Powhatan County, VA - Will of John Hyde Saunders, Jr., 1818

Will of John Hyde Saunders, Jr., Powhatan Co VA, Ordered Recorded June 18, 
1818 - Source, Typed Copy of Will in DAR Records

In the name of God, amen.  I John Hyde Saunders being of sound and disposing sense and 
memory, do constitute and make this my last will and testament, in the manner and form 
following:  to-wit, Imprimis, I give and bequeath to my beloved wife Rachael and to her 
heirs forever, four negroes, namely, Letty, Abner, Henry, and Pleasant; also, two thirds of 
my household and kitchen furniture, and two thirds of my stock of all kinds, under the 
same tenure; also, I lend to her during life, one full and equal third part of all my land, 
and the same proportion of its appertenance:  I give to my son John Hyde, and his heirs 
forever, the remaining two thirds of all my land, and its due appertenance, and at his 
mother's decease the remaining one third; also, one third of my household and kitchen 
furniture and the residue of the stock not disposed of, to have and to hold the same 
forever:- But upon this trust and confidence that in the third year after my death he shall 
pay to his sister Christiana Dupre', one hundred and twenty five dollars and in the fourth 
year after the same event, one hundred and twenty five dollars to his brother Horatio 
Gates, and in the fifth year the same sum to his brother William; also, the same sum to 
each of his sisters Harriet, Rebekah, and Sarah Walon, upon their marriage, provided that 
event may not take place until within the third year next after my decease, and not then if 
the first legacy of one hundred and twenty five dollars shall have been paid in that year, 
so that it is to be understood that only one legacy is to be paid annually from such their 
commencement and that first to my daughters in order as they may happen to be married:  
Provided also, that my said son John Hyde shall pay one more legacy of one hundred and 
twenty five dollars to my eldest grand daughter Marie Goode Wash, but if she does not 
enter that state before the last legacy's paid that have become due, she shall nevertheless 
receive the legacy hereby bequeathed her.  Further my will and desire is that my two 
daughters above named, during their unwedded states, should have their home, bed, and 
board in my late mansion house at the joint expense of their mother and brother herein 
named but if they shall choose to remove to the house of some other friends for reasons 
that may hereafter occur that then they shall be allowed seventy dollars each for their 
accommodations in such removal to be paid by my said son John Hyde; I give to my 
daughter Mary H. Phinizy their first choice in one dozen books from my library; and I 
give to my eldest grand son Pascal, son of William Saunders all my latin and greek 
books; and my desire is that my son-in-law, Ferdinand Phinizy be amply repaid all the 
expense he shall have been at in making improvements during the term of his lease of the 
land hereby bequeathed; and next I desire that no other sepulcral rites be used at my 
funeral but those of the Protestant Episcopal Church, and that the person using or 
performing them be paid for that service, forty shillings and I further desire that my coffin 
be made plain and of the most convenient material and that a grave be opened for me in 
the ancient, plainest, and most expeditions manner;- Finally, I appoint my friend Isiah 
Smith and my son John Hyde executors, and my wife executrix of this my last will and 
testament; my will also is that my estate be not appraised, and that no security be required 
of these, my executors, for their responsibility in respect of this their appointment;-  In 
witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 12th day of April 1817,

Jno. H. Saunders (Seal)

Signed, Sealed,
in presence of,

William Ligon
Richard Clarke
Patrick H. Drake

Next line, unclear, but I believe it is to the effect that the will came before the court in 
"Powhatan on the 16th day of October 1817.  This last will and testament of John Hyde 
Saunders deceased; was presented in Court and proven by the oath of Richard Clarke, one 
of the subscribing witnesses and thereupon the same was continued for further proof:-  
And at a Court of monthly session holden for the County of aforesaid on the 17th day of 
June 1818 the said will was again presented in court and further proved by the oath of 
William Ligon, another witness thereto an thereupon the same was ordered to be 
recorded, and on the motion of John H. Saunders, one of the executors therein named, 
who took the oath prescribed by law, a certificate is granted him for obtaining probate 
thereof in due form; no bond or security being required.

Teste:  William S. Dance, C.


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