Will of George Woodroof, Spotsylvania County Virginia
Transcribed by Valerie J. Thompson, 17 Mar 2012
In the name of God, Amen. I, George Woodroof, of Spotsylvania County being of perfect mind and memory, Thanks to God for the same, do make and ordain this my last will and Testament in manner and form following. That is to say, I recommend my soul to God hoping to receive pardon and remission of all my sin thru the merits of Jesus Christ, and my body to the Earth to be interred in a Christian way at the discretion of my Exec’rs herein after named and for what worldly goods God in his Mercy hath been pleased to bestow upon me, I give and bequeath the same as follows, Viz:
…It is my will that all my just debts, and funeral expenses ….be paid.
Item: I give and bequeath unto my son, Richard, and his heirs forever the tract of land whereon I now live.
Item: I give and bequeath unto my said son, Richard, one feather bed & furniture, my horse, bridle, and saddle, and all my wearing clothes.
Item: I likewise give unto my said son, Richard, Two cows and calves, also, two Ewes, one dish and two plates and two Chairs.
Item: I give and bequeath unto my grandson BenOny (son of my daughter, Sarah) Fifty pounds current money.
Item: I give and bequeath unto my daughter, Sarah, one bed and furniture, her mothers trunk, also her Mother’s mare that she used to ride, and her saddle and bridle.
Item: I give and bequeath unto my daughter, Jean, ten pounds current money
Item: I give and bequeath to my daughter Mary, fifteen pounds current money
Item: It is my will that the balance of my estate shall be equally divided between my son, Richard, and daughter, Sarah.
Item: It is my will that my Exr’s shall put the fifty pounds given to my grandson, Benony to interest and they shall apply the interest of the said money towards his schooling and maintenance.
Item: It is my will that if my said grandson should die, he comes to age, or marries, That the fifty pounds given to him shall go to my daughter, Sarah.
Item: It is my will that there shall be no appraisement of my estate only an inventory returned to court.
Item: I appoint and constitute my son, Richard, and my friends, Joel Parish, and Thomas
Minor, Executors of this my Last will and Testament, and lastly, I do revoke and make void all former wills heretofore made by me, and do declare this to be my Last will and Testament.
In Witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal this Fifth day of October 1769.
Geo. Woodroof {Seal}
Signed, Sealed and Acknowledged by
Geo. Woodroof, the testator to be his Last will and Testament
In presence of us
Page 495
George Carpenter
William Clift
Nathaniel Parrish
Sarah Parrish
Know all men by these presents that we Richard Woodroof, Joel Parish and Thomas Minor are held and firmly bound unto Fielding Lewis, Charles Dick, John Carter, & Charles Washington, Gentlemen Justices of the County Court of Spotsylvania now selling in the sum of five hundred pounds current money to the payment Whereof well and truly to be made to the said Justices and their successors, we bind ourselves and each of us our and Each of our heirs, Executors and Adm’rs, jointly and severally, firmly by these presents sealed with our seals this 19th day of September 1771. The Condition of the above obligation is such that if the above bound Rich’d Woodroof, Joel Parish, & Ths. Minor, Executors of the Last will and Testament of George Woodroof Dec’d do make or cause to be made a true and perfect Inventory of all and singular, the goods and chattels and credits of the said Dec’d, which have or shall come to the hands, possession, or knowledge of them the sd Ex’rs as into the hands, or possession of any other person or persons for them and the same so made, do Exhibit, or cause to be Exhibited into the County Court of Spotsylvania at such time as he shall be there unto required by the said Court and the same good, chattels and credits of ….at the time of his death, which if at any time after shall come to the hands or possession of the said Ex’ers, or into the hands or possession of any other person, or persons for him do well and truly Administer according to law and further do make
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A Just and true account of their actings and doings therein, when thereto required by the said court and also do well and truly pay and deliver all the legacies contained & specified in the said Testament as far as the said goods, chattels and credits will make unto Extant according to the virtue, thereof, and as the law shall charge, then this obligation to be void, otherwise to remain in full force and virtue.
Rich’d Woodroof {Seal}
Sealed and Delivered Joel Parrish {Seal}
In Presence of } Thomas Minor {Seal}
J. Lewis {Seal}
I was very intrigued to see the word "pounds" mentioned in a US will, so I Googled and found an article on Wikipedia which says the pound was the currency of Virginia (and other States) until 1793. I'm in the UK, so am only familiar with the history of our currency. Interesting :-)
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