CLARK family wills from Washington County, VA
Submitted to the USGenWeb archives by Don Clark   Clark8273@aol.com

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FROM WASHINGTON COUNTY VIRGINIA WILL BOOK 2  (1791 - 1806),
PAGES 70-71

In the name of God Amen, I William Clarke of Washington County in the State of
Virginia being weak and pained in body; but of sound mind and memory blessed
be almighty God do make and publish this my last Will and Testament in manner
following. 
First I commit my soul to God who gave it and my body to the dust from whence
it was taken to be there after death buried in a Christian like manner at the 
discretion of my executors hereafter named.  I give and bequeath to my beloved
wife Mary Clarke my two negroe women Pheaby and Dina, my brown mare, two cows
and all my household furniture.  I give and bequeath to my son David Clarke, my
son  William Clarke and my daughter Sarah Clarke each ten shillings.  I give 
and devise to my trusty friend Eliza Gillenwates of said county  (a friend all 
and ever?) my right of a military right of land now in the hand of Anthony 
(Boucher) Cumberland to his only use and half of forever all my remaining land
I give and devise to my two sons Joseph and (Jesse) in equal shares.  I give 
and bequeath to my son (Jim?) Clarke fifteen pounds to be paid him out of my 
land when my son  Joseph and (Jesse) arrives at the age of twenty-one years. 
My three daughters Fanny, Anna and Mary I commit to the care of  almighty God
under the guardianship of their mother to receive of her what share of my 
estate she may think proper to allot them as may be in her hand after 
discharging debts and funeral charges. I wish also that my two sons Joseph and
(Jesse) be by my executors with the consent of their mother bound to such 
trades as they may (serve?) for such term and on such conditions as they shall
judge more to their advantage and lastly I do make (constitute) again and 
appoint my trusted friends William Edminton  and George Kincannon executors of
this my last Will and Testament hereby revoking all former wills by me made. In
witness I have hereunto set my hand and seal the twenty second day of December
in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety five.
William Clarke

Signed sealed published and recorded By the above named William Clarke to be
his last Will and Testament in the presence of us who have hereunto subscribed
our names in the presence of  the testator.
John Stewart, 
Jenny Orr,
John Orr

At a court held for Washington County the 16th day of February 1796 this last
Will and testament of William Clark was Dec. exhibited into court by William 
Edminton and George Kincannon the executors therein named and proven of
John Stewart, Jenny Orr and John Orr the witnesses  thereto and thus recorded.

_______________________________________________________________

FROM WASHINGTON COUNTY VIRGINIA WILL BOOK 2 (1791 - 1806),
PAGES 523-524

In the name of God Amen, I Mary Clark of Washington County and State of 
Virginia, being of sound mind and disposing memory; which I thank God; and
calling to mind the uncertainty of human life, and being desirous to dispose
of such worldly estate as it has pleased God to bless me with; I give and
bequeath the same in manner following that is to say after all my lawful 
debts and funeral charges are paid.
1st.  I give and bequeath to my three daughters Jenny Orr, Margery Boles and
Fanny  Bucanan each of them fifteen dollars to purchase their mourning 
apparel.
2nd. I give and bequeath to my son Jesse Clark twenty pounds to be paid out
of the price  of my land as soon as the same can be sold; as hereafter 
directed.
3rd. To my daughter Ann Clark, I give and bequeath my bed with the one 
half of the furniture thereto belonging.
4th. To my daughter Mary, I give an equal proportion of beds and furniture
to that of her sister before named.
5th. And further to my Will is that all my estate both real and personal as
well my land as personal property not herein particularly specified shall be
put to sale as my executors shall judge to the best advantage and after the
payment of the several legacies before mentioned, what remains of the 
proceeds of the sale of the same shall be equally divided between my two 
daughters Ann and Mary above mentioned.
6th  To my sons James Robert John and Thomas Dollison and Joseph Clark,
I give each five Shillings. 
7th. and lastly, I do hereby constitute and appoint both Ryburn and William
Snodgrass Executors to this my last Will and Testament revoking and making
void all former Wills or testaments by me hereunto made. 

In witness where of I have set my hand and affixed my seal this 21st day of 
August One thousand eight hundred and five.
        her
Mary X  Clark
      mark

Signed sealed published and declared as and for the Last Will and Testament
of Mary Clark in Presence of us the year and date above written.
Teste
Henry Jones
James Byers  

     At a court held for Washington County the 15th day of October 1805.
The last Will and Testament of Mary Clark Dec. was produced in Court 
proven by the oaths of Henry Jones and James Byars, the subscribing 
witnesses thereto and ordered to be recorded; and on the motion of William
Snodgrass, one of the executors therein named who took the oath prescribed
by law and entered into and acknowledged his bond with John (Larmer) his
security in the sum of one thousand dollars conditioned as the law requires a
certificate is therefore granted him for the probate of the said Will due form.
Attest
 D. Campbell D. C.

_____________________________________________________________

FROM WASHINGTON CO. VA. WILL BOOK 4, PAGES 102-103

I Benjamin Clark  of Washington County Virginia being weak and knowing the
uncertainty of life do make and ordain this my last Will and Testament.  
1st. I give my soul to its maker who will dispose of it as is right and with
my executors to have me buried in the usual manner. 
2nd, I wish my debts all paid out of any property I may have. 
3rd, I give and devise my whole estate, real and personal, to my wife
during her natural life or widowhood. At her death my Will and desire is 
that my whole estate, real and personal, be sold and divided equally among
my children then living and that my grandson - George - the son of my
deceased daughter Hannah if then living take an equal proportion of my whole
estate with my own children. It case it should in the opinion of my executors
hereinafter named be necessary for the interest of my family to sell any one
or more of my slaves in consequence of their misconduct then I hereby give
them the power to do so and the money ensuing therefrom to be placed to 
interest until the general division of my estate and be divided with the
balance.  
Should my wife hereafter marry then my Will is that my whole estate real and 
personal be sold, the amount of sale be divided among my children including 
my grandson George, those who are then married or of age to receive their
proportions then and the balance to be placed out on interest and paid over
to each claimant as they marry or come of age.  
It is my Will and intention that my wife in consideration of the use of my
property, real and personal, during her widowhood, raise board, cloth and 
school my children until they marry or come of age whichever event may first
happen, or until my wife marries. 
I appoint my three sons Job, John and Jacob and my friend Francis Smith my
executors, revoking all other Wills.  I declare this my last Will and Testament
     Witness my hand and seal this 28th November 1814
                his
Benjamin  x  Clark SS
              mark 
Teste
 Fran Smith 
Wm C. Preston 
John Apperson
John Crawford

At a court held for Washington County the 20th day of December 1814.
     The last Will and Testament of Benjamin Clark deceased was exhibited
into court and proved by the oath of Francis Smith, William C. Preston and
John Apperson - three of the subscribing witnesses thereto and ordered to 
be recorded and at a court continued and held for the county the 21st day 
of December 1814. On the motion of Francis Smith one of the executors 
named in the last Will and Testament of Benjamin Clark deceased who took
the oath of an executor prescribed by law and entered into and acknowledged
his bond on the sum of ten thousand dollars with Francis Preston security 
conditioned as the law directs. A certificate is therefore granted him for 
the probate of the said Will in due form.

Teste
D. Campbell D. C.
_____________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________

FROM WASHINGTON COUNTY VIRGINIA WILL BOOK 4, PAGE 281


     I James CLARK of Washington in the State of Virginia do make and publish 
this my last Will and Testament in the manner following Viz. I give and bequeath
unto my well beloved wife ISABELLA  my house, kitchen and smokehouse for 
her sole use and benefit during her natural life. I Will to her all the household and
kitchen furniture of every kind for her sole use and behoof. I Will that she be 
furnished during her life with two cows out of the stock to be supported by the 
product of the farm.  I Will her also five sheep to be furnished and supported the
same as above. I Will and bequeath to my sons ROBERT and PETER my tract of 
land on which I reside with my stock of every kind and farming utensils. I  Will 
that ROBERT have the management and profits of the farm until PETER arrives at
the age of twenty-one years and that he furnish PETER with a new decent saddle 
Va support of the plantation if he works the farm with him.  I Will that ROBERT if
required before PETER arrives at the age of twenty one or both afterwards if not 
pay unto my daughters JINEY, POLLY  and PEGGY each one horse of not less 
value than seventy five dollars, two cows, five sheep, five dollars to buy furniture, 
for the cupboard to be furnished each at any time they separately require them by 
giving reasonable notice.  I Will that they furnish their mother with a suitable horse
to ride when she requires one.  I Will also that they pay unto my sons JOHN, 
JAMES and WILLIAM and daughter NANCY  BEATIE one dollar each.  I will that
my debts be paid and funeral charges out of money due me, and if any remain over I 
bequeath it to my wife ISABELLA.  I do appoint my son JOHN CLARK executor of
this my last Will and Testament.  In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand 
and affixed my seal this 17th day of December 1818.

James Clark SS 

teste
James Clark,
David Beatie, 
Wm. Clark 

 At a court held for Washington County the 19th day of January 1819
     The last Will and Testament of James Clark deceased was exhibited in court
and proved by the oath of James Clark, David Beatie and William Clark the
witnesses thereto and ordered to be recorded - And on the motion of John Clark,
the Executor therein named who took the oath of an Executor prescribed by law
and entered into and acknowledged his bond with James Kincanon his security 
in the sum of one thousand dollars conditioned as the law directs.  A certificate
is therefore granted him for the probate of the said Will in due form.

Teste
Jacob Synch D. C.
________________________________________________________________

FROM WASHINGTON CO. VA WILL BOOK 5, PAGES 10-11

I ROBERT CLARK of Washington County and State of /Virginia being indisposed of 
body but of sound mind and having the fear of God before my eyes, I feel it
my indispensable duty to make this my last Will and Testament. 1st I commend
my soul to God who gave it and my body to the dust from whence it came to be
interred in a decent Christian like manner. 

I Will that all my estate both personal and real shall remain in common with
my beloved wife Martha until the land is paid for, there being a part of my
land unpaid for, after which I Will that my wife, my sons James and John
have two thirds of my plantation including my dwelling house, barn and
orchards during the life time of my wife and then to go to the aforesaid 
James and John and their heirs forever.

 I Will that my son Robert shall have the other third of my land to him and
his heirs forever - but upon condition Robert should marry him a wife. I Will
that he shall have one eighteen acre field adjoining the right side of the 
lane leading towards the widow Scotts, also a field laying on the right side
of the lane leading towards the widow Meeks, also the one half of a field
lying across the said lane which is occupied as a pasture by my son Robert
paying the one third of the money that may be owing for said land at the
time of his marriage - but upon condition either of my sons to wit James, 
Robert or John should die before they have an issue, then the part of my
land named to them to descend to the other brothers - upon conditions that
he - James, Robert or John do pay to each of my daughters, to wit Catherine,
Agnuss, Martha and Mary one hundred dollars in cash upon conditions the
aforesaid Catherine, Martha and Mary remain and live with the family
until the land is paid for. Unless the aforesaid Catherine, Martha should get
married which marriage is not to deprive them from their right of dowry, 
the said money to be paid in eighteen hundred and twenty nine.  I do hereby
revoke and set aside all Wills heretofore made by me and appoint and 
Constitute Robert Clark and John Clark, son to my brother James to be the
executors of this my last Will and Testament. In witness I do set my hand 
and seal this fifteenth day of May in the year of our Lord one thousand eight
hundred and twenty one.

Robert Clark S.S

Published and signed in the presence of us 
Tobias Smith,
Wm Clark,.
James Porterfield

At a court held for Washington County the 19th day of June 1821.
     The last Will and Testament of ROBERT CLARK deceased was exhibited in
court and proved by the oath of Tobias Smith, William Clark and James 
Porterfield the subscribing witnesses thereto and ordered to be recorded. 
And on the motion of Peter Clark, the executors therein named who took the
oath of an executor, prescribed by law and entered into and acknowledged 
their bond in the sum of two thousand dollars with John Galliger and Matthew
Ryburn their securities conditioned as the law directs - A certificate is
therefore granted them for the probate of the said Will in due form.
Teste
Jacob Synch