Washington Co., Virginia Will Book 14:291-293
Will of Wm. McCALL
Dated 26 Dec. 1854; proven 22 & 23 Jan 1855, Certificate of probate granted 23 Jan 1855
Transcribed by Bob and Donna Ford; their additions in [ ]
“I William McCALL of the County of Washington and State of Virginia, do make this my last Will and Testament.
First - I allow all my debts and funeral expenses to be paid.
I will and bequeath to my wife Elizabeth all my household and kitchen furniture, I also will to her all my stock of horses, except what I shall hereafter designate, but I allow my son John the use of my horses for farming purposes, I also will to my wife all the milch cows that I own for her own use, I also will to her all my wagons and farming utensils, but my son John is not to be barred from the use of any farming implements, I also give my wife all my sheep, I also give her a sufficiency of all the grain now on hand and of the growing crops for the use of the family, the balance to be the disposal of my son John.
I allow my son John to occupy and hold all the buildings, and the small lot where he now lives free of rent until all my debts are paid. I give my son John one bee hive, I give all my other beehives to my wife, I also give her all the meat now on hand, also one third of the hogs to be used for the support of the family, I will all the balance of my hogs and cattle to my wife and my son John to be disposed of to the best advantage for paying up my debts.
I will to my daughter Martha O. an amount equal to that I gave to my son John or my daughter Rebecca Jane to be paid her at my death, or if she prefer it twelve months after bearing interest from my death.
I will to my son Robert L. one brown filly to be delivered to him at my death, also an amount equal to that given to John or Rebecca Jane, with the exception of the value of the filly, this amount to be paid to him at the age of twenty one years.
I will to my son William the same amount as the above named John or Rebecca Jane have received from me to be paid to William when twenty one years old.
I will to my daughter Sarah Katharine an equal amount with either one of the above named children, I allow her within twelve months a saddle worth twenty five dollars, the price of the saddle to be taken out of her part and the balance paid her at the age of twenty one years.
I will to my son Samuel one saddle to be delivered to him at my death, and an amount equal to either one of my other children the value of the saddle to be taken off his part and the balance to be paid to him at the age of twenty one years.
After the payment of all my debts I allow my lands I bought of BYARS, of ORR and of REID to be sold and two hundred dollars to be paid to my wife, and the balance equally divided between all my children, except Rebecca Jane who is to receive one half as much as one of the others.
I will to my wife all the old tract of land in which I now live to be hers during life, after her death to be sold and equally divided between all my children.
I appoint my son John McCALL Executor of this my last Will and Testament. Witness my hand and seal this 26th day of December 1854.”
[Signed]: William [his mark] McCALL [seal]
Witnesses: E. A. ROBINSON, J. E. HORNE, Arthur HUTTON.
“At a court held for Washington county the 22nd day of January 1855. The last Will and Testament of William McCALL deceased, was proved in court by the oath of John E. HORNE one of the subscribing witnesses thereto. And at a court continued and held for Washington county the 23rd day of January 1855. The last Will and Testament of William McCALL deceased, was again exhibited in court and proved by the oath of Arthur HUTTON another subscribing witness thereto and ordered to be recorded. And on the motion of John McCALL the executor therein named who took the oath of an executor forscribed by law, and entered into and acknowledged his bond in the sum of Ten thousand dollars, with Arthur HUTTON, William EDMONDSON and Gabriel STICKLEY,
his securities and _____ as the law directs. A Certificate is therefore granted him for the probate of the said Will in due form.”
Teste John G. KREGER, D.C.
[Four of Wm. McCALL’s children -- Robert L., Wm., Sarah Katharine, and Samuel were not yet 21 when Wm. wrote his Will on 26 Dec 1854].