Will Book 1, pages 476, 491: In the Name of God Amen 10 Jan 1786 I John Snodgrass of the County of Berkeley and commonwealth of Virginia being in a poor state of health at present but of sound mind memory and judgment thanks be to God therefore calling to mind the mortality of my body and the uncertainty of this present life and that it is appointed for all men once to die do make this my last will and Testament in manner and form following principally and first of all I Recommend my Soul unto the hands of Almighty God my Body I Recommend to the Earth to be buried in a decent Christian manner at the discretion of my Executors nothing doubting but at the General Resurrection I shall Receive the same by the mighty Power of God and as to such Worldly estate wherewith it has pleased God to bless me in this life I give and bequeath (after my just Debts and funeral Charges are all paid off) and Divide my estate as followeth I give and bequeath unto my three sons William Benjamin and James Snodgrass the whole of all the Plantation I now live on in Tuscarora Run in the County aforesaid to be equally divided between them to be divided as followeth to wit with Two lines to run parallel with the line between Frederick Heffners Plantation and mine the aforesaid Division lines to extend from Col. Pendletons line & intersect the line above the meadow called the mountain Meadow the part adjoining Frederick Heffners lands on both sides of Tuscarora to be my son William Snodgrass part the other two shares to fall to my two sons Benjamin Snodgrass and James Snodgrass to be determined by lot where the share of which the Mansion House stands shall be if the cannot agree otherwise the above mentioned land with all the appurtenances thereto belonging to be by them their Heirs and assigns possessed and enjoyed seperately forever but is my Will and pleasure further that if my son William doth loose the house he now lives in by the above said Division that all the Building on the premises shall be valued by men that whosoever of my other sons the do fall unto shall assist him in Building Equivalent to the value thereof or pay him the third of the value thereof as he shall chose I give and bequeath to my son John Snodgrass all my wearing apparel my Bed and furniture and I allow my other three sons William Benjamin and James Snodgrass to pay to him my said son John Snodgrass the sum of three pounds apeace yearly and every year during his natural life which sum of nine pounds is to be for his yearly support while he lives and likewise to keep for him a Horse for him to Ride on I give and bequeath to my Daughter Elizabeth wife of Samuel Kennedy the sum of Twenty Shillings she having before Received all that I allowed her I give and bequeath to my daughter Catharine Snodgrass one Horse worth fifteen pounds Currency likewise her Saddle and bridle a Bed and Bed clothes Two Cows one Calf five Sheep nevertheless but if she my said Daughter Catharine Marry before my Decease my will is that the Legacy shall be and as I intend at that time to give her what I allow for her portion and she shall be entitled to no more than Twenty Shillings equal with her other sisters after my Decease I give and bequeath to my Daughter Sarah wife of William Eakin the Sum of Twenty Shillings the Remainder of my personal Estate I allow to be Equally divided between my sons John Benjamin and James Snodgrass and I do hereby make Constitute and appoint my Two Sons Wm. and Benjamin Snodgrass together with Samuel Kennedy to execute this my last Will and Testament and I do hereby disallow Revoke and utterly disannull all former Wills Legacies or Executors by me made and do Ratify and confirm this and no other to be my last Will and Testament In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the day and year first above written. John (his mark) Snodgrass Signed sealed published and Declared by the said John Snodgrass to be his last will and Testament in presence of us William Glenn Mary Reany [Rainey ?] and John McClean At a court held for Berkeley County the 19th day of February 1788 This last will and Testament of John Snodgrass deceased was presented in Court by Samuel Kennedy William Snodgrass and Benjamin Snodgrass the Executors therein named who made oath thereto according to Law and the same being proved by the oaths William Glenn Mary Reany and John McClean witnesses thereto and ordered to be Recorded and on the motion of the said Executors who entered into Bond with William Glenn and John Kennedy their Securities in the Penalty of five hundred pounds conditioned for the true performance of the administration of the said Estate certificate is granted them for attaining a probate thereof in Due form of Law <Cemetery stones for son William, b. ca. 1751, and son James, b. ca. 1761, would indicate that this John Sr. was born by 1730. Since his son John Jr. was buying land in 1757 (together with David Snodgrass, son of William), that would push John Sr's birthdate back probably to 1715 or earlier.> 1787