Halifax County, VA - Will Book 3 (partial) ************************************************************************ 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 ************************************************************************ Page 123 All of the spelling and capitalization is original. Where I could not decipher the handwriting, assumptions are in brackets. Rosemary Isbell Holdredge September Court 1794 123 In the name of God, Amen. I George Isbell of Halifax county being sick and weak in body but of sound and disposing mind and memory and calling to mind the mortallity of all flesh knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die [and I] think it Necessary to make and ordain this my Last Will and Testament that is to say principally and first of all I give and recommend my soul to God and my body to the Earth to be buried in a christian like and decent manner at the discretion of my Executors hereafter named and as touching such worldly goods as it hath pleased almighty God to bless me with I give [demies] and dispose of in manner [a ne] from following. Imprinis. It is my will that the Land I purchased [from] John Fasler, lying on Caroline County and also that part of my land in Halifax County lying on the Ridge, both adjoining Reuben Picketts William Adkesson and others together with my Negroe Boy Gilbert may be sold by my Exeu[tors] hereafter named, and the Land Conveyed to the purchasers by my Executors by Deed, and the money issuing from such sales to be Applied to the payment of my Just debts and if any money remain after the payment of the [. . .] said debts, It is my will that my Exec. purchase a Negro with the same such [. . .] as my conscience will be most serviceable to my wife and children and if any Money still remain after the purchase of Sd. Negro, I give the same to my beloved wife, Mary Isbell to her and her Heirs forEver. Item. It is my will that my beloved Wife Mary Isble have the use and benefit of all my Estate real and personal (not heretofore mentioned) during their Natural life or widowhood which Estate it is my will that she live on freely Enjoy and Improve the profits issuing from the same to be [utilized] to her Support as also the raising, Maintaining, and Educating my Children. It is also my will that if any of my Children Marry during the life or widowhood of my wife and my Estate should so Improve that my wife can spare them any part or parts of my Estate that she be at liberty so to do provided they be answerable at the division of my Estate for such part or parts so lent by my wife. Further it is my will that if my wife should Marry after my decease she may have Negro Same, one feather Bed and furniture which Negro and Bed I lond [loaned] her during her Natural life and at her death to be Equally divided among the Children. I had by her to them and their heirs forever Item. It is my will that at the death or Marriage of my wife my Land whereon I now live be Equally divided among my three Sons, namely John Isbell, [James] Isbell, Thomas D. Isbell to them and there heirs forEver. Item. It is my will that my four Daughters namely Sarah Isbell, Nancy Isbell, Polley Isbell and Agatha Isbell Each have a horse and Saddle as they come of age or Marry which I give to them and there heirs forever. Item. It is my will that at the death or Marriage of my Wife all my Estate be it so whatsoever kind it may that is not heretofore finally disposed of be Equally divided among my Children Namely Sarah, John, George Nancy, Sally, Agatha and Thomas D. Isbells to them or the Survivors of them or their heirs lawfully begotten of there body I give it forEver. I Constitute and appoint my beloved wife, Mary Isbell Executor and Isaac Oakes, William Collins, and Jacob Faulkner Executors of this my last Will and Testament, this Will Revoking all other Wills by me made. In witness whereof I set my name and seal this 15th day of May 1794. Signed in the presents of Rich. F. Holland George Foster Geo.r Isbell [Sketched seal SS] Elizabeth Holland Caty Faulkner In court held for Halifax County the 22nd day of September 1794. The within Last will and Testament of George Isbell Dec. was presented in Court and proved by the Oaths of two witnesses thereto to be the Art and will of the Said Isbell and was Ordered to be Recorded, and on the [matter] of William Collins one of the Executors therein named and Mary Isbell the Executrix therein also named who made oath thereto According to Law and together with Ruben Picket Joseph Howell and John Adams these securities enter into and Acknowledge there bonds in the penalty of Two Thousand pounds condition as the Law direct Certificate for obtaining probate of said Will is Granted them in due form of Law liberty being Reserved to the Other Executors to join in the probate when they shall so cause. Truly Recorded [Test] Geo Carrington, D.D. 6 Test. W. Thompson D.C.H. Embossed seal of Halifax County (20th Century) A Copy Teste: H. M. Sizemore Clerk Circuit Court Halifax Co., Va. Book 3 Page 123 Submitted by Rosemary Holdredge