Powhatan County, Virginia Will Book 15 - page 74 William M. Justis Will, Powhatan Co., VA 1853 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 AND permission is obtained from the CONTRIBUTOR of the file. These electronic pages cannot be reproduced in any format for profit or other presentation. ---------------------------------------------------------------- January Court 1857 I William M. Justis of the County of Powhatan & State of Virginia, being of sound mind do make and ordain this my last Will and Testament making void all former Wills by me made or written in form as follows Item 1st If my present wife thinks proper to live on my planta- tion I hereby give her the wright to do so rent free. I also desire her to have the use of the following slaves to wit; Maria Fanny & Daniel also the choice of my Negro men during her widdowhood I also give unto her 10 sheep, should there be as many at my de- cease, also all of my Cows, hogs and her choice of two horses also my riding Carriage and Buggy with their harness, also all of my plantation utensils with provisions to serve her one year, with all of my household and kitchen furniture and fifty dollars in money Should my wife remove from my premises or marry again then I only give her what the law allows her, should my wife remove[*] think proper to hire the above named slaves out I direct that my executors hire them out where they may be well treated If my wife is disposed to rent out my plantation I direct that it be cultivated under the form [farm?] shift system as I now cultivate it & - I give unto my two children Martha William & Henry Judson when they shall arrive of age my three slaves Maria & Fanny & her child & their future increase to them & their heirs forever Should Maria die or have no increase before my two children above named become of age. I direct that two hundred dollars be paid them in lieu thereof. I also direct that my Executors reserve two hundred dollars out of my estate to ed- ucate my two children above named I also give unto my two children Martha W and Henry J. when they shall marry or become of age each one bed well furnished with all necessary clothing and an extra yarn Counterpane & bed quilt and each of them to have one of my French bed steads also my Bureau & press and a good Cow to each I also give unto my children above named my wife's part of her Mothers Estate to be equally div= ided between them.-- My desire is that if my children should be left orphans by the death of their Mother that my son in law David G. Watkins take them with him together with their portion of my estate & board and educate them - If my daughter Mary Watkins should die before my children are raised I then desire my executors have the management of my two children aforesaid. --- All of the balance of my estate not heretofore Willed away I wish equally divided between the children of my first wife except to my son James W. Justis, the portions I intended for him I give to the lawful heirs of his body-- As I am not in debt I direct that my executors pay [continued on page 75] 75 no claims except they are proven to be just I give unto my two children Martha W. and Henry J an equal portion of my land with my first children Lastly I hereby appoint my son Wm. W Justis David G. Watkins and James Henry Bass of Chesterfield my Executors to this my last Will and Testament --- Given under my hand this 14th day of Sept= ember 1853. ---- Witness Wm. Justis Jeff H. Davis Saml A. Hobson Archer Franklin At a Court held for Powhatan County at the Court= house thereof on Monday the 5th day of January 1857 The foregoing Last Will of Wm. Justis was presented in Court and proved by the oaths of Jeff. H. Davis and Saml A. Hobson two of the subscribing Witnesses thereto and ordered to be recorded And at the instance [insistence?] of Wm. W. Justis one of the Exors therein named It is ordered that the other exors therein named be summoned to appear here at the next Court to say whether they will qualify as exors under the said Will or not---- Teste Wm. S. Dance C Copied and transcribed by Paul D. Justis c 1997 No commercial duplication without written permission The words in brackets are assumptions for what was actually written. The words misspelled here are as they were in the Will Book. * The word "remove" has a line drawn through it in the original document. Paul Justis 212 6th St. Jupiter, Florida 33458-5734 PaulJust@concentric.net