RICHMOND, VA - WILLS AND ESTATES - William Richardson, 1 Feb 1809
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I, William Richardson, of the City of Richmond being at present weak in body,
but of sound mind and memory, revoking all former Wills by me made, do make
the following my Last Will and Testament.

WHEREAS I formerly purchased a half acre lot of ground in the old town of
Richmond, No. 62 (sixty two) and paid for the same, but took a deed in the
name of William and George Richardson, which lot I have since devided into two
equal parts, and have built on one of them a dwelling houses and offices, I
hereby devise to my sister Margaret Wood the use of the said half lot and
house for her natural life, together with the use of the household and kitchen
furniture, and after her death, I give and devise the said half lot and houses
with the furniture to my niece Elizabeth Wood, daughter of the said Margaret,
to her and heirs forever, but if the said Elizabeth Wood should receive her
child's part of the fortune devised to her father Basil Wood, deceased, by his
grandfather _____(blank) Wood of the City of Bristol in England in that case,
I give and devise the said half lot and houses with the furniture aforesaid,
after the death of my sister Margaret, to such of the children of my deceased
brother George Richardson as may then be alive, equally to be divided among
them, share and share alike to them and their heirs forever.

I hereby emancipate my negro man servant John Redwood and devise to him his
absolute freedom in consideration of his faithful service to me and attachment
to my person.  I hereby direct that my lot and houses scitate on the main
street of the City of Richmond and the rest of my slaves together with all the
remainder of my estate shall be sold upon the following terms, to wit:

One fourth part to be paid on the day of sale, one fourth in six months, one
fourth in twelve and the other fourth in eighteen monmths with interest from
the date of the sale upon bonds and good security with a trust upon the
property, if the conveyance is made, or if not made, that the property shall
remain as a pledge for the punctual performance of the contract of the
purchase.  But of the process of the sale I direct that all my just debts
shall be paid and the balance I give and devise unto my sister Margaret and to
her four children: Elizabeth, Sayton (Layton?) Alexander Hamilton and William
and to the six children of my brother George, William, George, Fanny, John,
Nathaniel and Charles, being seven legatees, equally to be divided among them,
share and share alike to them and their heirs forever.

All the debts due to me and all my estate not hereby disposed of I devise to
the said eleven legatees equally to be divided among them as aforesaid and it
is my wish and desire that my Executors should pay unto my sister Margaret and
her daughter Elizabeth their full dividends of the sales aforesaid before any
part is paid to the other legatees, in order to enable my said sister to
support and educate her children.

I direct that an inventory of my estate should be made but no appraisement. 

I hereby nominate and appoint my friends John Foster and John Dunsmuir
Executors of this my Will and Testament from whom no security is to be
required.

IN TESTIMONY that the foregoing writing is my Last Will and Testament, I have
hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this first day of February in the
year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and nine.

                                                    William Richardson (seal)
Signed, sealed, published and declared
as his Last Will and Testament and at
his request, we hereunto subscribe our 
names:

It is my will and desire that my Nephew William Richardson shall have my
silver watch made by Barraud.

                                                     William Richardson

                             At a Monthly Court of Hustings 
                  & Held for the City of Richmond at the Courthouse on
                               the 14th day of June 1809

This Will was presented in court and there being no subscribing witness
thereto, William Hay and Henry S. Shore, were sworn and declared that they
were well acquainted with the handwriting of the decedent and verily believed
that his name to the said Will subscribed, together with the memorandum and
signature thereafter written, are wholly written by the said decedent,
whereupon the same was ordered to be recorded as settling the distribution of
his personal estate.  And on the motion of John Foster, an Executor in the
said Will named, who made oath thereto, and entered into and acknowledged a
bond in the penalty of three thousand dollars, conditioned as the law directs,
without security, the Will directing that none should be required of him,
Certificate was granted him for obtaining a Probat of the said Will in due
form, liberty being reserved to the other Executor therein named to join in
the said Probat when he shall think fit.
   
                                                 Teste:
                                                 Thomas C. Howeard, Clk
Examined.

Source: Library of Virginia,
Will Book 5, 1807-1810
Hustings Deeds
Reel 3, pages 437-439 

Note: Spelling errors were not corrected.  Paragraphing and some punctuation
were added by transcriber for ease in reading.  There are no paragraphs in the
original.


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