Will of Joel Preston Sr., 1827 - Bedford Co. VA Written, Bedford County, Virginia 25 October 1827 (See Minutes, May term 1828, Smith County, Tennessee) Recorded 4 June 1829, Smith County, Tennessee Will Bk. 1, Pg. 27 In the name of God Amen. I Joel Preston senr of Bedford County and state of Virginia being well in body and of sound mind and memory, thanks be to God for the same and knowing that it is appointed unto man once to die think proper to make this my last will and testament in manner and form following (to wit) It is my will & desire that I be buried in a decent manner and that all of my funeral expences be paid together with all my just debts by my executrix and executors herein after named and then the balance of my (sic) to be disposed of as follows - Item - I give & bequeath to my beloved wife LUCY PRESTON all my estate both real & personal not otherwise disposed of for her own proper use for & during her natural life or until she with my other executors may think it advisable to sell off any part of the perishable property or divide by lot any portion of my negroes that may become or likely to become burdunsome, and at her death it is my desire that the remaining part of my estate be disposed of as follows Item - I give & bequeath to my son WILLIAM PRESTON all the property that he has hitherto received of me estimated in value at one hundred pounds (and he is to have nothing more from my estate until each of my children receive that amount) to have & to hold to him and his heirs forever. Item -- I give & bequeath to my daughter SUSANNAH AGNEW formerly Susannah Preston all the property that she has hitherto received of me estimated in value at one hundred pounds (she is to have no more from my estate until each of my children receive that amount) to have & to hold to her & her heirs forever. Item -- I give and bequeath to my son FRANCIS PRESTON all the property that he has hitherto received of me estimated in value at eighteen pounds and also eighty two pounds to be paid him in property at valuation after the death of my wife LUCY PRESTON to have & to hold to him and his heirs forever. Item - I give & bequeath to my son ISAAC PRESTON all the property that he has hitherto received of me estimated in value at one hundred pounds (and he is to have nothing more from my estate until each of my children receive that amount) to have & to hold to him and his heirs forever- Item. I give & bequeath to my son JOEL PRESTON the property that he has hitherto received of me estimated in value at eighteen pounds and also eighty two pounds to be paid him in money arising from the sale of my estate (it is not my wish that he shall have any of my negroes which sum above named is not to be paid him until after the death of my wife LUCY PRESTON) to have & to hold to him and his heirs forever - Item. I give & bequeath to my son CALEB PRESTON all the property that he has hitherto received of me estimated in value at eighteen pounds and also eighty two pounds to be paid him in property at valuation after the death of my wife LUCY PRESTON. To have & to hold to him and his heirs Forever - Item. I give & bequeath to my daughter NANCY PRESTON one hundred pounds to be paid to her in property at valuation after the death of my wife LUCY PRESTON to have and to hold to her and her heirs forever-- Item. I give & bequeath to my daughter LUCINDY MAGANN formerly Lucinda Preston all the property that she has hitherto received of me estimated In value at six pounds and also ninety four pounds to be paid her in property at valuation after the death of my wife LUCY PRESTON, to have & to hold to her and her heirs forever -- Item. I give & bequeath to my daughter POLLY PRESTON one hundred pounds to be paid to her in property at valuation after the death of my wife Lucy Preston to have & to hold to her heirs (sic) & her heirs forever --Item. I give & bequeath to my daughter PERMELIA PRESTON one hun dred pounds to be paid to her in property at valuation after the death of my wife LUCY PRESTON. To have and to hold to her & her heirs forever -- Item. I give & bequeath to my daughter MARIAH PRESTON one hundred pounds to be paid to her in property at valuation after the death of my wife LUCY PRESTON to have and to hold to her and her heirs forever -- Item. I give & bequeath to my son CHARLES PRESTON all the property that he has hitherto received estimated in value at ten pounds ten shillings and also eighty nine pounds ten shillings to be paid to him in property at valuation after the death of my wife LUCY PRESTON to have & to hold to him & his heirs forever. Item. I give & bequeath to my daughter ELIZABETH P.(sic?) PRESTON one hundred pounds to be paid to her in property at valuation after the death of my wife LUCY PRESTON to have & to hold to her and her (sic) and her heirs forever.-- It is my will & desire that my negroes in the first place after the death of my wife LUCY PRESTON (or before, so far as she together with my other executors may think expedient) be divided by lot amongst such of my children as has not already received one hundred pounds (my son JOEL excepted who is to receive no negro property but money or other property in lieu thereof) until each one's por- tion with what they have already received as above charged amounts to one hundred pounds and that the balance of my estate if any be equally divided amongst my above named thirteen children after the death of my wife LUCY PRESTON-it is also my will & decree that my executors herein after named, after the death of my said wife LUCY PRESTON proceed to sell my lands together with all my other property and said negroes should there be any that cannot be divided - Lastly. I do ordain & appoint my wife LUCY PRESTON FRANCIS BOARD and THOMAS KASEY my whole and sole executrix and executors to this my last will and testament in witness whereof I hereunto set my hand and seal this 25 day of October the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred & twenty seven. N.B.(?). It is my special will & desire that none of my Legatees contend for any land sold by me which I received by my first wife ESTHER PRESTON formerly ESTHER HOWARD as the above will seemeth to me just amongsst all my children and should any of my legatees contend for any land so sold such damages as may come against my estate on acc- ount of such contending legatee or legatees it is to be deducted out of their portion or portions left them in the above will as witness I hereunto set my hand and seal the day & date above written. JOEL PRESTON (seal) Signed & acknowledged in Presence of ALEXANDER KASEY. (See minutes May term 1829) JOHN BOARD. THOMAS McCABE Recorded 4 June 1829, Smith Co., TN (Submitter Note: The line spacing in the original document is as it appears above Joel Preston (Sr.) removed from Bedford County after this will was written. He arrived in Smith County, TN in 1828, and died there the same year.) Submitted by Sonia Meyer **************************************************************** USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. Files may be printed or copied for personal use only. ****************************************************************