John Bowman Will - 1858 - Rockingham County, VA In the name of God Amen I John Bowman of the County of Rockingham and State of Virginia being of sound mind and disposing memory and knowing the uncertainty of human life and being desirous of disposing of such property as it has pleased God to bless me with do make, ordain and establish this my last Will and Testament as follows First - To my Beloved Wife Catharine Bowman I Give such of my Household and Kitchen Furniture and Stock as she may select, to have and to hold the same during her natural Life, and Should she desire the same one third part of my Land during her natural Life or in Lieu thereof if she shall be satisfied therewith (which my desire is she shall be) The __ House which we occupy at present and part of the Garden which she may select, and 25 Bus. of wheat, 15 Bushels of corn, 300 pounds of Pork, 150 pounds of Beef, and 1 Cow tho said Cow to be kept for her Summer and Winter by my son George Bowman, and as many potatoes as she may want for her own consumption and as much fruit as she may need or want if growing on my Lands and Firewood shall be cut and hauled to her, and then cut short ready for use as she may direct. This Item of wood to be furnished by my son George, and then Sixty Dollars in Money to be paid to her annually during her Life if she desires it. Of the wheat my son George & David shall each furnish her Nine Bushels, and my son Joseph seven Bushels, of the corn each of my said sons shall furnish and deliver her 5 Bushels, to be all or so much as she may direct be taken by my said sons to mill and brought home for her. the Beef, Pork and potatoes to be furnished her by my sons David Joseph and George Bowman in equal shares. Second, After my wife has selected such property as she may want the residue of my personal property my Executors shall sell at public auction to the highest Bidder, also my Executor shall sell to the highest Bidder among my children only My House and Lot I hold at Orkney Springs and convey the same in fee to the purchaser als(o)my Executor shall sell my undivided Tenth part of the Neese Land which I purchased of my son Michael and Sarah his wife by public sale to the highest Bidder and convey the same in fee to the purchaser, and out of the proceeds of said property so sold, and all other personal assets pay my just Debts and Invest at Interest One Thousand Dollars, and collect the Interest annually and pay the same to my wife Catharine Bowman as heretofore directed, and the residue shall be distributed, among my children share and share alike namely Michael, Elizabeth, Mary Catharine, John, Abby, Isaac, Sarah, David, Joseph and George Bowman, however all property held by my wife and the said Thousand Dollars shall after her decease be equally divided among my said children above named. Third. In the distribution of my estate among my children in addition to their Respective shares, I give to my sons David Joseph, and George Bowman each Thirty Dollars for each and every year accruing between the 1st Day of March 1844 and ending at the date of my death. This I do to make them equal with my other children to whom I have made advancements each of Five hundred Dollars for which each has executed to me his note payable one year after my death and on which my Executors shall charge no Interest, and shall have no commission thereon but which Bonds shall be taken into consideration in the Settlement of my Estate. In reference to the Bonds refereed to above I will state that the Husbands of my Daughters has executed and signed said Bonds, but which Bonds are to be considered as part and parcel of the portion of my said daughters Fourth, To my son David Bowman I give the Eastern portion of my farm, containing 217 acres 3 roods and twelve poles of land, which I have had surveyed and platted, and which is represented on the plat as No. 1, and for the Metes and bounds of which reference may be had to the said Plat. The said land I give to my son David, his Heirs and assigns forever, upon the condition that he shall pay the sum of Six Thousand and Ninety nine dollars, after the following manner, one year after my deceased pay Fifteen Hundred Dollars, and then annually Five Hundred Dollars until all is paid Fifth - To my son Joseph Bowman, I give on the West end of my farm, 202 acres 2 Roods & 14 poles of land which I have had surveyed and platted, and is represented on the Plat as No. 3, reference to which is made of the metes and bounds thereof, the said land I give to my son Joseph Bowman, his heirs and assigns forever upon the condition he shall pay for the same Five thousand two hundred and sixty seven Dollars, after the following manner, one year after my deceased, Twelve hundred dollars, and then annually three hundred and fifty dollars until all is paid. Sixth. To my son George Bowman, I give in the center of my farm, including the Buildings, two hundred and nine acres, 2 Roods & 23 poles, which I have had surveyed and platted, represented on the Plat as No. 2, and reference is made to the said Plat (which shall accompany my will) for the metes and bounds thereof. On this tract stands a school house which and one half acre of land shall be reserved for a school house, provided the neighbors keep the said House in repair, which tract of land I give to my son George Bowman, his heirs and assigns forever, upon the condition he pay for the same Six thousand two hundred and seventy three dollars, after the following manner, one year after my decease Fifteen hundred dollars, and then annually Five hundred dollars, until all is paid. Seventh. I direct that from the several sums charged to my son, David, Joseph and George Bowman, for the lands above devised to them, then shall be deducted for each of my said sons, the sum of sixteen hundred and three dollars, which is their full proportionate part of the value I fixed to the said land _ the residue of the said monies for said lands shall be paid over by them in payments as before stated, to my remaining Eight children or their Heirs, namely Michael, Elizabeth, Mary Catharine, John, Abby, Isaac & Sarah, And I further direct that there shall be a road kept for the use of David and Joseph, from their respective lands to the Springs Branch on the Farm where my son John now lives, and further I direct that if my wife shall elect to take the one- third of my lands for Dower, then my said sons, David, Joseph & George shall only pay for the said lands in proportion, both as to price and time payments, and after my wifes' decease they shall then pay for the said Dower portion at the same ratiable price and annual payments as before directed. And Lastly, I do consititute and appoint my sons David, Joseph and George Bowman Executors of this my last Will and Testament. In witness whereof I hereunto affix my hand and seal this 14th day of January 1858. John Bowman, Sen. (Seal) Witness Present Adam Sichliter? Naason Bare Wm. G. Thompson In the County Court of Rockingham County, November Term, 1871 The writing purporting to be the last Will and Testament of John Bowman, Sen. was this day presented in Court, and being proven by the Oaths of Adam Sichliter and Naason Bare, two of the subscribing witnesses thereto, was admitted to probate. Teste. Wm. M.K. Wartmann, C.C. A copy - teste, Wm. M.K. 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