Frederick County, VA - Will of William Ross, 1782 File submitted by Martha Thayer for use in the USGenWeb Archives ************************************************************************ USGENWEB ARCHIVES 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. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.net *********************************************************************** County Court of Hampshire Co., Romney, West Virginia This is a type written article on the first page of the will. ROSS, William (of Frederick Co.) - 3-11-1754; pr. 9-11-1759 W., Arminella. 8 ch., 1-John (Fairfax Grant No. 56); 2- Lawrence, 3- Robert, 4- William, 5- Taverner (these latter four, Lott 55, Fairfax grant; William gets part with house and gardens); 6- Hanna, 7- Elizabeth, 8- Arminella, Gr. Ch., John and Cornelius Miller, (minors). Exec., wife. Sec., Thomas McQuire, Hugh Murphy. Wit. John Hammer, Jr., and John J. Ross, George Hog. Note by Publishers of Record: John Ross m. Deborah Jane Johnson. Was her father John and Mother, Deborah Hood Johnson of Northern Liberties, Phil. Co., Pa? Lawrence Ross m. Susan Oldham, daughter of (John?) Dead 1766. And Ann Conway Oldham(?) Who, a widow by 1766, married Darby Aughney. Robert Ross m. first Nancy Reeves, daughter of Benjamin Reeves and sister of Austin Smith Reeves. Second, Elizabeth ________. William Ross m. Winifred Rector, dau. Of Dan, Sister of Conway and Charles Rector. Taverner Ross m. first Indian wife. Second. Aphia Ward. Hannah m. Miller: sons: John and Cornelius Elizabeth m. (Henry?) Enoch Arminella m. --------- Wood. Sold land Bracken Co., Ky. 1803. Cornelius Miller killed by Indian, Com or Cum??, O., 1792 or 1793 WILL of WILLIAM ROSS of Frederick in the Colony of Virginia This is a photocopy of the will, the folds in the paper and the edges have disintegrated. Every double s in the document is written with the backward fs. Mt In the name of God Amen, I William Ross of the County of Frederick in the Colony of Virginia being in good Health of Body & sound in the mind & memory (blessed be God) but calling to mind the uncertainty of life and the certainty of Death do make this my Last Will and Testament in manner following... First: I resign my soul to almighty God who gave it and my Body to the Earth there to be decently buried according to the discretion of my Executrix in Hopes of Glorious Resurrection thru Jesus Christ my Savior. And as to the worldly goods which it hath pleased God to bestow on me I leave and bequeath in manner following. First Item: I order all my just debts & funeral expenses to be paid. I leave & bequeath to my well beloved wife Arminella Ross the use & profits of the Plantation whereon I now Dwell and of all my moveable estate (except what afterwards I shall bequeath as Legacies) Untill the day of her marriage or Death untill my children shall be of age. ____& out of which I order that she do maintain and keep my children in all necessaries until they come of age and ____ye shall marry or dye before the children arrive at full age. I leave and bequeath to her an equal part of share of my moveable estate with my children thereafter named by her to be dispose of according to her pleasure and I also leave to my said wife my ____mare Jewell. Item: I leave & bequeath to my son John all that Lott or Plantation of Land No. 56 to him & heirs forever together with one mare & one cow of the value of seven pounds current money. Item: I leave & bequeath to my sons Lawrence, Robert, William & Taverner the Plantation whereon I now (dwell?) (At the remarriage?) or death of my wife & after all my children are arrived at (age?) & not till then which Plantation I order to be equally divided among them either in parcells or that it be sold & the price equally divided among them & this I leave to the Discretion of my Executrix and if the said Plantation shall be divided among them in Parcells I order that my son William have that part or Division on which my Dwelling house & out houses & gardens stand. Item: I leave to my children Lawrence, William, Robert, Taverner, Hanna, Arminella & Elizabeth an equal share of all my movable estate with my wife Arminella Legates accepted and I order that each of my said children shall and do receive their equal part of my said Estate whenever they be of age without delay or Deduction. Item: I leave to my grandchildren John & Cornelius Miller two mares & two cows of the value of Twelve pounds curt money and I all their mother to have use of them till they are of age. Lastly, I do hereby constitute and appointed my well beloved wife Arminella Ross Executrix of this my last will and Testament revoking all will by me formerly made & declaring this to be my last will & Testament In Witness (or hereof I have hereuntil set my Hand and Seal the 11 Day of March in the year of our Lord 1754 Fifty Four Signed Seal Published and declared in the presence of WILL ROSS John Hammer Jun. John Ross J his mark George Hoge at a court held fore Hampshire County the 11 day of September 1759 This last will and Testament of William Ross (decd. was presented in Court my Arminella Ross the Executrix therein named proved by the oath of George Hoge one of the witnesses thereto & ordered to remain in the Clerks Office for further proof Signed Gabriel Jones Cl. Court ---------------------County the 12th day of March ----presented in court ---------------- This last will & testament of William Ross decd. being formerly providing one of the witnesses as thereto is order to be recorded and on the motion of the Executrix who made oath hereto according to Law certificate is granted her for obtaining a ----- thereof indue form giving security whereupon she together with Thomas McGuire & G Hoge grant they her to witness entered into ------now— —Bond with the Penalty of three hundred pounds for her & faithful administration of the said deceased estate ---------from his will. At Court held for Hampshire County the 9 day of June The last Will & Testament of William Ross decd. was further proved by the ---- of John Hammer Junr. Another of the witnesses thereto ordered to be certified. Test Gabriel Jones Cl. Crt. This Indenture made this 30th day of April in the year of our Lord One Thousand seven hundred and Eighty two. Between Arminilla Ross Widow of William Ross decd. of the County of Hampshire of the one part and Lawrence Ross son of the said William Ross of the said County of the other part Witnesseth that the said Arminilla Ross for and in the consideration of the sum of one Hundred Pounds current money of Virginia to her in hand paid that bargained Sold and Delivered and by these presents Doth grant sell and deliver unto the said Lawrence Ross all that Tract or Parcel of Land on which she now lives and which was bequeathed her by the last Will and Testament of the said William Ross deced. as will fully appear by the said Will in the County Court Recorded containing four Hundred and Fifty Six acres be the same more or less for and during the natural life of the said Arminilla Ross. To have and to hold the said Land together with all and singular the Premises Profits Issues Immunities Rents & Hereditaments of every kind whatsoever to him the said Lawrence Ross and his Heirs for and during the Term aforesaid with full Warranty of the same against the claim of any known person whatsoever. In witnesses whereof the said Arminilla Ross has set her hand and affixed her seal the date above written first Signed Sealed and Her Delivered in Presence of Arminelia x Ross Seal Geo: Carruthers Mark William x Ross Winyfrite x Ross Received of Lawrence Ross One Hundred Pounds Current Money of Virginia being the consideration within mentioned the date thereon written Teste William x Ross Winyfrit x Ross Shapley Ross At a court held for Hampshire County the 13th day of August 1782. This Deed from Arminilla Ross to Lawrence Ross with the receipt thereon endorsed was proved by the oaths of the witnesses thereunto subscribed and ordered to be recorded. By the Court AndWodrow Cl: Curt: (Very fancy W or extremely ornament M) William Ross Will was written Frederick Co., VA March 11, 1754. Probate was in Hamsphire Co., W. Va. (State lines changed) September 11, 1759. The indenture signed 13th day of August 1782, Hamsphire County, Romney West Virginia. Transcribed by Martha Thayer