File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Linda Boyd Lawhon USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be freely used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages cannot be reproduced in any format for profit or other presentation. WILL OF WILLIAM DOUGLAS LOUDOUN COUNTY VIRGINIA WB C:15-19 3/30 June 1780 24 Sep 1782, Codicil 11 Mar 1783, Proved Loudoun County in the State of Virginia, Garralland, June 3d 1780 In the name of God, Amen. I William Douglass of the County and State aforesaid being healthy and well which I bless God for, but calling to mind the uncertainty of human life and having business calling me abroad to the back country, not knowing how soon it may please Almighty God to call me home, I do make this my last Will and Testament in manner & form following, that is to say, I do hereby revoke & disanull all and every Will or Wills heretofore by me made, either by word or writing and this only to be taken for my last Will and Testament, this being wrote by my own hand and none else. First of all I recommend my Soul to God that give it me, my Body to the dust, to be buried in a decent Christian burial at the discretion of my Executor hereafter mentioned. Secondly it's my desire that all my just debts and funerall expenses be first paid, the better to enable him to do it, it's my desire that what stock of every kinds I have that can be spaired (after the Legacies is paid of) be sold for money, giving twelve months credit, my small tract of land near the Anabaptist Meeting house called Greens Place, also be sold, my debts which are money to be collected, my land in Bartley be cleared from the office and sold for money at twelve months credit. This I hope will sufficiently do to pay all I owe and whatever it more, I desire the money over and above paying my debts be equally divided between my five girls and two sons (Viz. Hugh Douglass, Patrick Douglass, Kitty Heale, Betty Douglass, Nancy Douglass, Hannah Douglass, & Peggy Douglass.) Thirdly I leave unto my loving wife Sarrah Douglass a part of the plantation whereon I leave (sic) to include my dwelling house, the meadows of Smith Shopfield, together with the big field above the house and to include the whole of my purchase from Edward (?Doolin?) which in all will make between two hundred and two hundred & fifty akers, al allso I leave unto her a full third of everything of Stock & Negroes during her natural life and after her decease to be equally divided among my children above mentioned or their representatives. Fourthly, I leave to my eldest daughter, Kitty Heale, Three hundred pounds current money to be pain in the old way, in tobacco, at twenty shillings pr hundred, corn at ten shillings pr barrell, wheat at four shillings pr bushell or any other thing at the old prices as my Executor and their Representatives may agree. 5th, I leave to my daughter Elizabeth Betsy Douglass five hundred pounds current money to be paid in the old way as above describe to be done to my daughter Kitty. I also leave unto her a horse, the choice of all my horses or mares, a woman's new saddle and bridle, a feather bed & furniture as good as such as she is used to lye on, to be paid her as soon as she comes to the age of eighteen or if she should marry sooner, immediately after her marriage. 6th, I leave to my daughter Nancy, five hundred pounds current money and her second choice of my horses and mares for a riding creature for herself, a woman's new saddle and bridle and a feather bed and furniture, the horse and saddle & bridle to be paid immediately after my death & the money as soon as she arrives at the age of eighteen or immediately after her marriage if she should marry sooner. 7th, I leave to my two daughters, Hannah Douglas and Peggy Douglass, five hundred pounds each current money to be paid the old way as my other daughters and that my Executor maintain them, cloath & board them and give them at least six months schooling with Morehain or some good Schoolmaster to instruct them Arithmatick & writing, the money due them to draw interest after they arrive at the age of fourteen and to be paid at the age of eighteen both principle & interest. 8th, I leave & bequeath to my son Patrick Douglass all my lands that I am now going over the Mountain for or have a right to claim from an officer's right which Valentine Crawford and I bought of Capt. William Christie of Fort Pitt, also the right to what land Philip Burzaan sold me by bargain of sale give to George Roots, Esqr. to secure for me from Buzaan's Estate, allso all the benefits arising from the two warrands gott from the office last month which I am now going up to secure, the said lands I leave to my said son Patrick Douglass, I leave all and every part of it to him, his heirs and assigns forever. I also leave unto my said son Patrick, my negro boy Tonny to him & His heirs forever. It's also my desire that my executor shall bind out my son Patrick to such a trade or business as he thinks will be most to his advantage & should he be bound unto any other business than the Law or Physick, I desire that the boy Toney may also be bound to the same trade. 9th, All the part of my Estate which will come to me by the decease of my Father, Mr. Hugh Douglass of Garalland in the Parish of old Cumnoug, North Britain, I desire may be sent for in goods as soon as the times will admit of importation and have them goods sold in this country at the joint expence of my whole seven children already described including my son Hugh, and each to receive one seventh part of the sum recovered for them or should the majority of my seven children (vizt. Hugh, Kitty, Elizabeth or Betsy, Nancy, Hannah, Peggy, and Patrick choose to have them devided before sold it's my desire that each so requesting may have their shares and the remainder be sold in whole sale for the use of such as received no dividend. 10th, all the rest of my worldly wealth, vizt, Lands, Chattells, Goods etc. not heretofore willed, I leave to my son Hugh Douglas his heirs and assigns for ever and I leave him whole & sole Executor of this my last Will and Testament. Now it's to be taken notice of that if the devises I have already made should burthen my son's estate so that he will not at least have a one third left, I desire he may sell all I have willed (except what I have willed to my son Patrick) for money and pay two thirds thereof to my five daughters giving Kitty Hale two hundred pounds in the old way less than my other four daughters -- she having been already provided for, and should either of my daughters dye before they come to the age of eighteen they having lawfull issue, it's my desire that what I have bequeathed to them be equally divided between the survivors of my daughters or their representatives. And should either of my sons dye before they come to the age of twenty one not having lawfull issue, that what I have bequeathed to them may fall to the survivor of my sons, and if both dye before they arrive at the age aforesaid not having lawfull issue, that what I bequeathed to them be equally divided among my wife (if alive) and my five daughters, already mentioned; and it's further my desire that my old friend, Joseph Records, should continue about my son Hugh's as long as he lives, and he keep, feed & cloathed as I did in my life time. In testimony whereof I have hereunto sett my hand and affixed my seal the day month and year of God first already written before these witnesses Thomas Clerk, Joseph Records, Hugh Douglass, Betsy Elizabeth Douglass, Nancy Douglass. William Douglass (Seal) The above within Will was declared to be his last Will & Testament in Presence of: Thos. Clark Joseph Records Hugh Douglass Elizabeth Douglass Nancy Douglass NB As my daughter always goes by the name of Betsy I mentioned her name Betsy and interlined Elizabeth with my own hand. William Douglass In Presence of: Hugh Douglass And as my will was made so long ago as June 1780, my wife who was then, is dead, I think is necessary to give what was allowed to her should be deemed as my estate & equally divided among my children and the negro winch Molly I leave her, to be set free for the good services she has done me since I have been sick. Witness my hand Sept. 24th 1782 Joseph Records William Sheperd William Douglass At a court continued & held for Loudoun County March 11th 1783. This Will was presented in court & it being well known to be the hand writing of the Decedent the same is ordered to be recorded and on the motion of Hugh Douglass the Excr therein named who made oath according to law, certificate is granted him for attaining a probate thereof in due form, giving security wherefore the said Hugh with William Ellzey, John Orr, & William Neilson his securities entered into & acknowledged bond ------ of ten thousand pounds conditioned as the law directs. Test. Chas. Binns, Ct. Clerk