IN THE NAME OF GOD AMEN. I Lewis Blake of the County of Mason and 
  State of Virginia, being of sound mind and disposing memory, do make this 
  to be my last will and testament, as follows, (that is to say) my desire is
  to be buried with as little expense as decency will permit, and that all my
  debts, and funeral expenses be paid as soon after my decease as conveniently
  may be.  First I give and bequeath unto my dear wife Sarah, in testimony of
  my sincere reguard and affection for her, all my measurages, lands, 
  tenements, and hereditaments whatsoever situate, lying and being in the
  County and State aforesaid, for her own use and benefit during her natural
  life that she may remain my widow but no longer.  And I also give and 
  bequeath unto her, my said wife, all the household furnature, china ware,
  household linen, books and prints, and all the household utensils in my
  house in Mason County where I now reside, and my house situate in the 
  County aforesaid for her own use, during her widowhood as aforesaid.  And 
  from and after her death I give & devise the same to my four children 
  (three sons and one daughter) to be equally divided amongst them.  And I
  give the custody, tuition and guardianship of the persons of each of my 
  children at the time of my death, to my said wife Sarah during their respec-
  tive minorities.  And I numbnate and appoint my said wife executrix of this
  my last will and testament.  And I do hereby revoke and make void all other
  will and wills by me at any time made, and I do hereby declare these 
  presents to be and contain my last will and testament.
        In witness whereof I, the said testator Lewis Blake, have to this my
  said last will, written upon one sheet of paper set my hand and affixed my     
  seal this 26th day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand eight
  hundred and forty seven.
                                        Lewis Blake, (SEAL).
        Signed, sealed, published and declared by the testater Lewis Blake, 
  as and for his last will and testament, in the presence of us, who in his
  presence and at his request and in the presence of each other, have 
  hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses.

                                             William A. Alexander.
                                             Francis Summers.
                                             A.H. Blake.
  PUTNAM COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICE, May 1848
        The above will was produced in Court at the May term for the aforesaid
  County, and upon the oaths of two of the subscribing witnesses proven and 
  ordered to be recorded; and thereupon together with the certificate
  annexe is admitted to record.         
                                        Teste:H.H. Forbs, Clerk
  WEST VIRGINIA, PUTNAM COUNTY COURT CLERK'S OFFICE:    
                                                        June 9th 1915
        I, J.M. Henson, Clerk of the County Court of Putnam County, West
  Virginia certify that the foregoing is a true copy of the will of
  Lewis Blake and the certificate thereto annexed, as transcribed by
  me from original Will Book No. 1, Page 1.
                                        Test: J.M. Henson, Clerk

Copyright 1996 James Denning
Thanks to James Denning for submitting this file for the WVGenWeb Archives.
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