Will of Henry Clark, 1828 - Henry Co. VA "I, Henry Clark, of the County of Henry, and the State of Virginia, being of perfect mind and memory... do make and ordain this my last will and Testament... "1. My desire is that immediately after my decease, my executor hereafter named sell to the highest bidder my tract of land ... on Daniels creek and so much of my perishable property (including slaves) as shall amount to one thousand dollars over and above what shall pay my just debts and these thousand dollars so raised I wish equally divided among my nine first children, viz, Jonathan, Elizabeth, James, Nancy, Frances, Jacob, Ruth, Joseph and Samuel without regard to what I have respectively given them. My two servants, Squire and Peter, I wish valued by three discrete persons ... and the said Negroes to have the liberty of choosing which of all my children they prefer to serve, and the master or masters so chosen ... shall pay ... the amount of said valuation within twelve months ... My old servant, Jack, I wish neither valued or sold but to have the liberty himself of choosing which of all my children he will prefer to serve and his master so chosen by him shall enjoy him as an extra legacy of my estate and shall treat him humanely so long as he, the said Negro, may live. "2nly. My will and desire is that the land and tenement whereon I now live be enjoyed and possessed by my present wife, Cassandra Clark, during her natural life together with all personal property except what is bequeathed above, and at her death my will is that the said premises be sold ... the money in excess of one thousand dollars be divided among my last eight children, viz, Sally, William, Nathaniel, Purvania, Gideon, Assinette, Susanna and David without regard to anything that I have given them heretofore, and then if anything remain of my estate after paying them that thousand dollars still not bequeathed, I wish such residue equally divided among all my seventeen children or their heirs. "3rdly. My wish is that my children infants now with me be supported comfortably out of the land or produce thereof above bequeathed to my wife, Cassandra Clark, until they shall arrive at the age of twenty one years respectively ... "4thly. I do hereby appoint my two sons, Jacob Clark, William H. Clark and Tarleton King sole executors... Signed in the presence of W. Hereford, John I. Fontain, Noah Salmon, (signed) Henry Clark. (seal) Submitted by Jeannie Watts **************************************************************** 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. ****************************************************************