JOSEPH SNODGRASS SR. WILL
5 Oct 1827 -- Will Bk. 6, pp. 18-20: I
Joseph Snodgrass senior of Washington County and Commonwealth of Virginia being far
advanced through the period of life allotted to man and being frail in body but of sound
mind and disposing memory, for which I thank God, and being desirous to dispose of such
worldly estate as it hath pleased God to bless me with I do hereby make and ordain this my
last Will and Testament in the manner and form following (that is to say) after all my
lawful debts and funeral charges are paid, I give and bequeath as follows, first I Give
and bequeath to my wife one third of all my estate both real and personal during her
natural life and as far as relates to her share of my personal estate I leave it to her
discretion to divide it amongst my daughters as she may see proper at her decease and over
and above her third part my will is that she shall keep my negro woman Sarah and her child
if she sees proper to do so during her life. Should she become dissatisfied to keep her,
my Executors shall hire her to the best advantage and the one third of the money arising
from the hire of said negro to go to the benefit of my wife, the remaining two thirds to
be equally divided amongst my daughers, if she is continued in possession of my wife and
she continues to live with my son William they shall be entitled to the benefit of her
labour until the decease of my wife, and finally at her decease said negro and issue shall
be sold and the money arising from the sale to be equally divided amongst my three
daughters and should any of my three daughters wish to purchase her they shall be allowed
two years to make payment provided they are willing to give a price for her as much as can
be got from another, if she is sold to a stranger my executors shall make the terms of
sale as they shall see proper and divide the money as above mentioned. 2nd My Will is that
my two sons John and Joseph shall have the tract of land they now live on, to be equally
divided between them having regard to quality and quantity leaving it to them to make such
division as may suit best, in case they disagree in said division they shall refer same to
three or more disinterested men to make such division whose judgement shall be final, and
each shall be entitled to the moiety assigned him henceforth and forever, in case each of
them pay one hundred & fifty dollars in property at a fair marked price which may be
discharged in horses, cattle or grain of any kind, which payment shall be made in two
years after my decease the one half, or 150 dollars worth to my son David Snodgrass or his
heirs, the remaining 150 to be equally divided amongst my three daughters. 3d My Will is
that my son Abram shall have the east end of the tract of land I live on including my
three lower fields the fence dividing the three lower fields from the upper part to
conduct the division line across the place until it intersects with the line of the place
devised to John and Joseph which tract or parcel of land shall be his henceforth and
enjoyed by him and his heirs forever. The remaining part of my land I give and bequeath to
my son William, likewise my waggon and harness, my farming utensils and implements of
husbandry which shall remain his henceforth and be enjoyed by him and his heirs forever.
And further my will is that all my estate not herein particularly specified (consist in
what it may) including my livestock of all kinds shall be appraised and sold and the money
arising from the sale of whatever may remain (after making a sufficient allowance of
provision for the support of my family during 12 months) likewise all cash that may become
due on bonds in my possession shall be equally divided amongst my three daughters, to wit,
Jenny Orr, Polly Eakin and Eleanor Hutton. And Lastly I do hereby nominate, constitute and
appoint my son John Snodgrass and my son in law John Eakin Executors to this my last Will
& Testament hereby revoking and making void all others. In Testimony whereof I have
hereunto subscribed my name and affixed my seal this 15th day of October in the year of
our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty seven. Joseph Snodgrass witnesses: William
Snodgrass, James Meek, John Jamison. Proved in court 18 Mar 1828; John Snodgrass &
John Eakin appointed executors with William McPhabridge, James Orr, & Arthur Hutton
their securities.
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