Will of Joseph Rentfro, 1775 - Bedford Co. VA In the Name of God Amen - I Joseph Rentfro of Bedford County and Colony of Virginia, Esq. Being very sick and weak in body but of Perfect Mind and Memory, thanks be given unto God. Calling unto Mind the Mortality of my body and Knowing that it is appointed for all Men … to Die do make and ordain this my Laste well and Testament, that is to say Principally and first of all I give and Recommend my Soul to the hand of the Almighty God that gave it and my Body be recommended to the Earth to be buried in Decent Christian Burial at the Discretion of my executors. Nothing doubting but at the General Resurrection I shall resume the same again by the Mighty Power of God. And as touching such worldly estate wherewith as has pleased God to Bless Me in this Life, I Give … and dispose of same in the following Manner. And Form --- And after my just Debts being Paid ----- First than I give and bequeath to Mary, my Dearly beloved Wife Hereon, My Bed and furniture, My Riding Horse and her Saddle, Likewise her third part according to Law. Likewise the Beste Negroe wench So Long as She Continues a widow ---- Also I give to my beloved son, James Rentfro Five Shillings Current Money of this Colony --- Also I give to my beloved daughter Mary Jones Five Shillings Current Money of this Colony --- Also I Give to my Beloved son Joseph Rentfro Five Shillings Current Money of this Colony. Also I give unto my Beloved Son an Law … Moses Renfro living and Daughter Hannah Deceased, Five Shillings Current Money of this Colony. Also I Give unto my Beloved Son John Rentfro, Five Shillings Current Money of this Colony--- Also I give to my Beloved Daughter Susanna Rentfro, Five Shillings Current Money of this Colony--- Also I give unto my Beloved Son William Rentfro a Negro Boy or Girl and a piece of Land Lying Between the _____ _____ and the Pine Tree Likewise an Entry on each side. --- Also I Give to my Beloved Son Joshua Rentfro the South Side of this Land on Blackwater Which I Now Live on. Likewise Crossing the South Fork of Blackwater, Through the Wild Meadow to the Old Lewis Wright Place and an equal share of My Negros after my Demise together with my Son Mark Rentfro with the exception of the Negro Wench Bequeathed or Given to my Dearly Beloved Wife to be shared equally after her decease --- to be Divided equally between the Sd. Joshua and Mark Rentfro.--- Also I give and Bequeath to my Beloved Son Mark Rentfro the North Side of this Land on the Blackwater which I now reside, and Likewise his Equal Parte of My Negros I have in this Last Parte Given and Bequeathed to My Son Joshua. … Also I Give to My Sons Joshua and Mark Rentfro an entry on either side of Blackwater equally Divided across according to their Lines. Also For My Goods and Chattells I Desire that at My Decease My Goods and Chattells may be Sold at Publick Sale and the Value Equally Divided between my Three Youngest Sons, William, Joshua and Mark Rentfro Saving the Third Parte as before mentioned to My Beloved Wife Mary --- and I do hereby utterly deny all my Former Testaments, Wills, Bequeasts … and confirming this and no other to be my Laste will and Testamente --- In witness whereof I have hereunto set my Hand and Seal --- this fourteenth day of November in the year of Our Lord one thousand Seven Hundred and Seventy Five --- Signed Sealed and Published Joseph Rentfro (His Seal) Provisions Declared by the Mr. Joseph Rentfro as Signed Michael Dunn James Hunt Executors Appointed With Consents of All in this Process to James Rentfro Junr. and Joseph Rentfro, my Son Joshua Rentfro and William all my Sons--- At the Court held for Bedford County March 25th 1776. The last Will and Testament of Joseph Rentfro Gente. Deceased was proved by the Oath of James Hunt --- at a Court held for the Said County the Twenty-second day of April following the same as further proved by the Oath of Michael Dunn and Ordered to be Recorded. And on the Motion of James Rentfro, Junr. John Rentfro and William Rentfro who made Oath thereto Administration is granted on the said Decedent’s Estate with the Will annexed giving Security Whereupon they together with John Talbot Matthew Talbot and Charles Lynch Gente. Entered into and acknowledged the Bond in the penalty of Three Thousand pounds for the Due and faithful Administration of the Said Decedent’s Estate Aperformance of his Will. Test. J. Steptoe C. C. A Copy - Teste: H.P. Scott, Clerk of the Circuit Court, Bedford County, Virginia, Will Book I, Page 243. 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