commencement of their clerical education, in all cases, and to be trained 
in the ministerial office, by a thorough course of classical and theological 
learning, and to be selected exclusively from within the bounds of the 
Presbytery of Winchester – the selection to be made after my decease, by my 
son John P. Wilson during his lifetime and after his decease by the Presbytery 
of Winchester forever.  But should the said, Presbytery of Winchester at any 
time hereafter cease to exist as an Ecclesiastical body, then the said 
selection to be made by the synod of the Presbyterian Church in Virginia 
forever after.
Wm Wilson.
10th Page
Item.  All the residue of my Estate both real and personal I give and bequeath 
to be equally divided between my children, or their heirs, except as follows 
Viz; I give and bequeath to each of my three children now surviving or to 
their legal heirs the sum of two thousand five hundred dollars, and to the 
children of my son Samuel H. Wilson dec’d, the same sum of two thousand five 
hundred dollars, which said sum I estimate as an equivalent for the western 
lands in this state, and in the state of Ohio herein before devised to the 
children of my deceased daughter Elizabeth Sherrard, then the remainder after 
deducting the four sums of two thousand five hundred dollars as aforesaid, to 
be divided equally among all my said children or their legal representatives 
one fifth part, to the children of my deceased daughter Elizabeth Sherrard, 
one fifth part and one fifth part to each of my three children now surviving 
or to their legal heirs and should it be necessary in order to make a division 
more conveniently under this clause of my Will, to make sale of all or any 
part of the real estate or personal estate included in this residuary clause 
then my Executor hereinafter named, is hereby fully authorized to sell and 
convey the same or any part thereof.  The word “heirs” between the fourth and 
fifth lines of this page from the top, interlined before signed.
Wm Wilson
11th Page.
Item.  IT is further my will and intention that in failure of issue of any of 
my children now living or in the event of the death of all the children of 
either my son or daughter now deceased, or both of them, without issue, or 
before arriving at the age of twenty one years, then that all the Estate 
herein devised to them, or to either of them respectively shall pass to my 
other children, or their heirs, to be equally divided between them – and to 
prevent all misunderstanding of my meaning in this respect, or wherever in 
this Will an equal division is directed between my children and grand children 
do hereby declare my true intent and meaning to be, that in every such equal 
division, the children of each of my two children now dec’d, or of those who 
may decease before any such distribution, shall together be entitled to the 
same proportion which their father or their mother would have been 
respectively entitled to, if alive at the time  - And further in regard to my 
said grand children, it is my express will and intention, that should any one 
or more of them die without issue, and before arriving at the age of twenty 
one years, then that their proportionate share of each and all the bequests of 
Estate, both real and personal hereinbefore made to the collectively, shall in 
all cases pass to the survivors or survivor of them.  
Item.  It is my further Will and desire, notwithstanding the provision made in 
the residuary clause of this Will, that whether my wife survive me or not, all 
the personal property devised to her use during her life, except the Bank 
stock and negroes, be equally divided between my three now surviving children 
Isabella Wilson, John P. Wilson, and Mary Coe, or their respective heirs.
Wm Wilson
12th Page.
Item.  Having endeavored to frame all the devises of this my last will and 
testament fully and explicitly, I trust that their true intent and meaning 
will be readily and distinctly understood but if unhappily any dispute or 
misunderstanding shall arise respecting them, or any of the, my Will and 
direction expressly is, that all disputes shall be decided by three impartial 
and intelligent men, known for their probity and good understanding two to be 
chosen by the disputants, each having the choice of one, and the third by 
these two, which three men thus chosen, shall, unfettered by law or legal 
constructions – and such decision is to all intent and purpose to be as 
binding on the parties as if it had been given in the Court of appeal of 
Virginia.  Item.  It is likewise my further will and desire, that my Executor 
shall not be required to make any distribution of my Estate according to the 
foregoing devises, before the month of January next ensuing my decease, nor in 
any case within less than six months from that time but that distribution be 
made as soon after the expiration of such time as may be practicable.  And I 
do also further will and direct that the stock of forage, grain and other 
provisions, which I may have on hand at the time of my decease be appropriated 
to the support and maintenance of my family which may remain together until 
the time of such distribution as aforesaid together or with the negroes and 
stock, until that time.  The remainder to be appropriated to the use of my 
wife, or so much thereof as she may require, and the residue to remain for the 
use of the plantation.
Wm Wilson
13th Page
Item.  I do hereby, earnestly enjoin it upon all my children and grand 
children who are to enjoy the benefit of the devises hereinbefore made, at all 
times and in all places to appropriate liberally of the means which the bounty 
of divine providence may afford them to the support of the Gospel, and of 
institutions calculated to promote the best interest of man.  Lastly I 
constitute and appoint my son John Park Wilson to be the sole Executor of this 
last will and testament and having made in the foregoing devises such 
provision for him as I intend for compensation for his services as my 
Executor, and as Superintendant of the education of my grand children, and 
allowing him only a reimbursement for his necessary expenses while attending 
to the same, and nearly all the devises being made in the most special manner, 
it is my express will and desire, that he be permitted to qualify as my 
Executor without giving the usual security, and that no Inventory or 
appraisement be required.  In Witness of all and singular the things herein 
contained I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 18th day of December 1826.
Wm Wilson.
Signed, Sealed, published and declared in our presence and 
The signatures to each of the preceding twelve pages acknowledged in our 
presence and theinterlineations in the second and tenth pages as stated at the 
bottom of those pages 
Approved and attested by the testator.
Wm Campbell, Frederick Ramer, John H. Park,
James b. Russell, James M. Brown
14th Page
Codicil to the foregoing Will.  I William Wilson of prospect Hill in the 
County of Berkeley and State of Virginia, do hereby ordainand establish the 
following Codicil to the foregoing last Will and testament.  I give and 
bequeath to my daughter-in-law Mary Wilson widow of my deceased son Samuel H. 
Wilson, one third part of all the rents issues and profits of all the lands 
lying on back creek and devised in the foregoing Will to the children of my 
said son Samuel H. Wilson deceased, until the youngest of the said children, 
or of the survivors or survivor of them arrives at the age of twenty one 
years. – and one fourth part of the said rents, issues, and profits 
thereafter, for and during the term of her natural life – also the privilege 
if she chooses to occupy during her widowhood the house on the southern part 
of the Blue tract on which James Blue formerly lived, with all its out houses 
and other appurtenances and with the privilege of so much of the fruit and 
firewood of the said plantation as may be necessary for her comfort, and also 
the right to occupy and cultivate thirty acres of the exessed cleared land on 
the southern part of said tract or plantation lying between the County road 
and back creek.  In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my hand and 
seal this 18th day of December 1826.
Wm Wilson
Signed sealed published and declared as a
Codicil to the foregoing last Will and testament 
By the testator in the presence of 
Wm Campbell
James B. Russell
Frederick Ramer
John H. Park
Samuel M. Brown
Recorded 13 June 1831



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