Book 1 page 71
"I, Christopher Martin, of the county of Grant and the state of West Virginia, do make this my last will and testament.
FIRST, I desire and will that all my just debts and funeral expenses be paid.
SECOND, I will to my wife during her life my 82 acre tract of land adjoining the Putman and Likens land. I also will to my wife during herlife a part of my home place lying east of the Knobley Pike and bounded as follows: Beginning in a line of mine and Wm. Harris in said Pike and running south with said Pike to a corner of Z.T. Martin's land and with
his line to a sycamore tree standing by the Mill Dam corner to said Z.T. Martin's land, thence a strait line to a large sycamore tree at the Thorn Run in a line of mine and with the line to the beginning. My desire and will is that my wife shall have one half of the fruit that grows in my orchard above the Pike. I will to my wife two horses, the gray and the bay with their harness. I will to my wife two beds and bedding and one-third of the money that my personal property brings after the payment
of my debts. I desire and will that my wife shall have during her life one-third of the total grain that my mill makes.
THIRDLY, I will to my daughter, Martha Martin, the lot of land that I purchased from Abraham Likens which she now rents and I will to said daughter Martha Martin, a part of the land that I purchased from the Rotruck heirs bounded as follows: To wit, beginning at a birch and some chestnut saplings on top of Knobley Mountain & corner of Rotruck Run running a west course to a small hickory, it being the division corner between Abraham Rotruck and Joseph McNemar and with their division line a west course to a point in said line opposite the Graveyard. Then running a strait line passing the West side of the Graveyard to the division line between my land and the line of Eliza Martin, thence with my lines to the beginning.
FOURTHLY, I will to my grandson, William and his heirs a part of the land I purchased from the Rotruck heirs bounded as follows: Beginning at a point in the division line between Abraham Rotruck & Joseph McNemar and corner to the lands I have willed to my daughter Martha Martin and running with said line a west course passing the division corner between said
Rotruck & McNemar 4 or 6 poles to a fence then with said fence a north course to the stone fence then running with said fence to the Rotruck land, then running to a corner of Eliza Martin's land and with her line to the
beginning.
FIVE. I will to my son, C.C. Martin my Grist Mill and a certain piece of land that the Mill sets on bounded as follows: beginning at a white walnut tree standing at the junction of the Thorn Run Road with the Knobley Pike, then running to a sycamore tree on the west bank of the Mill Dam corner to Z.T. Martin's. Then running to a large sycamore tree in a line with David Roberts near Thorn Run Road then with Roberts line to the Knobley Pike and with the Pike to the beginning.
SIX. I will to my son, Z.T. Martin my land lying between the Knobley Pike and the top of Knobley Mountain including the 24 acre tract that I purchased of Jos. McNemar & adjoining the land of C.C. Martin on the East side.
SEVEN. I will to my sons C.C. Martin and Z.T. Martin the balance of the land west of the top of Knobley.
EIGHT. I will to my sons, C.C. Martin and Z.T. Martin after the death of my wife, the lands I have willed to her during her life.
NINE. I will that my executors make a title to William Welch for the land I sold to said Welch when said Welch pays the balance on the said Land.
TEN. I will my son, Thomas A. Martin the sum of Five Hundred Dollars.
ELEVEN. I will to my daughter, Mary Markwood the sum of Three Hundred dollars.
TWELVE. I will to my daughter, Chesia Walker the sum of Three Hundred Dollars and my bay mare which she now has.
THIRTEEN. I will to my grandson, David G. Martin one colt saddle and bridle.
FOURTEEN. I will to my granddaughter, Mary Jane Martin the sum of Three Hundred Dollars.
FIFTEEN. I will to my son, George S. Martin the sum of Five dollars.
SIXTEEN. I will that if personal property does not pay sums therein willed, that my sons, C.C. Martin & Z.T. Martin shall pay the balance but if said property should over pay said sums then the balances to be equally divided for and between my heirs excepting said George S. Martin.
SEVENTEEN. I hereby appoint my sons, Z.T. Martin and Thomas A. Martin my executors to carry out the provisions of this my will, signed and acknowledged by me to be my last will and testament on this 1st day of February 1882.
Christopher Martin (by his mark)
Signed and acknowledged by the testator Christopher Martin before us and in our presence and signed by us in his presence and in the presence of each other the day and year afored said.
Chas Evans
W. L. Possey
State of West Virginia
Grant County Clerk's office
The forgoing last will and testament was on the 4th day of March 1882 produced in my office and from the oaths of Charles Evans and W. L. Possey the subscribing witnesses thereto, whereupon said will was admited to brobate and ordered to be recorded.
D.P.Henerickson Clerk