Washington Co., Virginia Will Book 5: 200
James Campbell will
Transcribed by D. Powell [paragraphs added for ease of reading]
FHL mf#34357
Dated 21 Aug. 1817; recorded 15 Feb. 1825
I James Campbell of the County of Washington in the State of Virginia being of sound and disposing mind and memory, do make this my last Will and Testament in the following manner viz I direct that all my just debts and funeral charges be paid. I allow my beloved wife Anne full possession of the plantation on which I now live except such part as is hereinafter devised to my son James, and three of my slaves to wit Samuel about forty years of age, Susannah and Susy during her life, also my household and kitchen furniture and all my horses, cattle, sheep, and hogs as she may desire to keep except such part of cattle as is hereinafter devised to my sons Jacob and James. I also allow my wife to have the use of the principal and interest of an obligation of four hundred dollars due from William McKee to me or such part thereof as she may stand in need of during her life. My farming utensils are to remain on the plantation for the use of my wife during her life.
To my son George I give and bequeath my negro girl Polly. To Anne Campbell, daughter of my son George I give my negro girl Susy, child of the above named Polly and two cows and calves. To my son Jacob I give and bequeath my negro girl Patsy [the previous sentence had been added above the line] To my son James I give and bequeath my negro girl Ainsey Also a part of the plantation I now live on, the dividing line to run twenty poles east of the west end of the lane with the direction of the fence on the west end of the field on the right of line [or lane] to Jacob Hagy’s line and also with the direction of said line reversing course to Richard White line which is to exclude [include?] part of my last purchase from Walker and my purchase from Dukes. Also two cows and calves.
To my sons Robert and John I give and bequeath a tract of land the [sic] now live on containing by survey three hundred and sixty one acres to be equally divided between them also the sum of one hundred pounds to each of them. To my son Robert I give and bequeath my negro boy George. To my son John I give and bequeath my negro girl called Gin and her child named Alsy. To my son David I give and bequeath that part of the old plantation to be possessed by my wife during her life. Also my negro girl Susy.
As I wish that none of the slaves which I may posses at my decease should go out of my family I hereby direct that all such not before specifically devised be equally divided among my sons according to evaluation by three disinterested men selected by a majority of them and as the division probably cannot be made in kind if that should be the case I wish such slaves to retained by some one or more of my sons as the whole may agree and that those retaining any of the said slaves pay to my other sons their proportions of their evaluation. All the residue of my estate I direct to be sold and the proceeds to be equally divided among my aforesaid sons.
I hereby appoint my sons James and John as my executors of this my Will which I hereby declare to be my last. Witness my hand and seal this 21st day of August 1817.
Test James Campbell
Robert Cummings
Wiliam Eakin
At a court held for Washington County the 15th day of February 1825 the last Will and Testament of James Campbell deceased was exhibited in Court and proved by the oath of Robert E. Cummings and William Eakin the subscribing witnesses there to and ordered to be recorded. And on the motion of James Campbell one of the Executors therein named who took the oath of an executor prescribed by law and entered into and acknowledged his bond in the sum of four thousand dollars, with Robert Cummings, John Galliher, and John Sutton his securities conditioned as the law directs. A certificate is therefore granted him for the probate of the said Will in due form.
Teste
Jacob Lynch