ROCKBRIDGE COUNTY, VA - WILLS - James Gilmore, 22 Jun 1781 ============================================================================ USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. This file was contributed for use in the Virginia USGenWeb Archives by: Freda Strampe fstrampe@cox.net ============================================================================ JAMES GILMORE Will and estate settlement of James Gilmore, Rockbridge County, VA. Recorded in Book 1, p. 174, Lexington, Rockbridge Co., VA: Written 22 June 1781 “In the name of God, Amen, the 22nd of June and in the year of our Lord God one thousand seven hundred and eighty one I, James Gilmore, of the County of Rockbridge and State of Virginia being weak in body but of sound mind and memory thanks be to God for all his mercies to me therefore calling to mind the mortality of the body knowing it to be appointed once for all men to die, I do make and ordain this to be my last Will and Testament that is to say principally and first of all I give and commend my soul into the hands of Almighty God from when it derived its existence and my body to earth from when it came to be buried in a Christian like manner at the distrection of my executors hereafter named nothing doubting but at the General Resurrection I shall receive thne same by the mighty power of God and as touching such worldly estate as it has pleased God to bless me with in this life I give and devise and dispose of the same in the following manner and form and first of all it is my will and I do ordain all my just debts to be paid. "I give and bequeath to my two sons Joseph and William Gilmore the Plantation I now live on containing two hundred eighty five acres and three surveys adjoining to s. tract to be equally between them in quantity and quality. "I leave to my son Samuel Gilmore two surveys consisting of one hundred and twenty acres known by the name of Hutsons Spring, fifty acres at J. Haus Mountains at the head of Collyers Draught. "I leave to my son John Gilmor three hundred fifty seven acres formerly the property of Benjamin Watsons. "I leave to my daughter Mary Foster ten pounds. "I leave to Margaret Anderson and to the heirs of her Body forever a negro wench named Sally which negroe is now in their possession. "I leave to Martha Hall a negroe named Calop which is in their possession. "I leave to my son James Gilmore one hundred pounds Specie and I disanul and make void all bonds and amounts which I have against him. "I leave and bequeath the slaves that I am possessed of to be equally divided between my sons Samuel, Joseph and William Gilmor and all other moveable property to be equaly divided between my beloved wife Martha Gilmore, Samuel, Joseph, William, Agnus, Isabella and Elenor Gilmor. "I do order and ordain that my beloved wife shall have her maintenance of the Plantation House bequeathed to my two sons Joseph and William Gilmor I say during her widowhood and to have her choice of a horse and furniture bed and cloaths over and above a child's part likewise a negro wench to attend on her her life time if she remains a widow. "I do hereby authorize and appoint my below mentioned executors to transfer deeds to John and Samuel Gilmore for the above tracts of land, likewise to give to John Gilmore one negro out of these divided of said estate, and I do constitute and appoint my two sons Joseph and William Gilmore to be my executors of this my last Will and Testament, and I do hereby Disanul Revoke and Disallow all and every Will or Wills or Testaments by me heretofore made Ratifying allowing and Confirming this to be my Last Will and Testament. In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal the Day and Year above Written" James Gilmore Signed, Sealed Delivered in the Presence of George Warren Parker, Henry Miller, James Poage ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The inventory of the estate was made by John Gilmore, John Grunlee, Henry Miller and Hugh Barclay and presented February 11, 1783. Settlement of the estate dated December Court 1805: Mary Foster ten pounds receipt given by her husband's Executor. Receipt given by James Gilmore for one hundred pounds in speci; To a legacy left to Margaret Anderson; to a legacy to Martha Hall.; To Samuel Gilmore; To a legacy left to Agnes McAlister received in full by her husband as per his receipt given. To a legacy left Isabella Lecky received in full by her husband as per receipt given; to a legacy left Elenor Williams received in full by her husband Joseph Williams as per receipt given. To one negro to be given to John Gilmore for which they paid him eighty pounds by mutual agreement as per his receipt given. Signed: Joseph Walker and Wm. Houston. October 1805. ********************************************** James Gilmore, son of James and Martha Beatty Gilmore, received £100 in his father's will and his father disannulled all debts owed by him, while his brothers inherited land. Since James was the oldest son, it seems unusual that he did not inherit his father's land. Although James had moved to Kentucky by 1782 and one might think that could be the reason for his receiving only cash, James' brother, Samuel, had also moved to Kentucky and he received two plots of land in his father's will. Apparently James was not too happy with his legacy. Rockbridge County Deed Book A, p. 415: An indenture between James Gilmore, heir at law of James Gilmore, deceased of the county of the one part, and Joseph Gilmore of the County of Rockbridge of the other part witnesseth that whereas the said James Gilmore deceased made his last Will and Testament in writing bearing date the second day of June 1781 . . . and therein did bequeath unto his sons Joseph and William Gilmore the Plantation where he then lived containing 285 acres together with three surveys adjoining said tract . . . but through a mistake did not includ the said Joseph & William’s heirs and assigns which makes them only tenants for life. Now the said James Gilmore by Virtue of the power ..... uppon him by being the eldest son and heir at Law of James Gilmore, and in consideration of the sum of five hundred pounds current Money of Virginia to him in hand paid by the said Joseph Gilmor hath granted, bargained and sold unto Joseph Gilmore, his heirs and assigns forever . . . Witnesses: John Bowyer, Wm. McKee, Wm. Alexander, John Paxton. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ In all probability, there were bad feelings between James and his brother after Joseph had to pay James £500 for title to the land he had inherited!