Will of Alexander Ferguson, 1817 - Franklin Co. VA BK ? Page 207-209 In the name of God Amen, I Alexander Ferguson of the County of Franklin being weak in body but of a sound mind and disposing memory (for which I thank God) and calling to mind the uncertainty of human life and being desirous to dispose of all such worldly Estate as it hath pleasest God to blefs me with, do hereby make my last Will and Testament in manner and form following Viz 1st I desire that all my Just debts be paid as soon as it can be done after my decease 2nd I leave to my dear wife Mary Ferguson during her natural life or widowhood the place whereon I now live & the following slaves to wit John, Jude, Bob, Lid, & Ned, & all my house hold and Kitchen Furniture 3rd I give to my son Thomas Ferguson the Tract of Land whereon he now lives, except twenty five Acres to be taken off from the same along from the old house branch so called to the road, & in lieu of the twenty five Acres above mentioned I give my said son Thomas the field above the lane lying on the Gills Creek 4th I give to my son Noah Ferguson the tract of Land whereon he now lives 5th I give to my sons Eli & Daniel Ferguson my two tracts of Land one known by the name of the old house Tract and the other by the name of the Scotchmans Tract with the twenty five Acres taken off the Tract given my son Thomas, except a piece of Land to be taken off the Old House Tract beginning at the head of the branch called Parkers house branch and down the same as it meanders to Gills Creek & thence up Gills Creek as it meanders to the back line of the old house Tract, thence along said line to the Corner of the tract known by the name of Clybouns (sic) Tract & whereon I now reside my son Eli proportion of said Land to include the plantation & Improvements that he has made I __ that the above two tracts of Land given my sons Eli & Daniel be laid off and valued by two or more disinterested persons and which ever has the most valueable part to pay to the other the difference Eli improvments not to be considered of in the valuation and in case my son Eli should depart this life without an heir at the death of his wife, the Land __ is to him Return & be equally divided between my other Children 6th I give to my son Stephen Ferguson the Tract of Land whereon I now reside after the death or widowhood of his mother together with the piece of Land taken off the old house Tract, and during the life of his mother he is to have liberty of clearing & tilling any proportion of said Land 7th I give my Daughter Elizabeth Smith one negro Girl named Hannah 8th I Give to my Executors herein after named a negroe woman named Luce to be hired out & the proceeds of the hire for the benefit of my Daughter Mary Board's Children until the youngest of them become of age or Marry's & after that event I desire that the said Negroe & her increase if any be equally divided amongst my said daughter Boards Children 9th after the death or widowhood of my Wife I give all the residue of my personal Estate to be equally divided between my three Daughters Elizabeth Smith, Martha Donaho, & Susanna Short and my deceased daughter Mary Boards Children my Executors to have the control of my daughter Boards Children proportion until they respectively become of Age & pay them the yearly profits, except one hundred pounds which I direct to be made out of the whole personal Estate as soon as conveniently can after my Wifes decease the same to be held by my Executors for the benefit of my son Noah Children, & lastly I do herby appoint Eli & Thomas Ferguson Executors of this my last Will & Testament hereby revoking all other or former Wills or Testaments by me heretofore made In Witnefs where of I have hereunto set my hand & affixed my seal this 29th day of October 1817 his Signed Sealed & acknowledged in presence of Alexander X Ferguson William Salmon mark James Deftwich Jr. At a Court held for Franklin County January 5th 1818 This Last Will and Testament of Alexander Ferguson deceased was produced in Court by Eli Ferguson and Thomas Ferguson the Excutors herein named and proved by the oath of William Salmon and James Deftwich Jr. the Wintefes hereto and ordered to be recorded. And on the motion of the said Executors who took the oath prescribed by Law and together with Skelton Taylor and William Childrefs their Securities entered into and acknowledged their Bond in the penalty of twenty thousand dollars conditioned according to Law Certificate is granted for obtaining a Probate in due form Teste Caleb Tate C_C Submitted by Bushy Hartman **************************************************************** 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. ****************************************************************