I, James Burgess of Grant County and State of West Virginia being of sound mind and memory and considering the uncertainty of this frail and transitory life do therefore make, ordain, publish and declare this to be my last will and testament; that is to say First after all my lawful debts are paid and discharged the residue of my estate, real and personal I give, bequeath and dispose of as follows to wit; 1 To my son, Hiram, my landed estate that is one fifth part of the land that my father owned and possessed adjoining the lands of George Shell and wife on Knobley Mountain in Grant County, West Virginia together with all my carpenter tools and gun.
To my son John my bed and desk
To my son William one dollar
To my grandson Francis M Burgess son of Hiram Burgess my watch to be held by his father until he is twenty one years of age.
Likewise I make, constitute and appoint my son Hiram to be executor of this my last will and testament, hereby revoking all former wills by me made.
In witness whereof I have hereunto subscribed, my name and affixed any seal, the 19th day of September in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and seventy.
his
James X Burgess
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The above written instrument was subscribed by the said, James burgess in our presence and acknowledged by him and each of us and he at the same time published and declare the above instrument so subscribed to be his last will and testament and we at the testator's request and in his presence have signed our names as witnesses thereto.
Aaron Baker
Obed Babb
Benjamin S McDonald