Will of James Alexander, 1813 - Monroe Co. WV [James Alexander (1750-1814)] (Submitter's notes: This will was transcribed by the county clerk from the original document into the will book (Monroe Co., VA [now WV], Will Book 1, pages 256-261). Spelling and capitalization are as they appear in the will book. The county clerk apparently couldn't read one of James Alexander's granddaughters' names and left a blank space of four underscores. Where I was unsure of a word I added a bracketed question mark [?]. The estate appraisal dated September 7, 1814 and the sale dated October 1, 1814 are in Will Book 2, pages 12-15. A settlement of accounts dated June 18, 1822 is in Will Book 2, pages 178-179.) Virginia. In the name of God amen I James Alexander of the County Monroe being now aged and infirm but of perfect mind and Memory doth hereby on this Sixteenth day of May in the Year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirteen make this my last will and testament in Manner following that is to say First I desire that all the just debts which I may owe at decease including Such funeral charges as may be necessary Shall be honestly and punctually paid by my executors. 2nd I will and bequeath to my beloved wife Isabella Alexander my negroe Woman known by the name of Patience and the said Patience's oldest Child called Mary during her my said Wife's natural life with liberty to her the Said Isabella at her death to give the said Slaves to all or any of my Children then living as she may think right and proper. I also give to my wife my Negroe man named Calm to be with her and under her direction And the direction of my son Mathew Alexander and for the purpose of cultivating the Plantation &c during her life and at her Death as I intend the said Negroe Calm to be the property of my Son Mathew. I do hereby will and bequeath the said Negro man to my said Son Mathew Alexander. I also give to my said wife one horse or mare two good cows Such as She may choose out of my Stock of Horses and Cattle two Beds with their necessary appurattis belonging thereto with such other of my Household furniture and property of the House as she may think necessary for her use to be hers and her heirs forever. 3rd I will and bequeath to my Son Andrew Alexander during his lifetime the occupancy and use of the of sixty acres of Land which has been made or decreed to me by the Chancery District court holders at Staunton and which was formerly the Property of William Hawkins the title to which has been made to Me by Nimrod Tackett and wife. I also will and bequeath to my said son Andrew one acre of Land Part of the Plantation on which I now live or at least the use thereof the one acre to be Laid off Joining the Lands of Alexander Dunlap beginning where said Dunlap's line intersects the Town of Union at the north corner of said Town to run from the line of the said Town up the line of said Dunlap to the turn of the lane at the Meadows of Henry Alexander thence across so far into my field as by runing a Strait line down to the road next to Samuel Early's new House will make the acre aforesaid and so that each end will be of an equal width and I do direct that my Executors Shall provide or manage the said 60 acres of Land and the Lott of one acre aforesaid that the benefit thereof Shall go the support &c of the Children of the said Andrew Alexander and Should it be necessary my Executors are to dispose of the Same to the best of purpose and to make and execute leases &c or Titles to said parcels of Land as also titles in fee simple when necessary for all the lotts in the Town of Union which have been Sold and not conveyed or for any lotts which may at my death be unsold giving to the Executors hereinafter mentioned or any two of them full Power to sell the said lotts after my death in the same manner as I would expose them to sale myself they Making conveyances or Deeds where by Law and the usages of the Town they my be directed. 4th I will and bequeath to my Grand Children Mary and Isabella Alexander & ________ three daughters of Andrew Alexander my son the following property To Wit, two young horses the coalts of a Mare called Blue Skin one cow and calf with with Sundry other articles of the house hold furniture including a bed &c and a Womans Saddle to be equally divided between my said three Grand Children all of which property is now in the possession of my Son Andrew and his Wife but it is my wish that my executors have full power and do faithfully take care that the property mentioned in the 4th clause of my will is not to be disposed of by my son Andrew so as to deprive his Wife and Children from the benefit and use thereof. 5th I Will and bequeath to my four daughters namely Jane Dunlap, Catherine Shanklin, Elizabeth Byrnsides and Mary Chapman the whole of my movable property including the benefits of the sales of any and all the lots which may not be sold & paid for at my death after deducting the Debts &c which I may owe at my death to be equally divided between them and also Excepting such parts as I have of may herein otherwise dispose of. 6th I Will and bequeath to my son Michael Alexander one rifle Gun which is now in his possession under the impression that I have heretofore given him the Said Michael an Equal part of my estate with the rest of my Children. 7th I will and bequeath to my son Henry Alexander my Negroe girl child Cecelia the Second child of my Negro Woman called Patience also my Negro man called Abriham if ever obtained or any thing for him he the said Abram having Some time before this Eloped from my possession. 8th I will and bequeath to my son Mathew Alexander the land on which I now live together with all its improvements &c (excepting such parts as I have herein by me Disposed of and the lott laid out on the top of the hill next to James Handly's line & which is now pailed in for the use of a burial ground for those having use there for as long as may be necessary and which I intend to stand unmolested [?] forever for that special purpose and use. I also will and bequeath to my said son Mathew Alexander all my farming Utensils such as ploughs axes hoes to be his & his heirs forever but with this condition that he the said Mathew Alexander Shall find & provide or cause to be found and provided for my wife a decent and Plentifull support and maintenance during her natural life and also for my mother Catherine Alexander in case it shall be necessary. 9th I will and bequeath to my four Grand Children to wit James Dunlap son of Alexander Dunlap, James Shanklin son of Richard Shanklin, James Alexander son of Henry Alexander, James Anderson Alexander son of Michael Alexander the sum of fifty Dollars each to be paid them by my Executors out of my personal Estate after my death or to their use. 10th Where as I have some years since Executed an obligation compelling me and my heirs to make or convey unto such persons as might become purchasers of lotts in Union Town . Deeds or titles for the same which Bond is of record in the court of this County and where as When the lines of the 25 acres allotted and intended for the Town of Union aforesaid come to be run and made it appeared that part of said 25 acres was on the lands of Alexander Dunlap it is therefore my will and Special Direction that the purchase money of such lotts or parts of lotts as may be on the lands of said Dunlap be paid to him the said Dunlap by my Executors provided that he the said Dunlap will properly Execute an obligation coming up to the conditions of my Bond aforesaid for which part as the fee simple of the Land [?] or all [?] lotts aforesaid may be in him so as compeleatly to clear the Ballence of my heirs from any Danger or imparryment in consequence of the Bond by me Executed as aforesaid and it is further my will and I do most possitively Direct that unless the said Dunlap shall make Execute and Deliver an Obligation in substance as I have herein before mentioned that my Executors shall withhold from him the said Alexander Dunlap all that part of my Estate which I have herein before mentioned to go to Jane Dunlap wife of the said Alexander Dunlap Except the sum of one Dollar. And lastly I do hereby nominate and appoint my son Henry Alexander, Richard Shanklin and Henly Chapman Executors of this my last will and Testament giving to them all the power herein before mentioned revoking and Disannulling All other and former Wills by me in any wise lettered or published and declaring this and this only to be my true last will and Testament. In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal the Day & year first [?] written. Signed sealed and Declared as the last will and testament of the said James Alexander in prescense of us Lewis Forlander Andrew Beirne George Alderson Isaac Hutchison This last will and Testament of James Alexander Dec'd was presented in Court and proven by the Oaths of Lewis Forlander and Isaac Hutchison two of the subscribing witnesses thereto And is Ordered to be recorded - And On the motion of Henry Alexander one of the Executors named in the will aforesaid who made oath and together with George Beirne & Lewis Fourlander his securities Be [?] cared [?] into and acknowledged Bond in the penalty of five [?] thousand Dollars conditioned [?] as the Law directs certificate is granted him (with leave [?] to Richard Shanklin & Henly Chapman to Join [?] in the Execution of the will aforesaid) for Obtaining probat there of in Due form. 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