Thomas Berry,Transcription of Will Dated 25 April 1812 Proved 21 May 1812 Washington County, Virginia Will Book ? Page ? Thomas Berry Transcription of Inventory and Appraisal 25 June 1812 Washington County, Virginia Will Book 3 Page 289 Submitted by Carol Vass SVass@aol.com ***************************************************************** USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.net *********************************************************** Thomas Berry,Transcription of Estate Settlement 17 March 1817 Washington County, Virginia Will Book ? Page ? Thomas Berry, Transcription of Will Dated 25 April 1812 Proved 21 May 1812 Washington County, Virginia Will Book ? Page ? I Thomas Berry of the County of Washington in the State of Virginia sick and infirm in body but of sound mind disposing memory do make this my last will and testament in the following manner. I direct that all my just debts and funeral expenses be paid out of my estate by my executors. I give to my beloved wife, Prudence all the property which be in my possession at my decease which was hers at the time of my marriage with her. I also give and bequeath to my said wife her choices of one cow and three sheep out of my stock. I also give to my said wife my female slave Chriss during her life or widowhood, and after the decease or marriage my said wife, the said slave shall be sold on a credit of eighteen months and the money arising therefore shall be equally divided between my sons Thomas, James, John, George & Bazil. I also give to my said wife the sum of three hundred and thirty three dollars 33 1/3 cents which shall be paid to her out of the first money collected out of the sale of my estate. I direct that my bay horse Charley be sold by my coexecutors on a credit of twelve months & that the amount of his prices when collected shall be paid to my said wife Prudence. I also give to my said wife one hundred bushels of corn, twenty bushels of wheat and four barrows out of my stock of hogs. I hereby order and direct that all the lands which I may own and possess at my decease in the State of Tennessee shall be sold under the direction of my son James at publick or private Page (possibly 280) sales either in large or small grants as may in his discretion best suit purchasers on such credit as he may think will be most beneficial and he is hereby authorized to convey the land thus sold to the purchasers thereof. I give & bequeath a mare which was taken by my former wife to Tennessee and now in possession of my son James, to my Grand daughters Polly and Betsey Berry, two of the daughters of William Berry my son. I give and bequeath the sum of Thirty three dollars and 33/3 cents to each one of the children of my son William Berry which he had by his first and second marriages, there being ten of them in numbers. I hereby direct that all my personal estate and the and the remaining part of my slaves shall be sold by my executors to Publick sale on a credit of Eighteen months. After the payment of my death and the following legacies I hereby order that all the residue of my estate of whatever kind it may be shall be equally divided between my sons Thomas, James, John, George & Bazil. Having made all the provision which I intended for my sons David and Robert I hereby give each of them the sum of one dollar only. My last request to my son David is that he may treat my said wife Prudence with innocent kindness and good will & permit her to dwell in my mansion house or some other house which may be convenient for her on the plantation where I now dwell. I hereby appoint my friends Andrew Russell and David Campbell executors of this my last will and testament and revoke all former wills made by me, declaring this only to be my last will and testament. Witness my hand and seal this twenty fifth day of April one thousand eight hundred and twelve. The words ThomasÓ interlined on the first page in the 12th line from the top before signing. signed sealed published and pronounced by the said Thomas Berry (seal) Thomas Berry as his last Will & Testament James Reed At a Court held for Washington County this 21st day May 1812 The last Will and Testament of Thomas Berry dec.d was produced in Court and proven by the oath of James Reed the subscribing witnesss thereto --- Andrew Russell being sworn states that he was present when the said Will was executed that he saw Thomas Berry sign the same and heard him acknowledge it to be his last Will and Testament and that he (next page not copied) ----------------------------------------------------------------- ----------- Thomas Berry, Transcription of Inventory and Appraisal 25 June 1812 Washington County, Virginia Will Book 3 Page 289 An Inventory and Appraisement of the estate of Thomas Berry dec.d made this 23rd day of June 1812. _________________________________________________________________ ___________ 1 negro man named Sam 450. 1 negro woman named Nancy 350. 1 negro child named Nelson 50. 1 negro woman named Chriss 200. 1 Brown bay horse $30 1 Bay horse call Charley $40 70. 1 Brown mare $55 1 Brown horse colt $20 75. 1 Sorrel horse folt $30 30. 1 Black cow with white face & back & her calf 111. 1 Brindled & white cow & her calf 12. 1 Cow with bell on $12 -- one brindled cow with white back $10 22. Page 290 1 Red brindled heifor 5. 1 Red brindled heifer with a white back 5. 1 Pided Bull $4 -- 1 Brindled Bull $4 8. 1 Black bull white back 3. 20 hogs $18 -- 5 fat pigs $1.25 -- 4 small pigs 66 19.91 16 sheep $19 -- 1 shovel plough with __?__ $2 20. 1 Bar share plough $2.50 -- 2 horse collars $1 8.50 1 pair drawing chains $0.75 -- 2 paid gears $4.25 5. 2 hoes $0.25 -- 1 old shovel of a plough & hammer $0.50 .75 1 Grindstone $0.17 -- 13 Geese $1.25 4.42 3 Chains 75 cents 1 looking glass 50 cents 1.25 1 chest with drawers $4 -- 1 buckle $1.25 4.25 1 bed stead and cont $1.75 1.25 1 feather bed, under bed bolster & pillow blanket counterpane not quilted 20. 3 1/2 print blanket $3 old sheet 50 cents 3.50 1 feather bed 2 homemade sheets blanket cover lid bed steads bolster and pillow 15. 1 coarse sheet 67 cts 1 --Coffee mill $1 1 wool shears 1.17 Steelyards $2 Jug 25 cents Reed & Gears 83 cts 3.08 (?) tin bucket 75 cents 2 glass mugs with handles 25 1.00 1 hat $7.50 home spun great coat $10 12.50 1 vest & pantaloons $5 1 coat waist coat & pantaloons $10 -- 1 coat & jacket mixt home spun cotton $2 17. Corded pantaloons & black jacket .75 1 pair fire irons $4 1 large pewter basons $3 7. 3 old pewter dishes $1.50 5 tin cups 50 cents 2. 3 pewter plates 75 cents - 7 delft plates 75 cents 1.50 1 coffee pot 25 cents 2 tumbler & 2 stock glasses $1 large bowl 12 1/2 cents 1.37 Sundry delft ware $7 Candlestick 21 cents 2.21 Knives & fords $1 large tunbler 25 cents 1.25 BaileyŐs Dictionary .75 JonesŐs Geography 2 Volumes 2. 1 number of small books 2. Snuffrs 12 1/2 cents Churn 25 cents .3? pot and hooks $1.75 Auger 75 cents 2.50 large iron shovel 30 cents small churn 50 cents .80 Page 291 Auger & skillet $0.50 old iron 25 cents .75 1 Churn #1 large kettle & hooks $5 6. 1 Scyth and hangings $2 1 fat tub 50 cents 2.50 saddle & sursingle* $3 1 smoothing iron 50 cents 3.50 leather $6 -- old iron 150 cents 7.50 1 womans saddle blanket & bridle 15. 1 pair saddle bags $1.25 -- 1 Reel 75 cents 2. 24 bushels of ryes(?) $10 -- 19 1/2 bushels of wheet at 50 ea $9.75 15.75 1 Halter chain and collar $1 -- 1 loom $4 5. Weeding hoe & mattlock $1 1. Wheat and rye growing in the fields 28. 1 axe $1 --Barrel 75 cents -- hogshead $1 2.75 1 strainer 25 cents Vessel with soap $2 trowel 25 cts 2.50 8 lbs Wool 70 1/2 lbs Bacon at 6 $5.87 Element of Logick 75 cts 6.62 Property devised to Mrs Prudence Berry 1 Dark $18 1 table 75 cents 2 Windsor chairs 75 cents 19.50 4 split bottom chairs $1 looking glass $1 -- 1 Cert $4 6. 2 bed stands cord beds & bedding $45 45. large pewter bason $1.50 small bason 25 cents 1.75 1 tea kettle $1 1 pewter tankard $1 Bowl 17 cents 2.17 2 tumblers with handles stock glass & tumber without a handle $1- 3 tea cups 3 saucers 4 tea spoons Cream jug 50 cts 1.50 Small Coffee pot 50 cents 1/2 bushels 25 .75 Shovel, tongs and flat iron 75 cts Frying pan 50 cents 1.25 double barrel 25 cents small oven 25 cents .50 small pot $1 1. 79.47 Andrew Russell John (his mark) Steel Executor Robt. Edmondson Samuel Duff At a Court held for Washington County the 18th day of August 1812 This Inventory and appriasement of the estate of Thomas Berry dec.d was returned to Court and ordered to be recorded. Attest D. Campbell DC ----------------------------------------------------------------- -- Thomas Berry,Transcription of Estate Settlement 17 March 1817 Washington County, Virginia Will Book ? Page ? The Estate of Thomas Berry dec.d in account with Andrew Russell _________________________________________________________________ _________ To amount paid Prudence Berry 519.42 To the amount devised to the children of William Berry decd 333.33 To Cash paid James Orr for crying the _?__ sale 6. To Cash paid the Clerk of Washington for fees 5.59 To Cash paid Peter Deckherd 2 1/2 days for hauling corn @ $7.50 and for hand 3 1/2 to help to load 8.75 To Cash paid Peter Heweitze(?) for his account 3. To Cash paid Henderson Trigg(?) & Co for acct. 10.44 To Cash paid Charles Tate for fees & taxes 8.36 To Cash paid Peter Deckherd further sum for hauling 4.50 To Cash paid David Berry for a bridle used by the intestate 2. To interest paid on the price of the sale Chriss by agreement of the residuary bequest 31. To interest paid on the bequest to nine of Wm Berrys children in Tennessee 42. Taxes paid on lands of this intestate in West Tennessee & interest thereon 75.06 Taxes paid by James Berry on lands of the intestate 23. To Cash paid Thomas, James, Bazil,John & George Berry the residuary legatees the sum $190 each 950. To Cash to be pd. Edward Campbell as Counsel for the Testator in suits in the District Court vs Thompson & Davis 10.10 To a resonable recompense to the Executor for his personal trouble 219.19 2257.74 By amount of sales of the estate of 23 June 1812 including cash on hand 447.17 By sales of the personal items of the 2nd Nov 112.16 By sales of the slaves on the 2nd Nov 1812 1332. By the hire of Chriss to Major Love 3. By a saddle delivered Wm Berry at appraisement 15. By _?_ $150 spinning wheel $167 wool to taken by Wm Berry 7.17 By $30 worth of corn delivered Mrs Berry out of crop growing paid as part of a spc legacy 30. By specific legacies delivered Mrs Berry 60. By property devised to Mrs Berry (but with her at the marriage with the intestate) 70.62 By interest on Thomas Berrys bond 23.74 By interest on James Berrys bond 15.66 By John Crawfords notes 12. By interest on the residue of the estate 36.61 By cash of John Lawless omitted in the account of sale of the 2nd Nov 1812 as accounted for before 1.91 By interest on bond & for the price of the famale slave Chriss 4. By leather purchased at the sale by Robert Montgomery (accounted for before) 3.25 By the hire of slaves to John Duff $18.28 interest thereon 50 cents 18.64 2251.74 Having carefully examined the accounts of Andrew Russell executor of the last will and testament of Thomas Berry dec.d with the estate of testator it appears that the executor has rendered a just account of all the estate which has come into his hands or with which he could be chargeable and that he has delivered the same in the payment of debts or specific legacies, vouchers for the greater part of which it is herewith submitted. The recompense for the personal trouble of the executor being 219.09 has been deemed reasonable for your commissioner when it is taken into view that the devisees or most of them resided in West Tennessee whereby it became necessary for their convenience and to avoid useless expense to furnish them with various statements and to write several letters. The executor did also make the account of each devisee and made a fair and just distribution of the estate, a work of considerable labor amongst the residuary legatees. He also had considerable trouble in taking care of the estate given out in the sale. Given under my hand this (blank) day of (blank) 1814. After making the foregoing it was discovered that a debt due from John _?_ for $191 another debt due from Robert Montgomery for $325 making $5. & has been twice accounted for by the executor through mistake. Deducting this error from the recompense, it will leave $213.93 as the actual compensation to the executor in addition to this it is said by the executor that Thos. McChesney has a claim against the testator for seven dollars or thereabouts, yet unsettled which if found to be just will reduce the recompense to the executor in the sum of $206.93. Given under my hand this 17 day of March 1817 Edward Campbell At a Court held for Washington County this 18th day March 1817. This settlement of the estate of Thomas Berry dec.d with Andrew Russell Executor of the estate of the said Thomas Berry dec.d was returned to court examined and allowed and ordered to be recorded.