The Will of William Hall of Frederick County Virginia

In the name of God Amen. I William Hall of Frederick County in the colony of Virginia being sick and weak in body but of perfect mind and memory thanks to Almighty God and calling to mind the transitory state of this life and well knowing that all flesh must yield unto death when it shall please God to call, do make and ordain this to be my last will and testament in manner and form following, viz: First I recommend my soul into the hands of Almighty God that gave it me trusting in the merits of my blessed Lord and savior Jesus Christ to receive it again at the last day and as for such worldly goods as my blessed God has been pleased to bestow on me in this life, I give and bequeath the same in manner and form following, viz: My just debts being duly paid and my funeral charges also.

Then I give or let my son William Hall have that piece of land he now lives on during his natural life, and no longer and then I give and bequeath the said piece of land to the eldest son of said William said moeity of land and his heirs forever and in case there should be no son to heir the same my will is that the eldest daughter of said William shall possess the same to her and heirs forever, and land beginning where this home patent ends and taking the course below the lower field. Then I give or let to my son James Hall have from the top of the hill between his brother William and him the remaining part of the above first mentioned land during his natural life and no longer and then I will and bequeath said moeity of land to the eldest son of said James Hall and if no son to the eldest daughter and her hers forever, but if a son to him and his heirs forever. Then I give or let to my son Richard Hall them lands adjoining Nacals line thence running within a few peles of the place I bought off John Heunts on during his natural life and no longer and after I will and bequeath the same to his eldest son and his heirs forever but if no male issue, to his eldest daughter and her heirs forever. I give or let to my sons John Hall and Anthony Hall the old place or plantation beginning at Nacal's line and running to McCormack's line during their natural life and no loner and then I will and bequeath the same to each of their eldest sons and their heirs forever, but if no male issue to each of their eldest daughters and their heirs forever. Then I give or let to my son Thomas Hall and Joseph Hall my new dwelling plantation and the mill thereon during their natural life and no longer and then I will and bequeath the same to each of their eldest sons and their heirs forever and if no male issue to each of their eldest daughters and their heirs forever. Then my will is that my new survey of land shall be sold by my executor hereafter mentioned and the money got for the same shall be equally divided among my four daughters viz: Elisabeth Pemberton, Ruth Heavin, Hannah Harris and Sarah Keyes, and it is my will also that my full children always to have their grain ground to free during their natural life or the mill is going. I also will to my son William...a full liberty of cutting hay on that meadow around most the mill during his life time. I also will to my son James three acres of said meadow next the fence in his lifetime. Then I will to my beloved wife during her widowhood my full stock and all now belonging to said plantation during her natural life not withstanding of my said wife should waste or embezzle said effects unlawful, I then empower my said executor to take all but her land out of her hands and make an equal division of the same amongst all the children in full named. Lastly constitute, nominate and appoint my will beloved son William Hall my whole and sole executor of this my last will and testament confirming this only to be my last will and I hereby revoke, make void all other will or wills made heretofore by me allowing this alone to be my last will and testament and in witness hereof I set my hand and affix my seal this twenty-first of October one thousand seven hundred and sixty-four (October 21, 1764). My will is also that the money due and belonging to me with my wife's brother, Richard Richardson be go and equally divided among my children.

Signed William Hall