Washington Co. Virginia, Will Bk 13: 258-260
Will of John S. Clark
Dated 5 Oct. 1854 and proved in court 23 Oct. 1854
from Audrey Honegger
"I, John S. Clark, of the county of Washington and State of Virginia, being in feeble health, but of sound and disposing mind and memory and being desirous to dispose of such worldly estate as it hath pleased God to bless me with, I hereby make and ordain this my last Will and Testament in manner and form following to wit:
First - My lawful debts and funeral expenses must be paid.
Secondly - I leave to my wife, Isabella, the use of my farm and farming utensils, with the use of my boy Owen for the purpose of raising and schooling my children. Also the use of all my horses except four which are to be sold and which I will hereafter designate. Also all my household and kitchen furniture; also all my crops on hand consisting of the different kinds of grain with a sufficiency of forage during the present coming winter. Also all my cattle except ten head of young cattle including one milch cow which are to be sold; also twenty four head of sheep. The foregoing devises I make to my wife Isabella for purposes already mentioned or so long as she remains my widow. It is further my will that my wife shall have the use of my blacksmith tools on the same conditions as the foregoing devise.
Third - It is my will that my daughter Martha Harvey Clark shall have one thousand dollars in cash, this devise to insure to her benefit from the time of my decease.
Fourth - I give and bequeath to my daughter Emily Clark one thousand dollars to be paid to interest by her guardian until she is twenty one years of age or until she gets married.
Fifth - I bequeath to my unborn child (if it should be a girl) one thousand dollars to be paid to interest as in the devise to Emily and on the same terms.
It is further my will that my two daughters Martha and Emily shall have each one horse and two cows out of the stock devised for the use of my family in the event that either or both of them should get married.
And in the event that my widow should get married, it is my will that my executor shall sell all my personal estate and after paying to my wife her dower in my personal estate, shall reserve the remainder for my four sons, namely James Harvey Clark, John Alexander Clark, Thomas Chalmers Clark, William Beatie Clark. I further devise to my four sons jointly all my lands of which I am possessed; also all my entire estate both lands and money except legacies to my daughters and except such as I shall hereafter specify.
It is further my will that should my unborn child be a son that then and in that case the devise already made shall be merged in the devise made to my other sons and he shall be an equal sharer in the devises made to them.
It is my will that two hundred dollars of my estate be made a permanent fund and the interest annually accruing on said fund to be paid annually to the Minister who may be supplying Glade Spring Church.
It is further my will that my stock of hogs and my Buggy be reserved for the use of my family on the same conditions as my first devise.
It is my will that my executor sell the remainder of my stock not devised, namely sheep, cattle and hogs, including my stable horse and the three youngest except the spring colts.
Lastly, I nominate, constitute and appoint my brother Robert Clark and my brother-in-law James Clark Executors to this my last Will and Testament hereby revoking and making void all others here before made by me.
In testimony whereof I hereunto subscribe my name and affix my seal this 5th day of October 1854.
John S. Clark (Seal)
Teste
John Eakin
Wm. W. Allison
John Clark senr.
At a court held for Washington County the 23rd day of October 1854, the last Will and Testament of John S. Clark deceased was exhibited in court and proved by the oath of William W. Allison and John Clark senr.