The Last Will & Testament of James Coyle, deceased

In the name of God.  Amen.

I James Coyle of the County of Jefferson and state of Virginia, have this 10th day of September 1841, made my will in the words following to wit:

First, It is my will and desire that my wife Elizabeth Coyle shall have the farm on which I now reside with all the buildings and improvements during her natural life for the support of her and the two single daughters during their single life namely, Mary Ann & Margaret Coyle.

I also will to my wife Elizabeth Coyle, my black man Isaac during her natural life.  It is also my will that my wife shall have one horse her choice, also one cow and one heiffer her choice, also provision sufficient for her and her family for one year from the time of my death.  It is also my will that my wife shall have one half of the flock of sheep that may be on hand at the time of my death; also two fifths of the stock hogs that may be on hand.  It is also my will that my wife shall have all the contents of the house during her natural life, except two beds, bed steds and bedding which I shall hereinafter devise to my two single daughters Mary Ann & Margaret Coyle, my wife is not to clear any of the wood land nor cut any of the timber except for fuel & lasting improvements.

Second, It my will & desire that my son James Coyle shall remain on the farm with this mother during her life and manage for her.  I have a black man David, which I wish my son James to keep employed in the shop making barrels for one year after my death, and the proceeds of his labour be applied to the payment of my debts.  It is also my will that the black man David above mentioned at the time above mentioned, one year after my death, I will to my son Edward N. Coyle and his heirs forever with this incumbrance that the said Edward N. Coyle shall pay the sum of three hundred & fifty dollars in two equal annual payments without interest from the time he may get possession of said negro man David, and the money to be equally divided between all mt children or their descendants, and the said Edward N. Coyle shall reserve to himself out of the three hundred & fifty dollars one eighth part.

Third, It is my will and desire, that after my death, the note that I hold given jointly by my sons John & Joseph Coyle shall be cancelled and given up to them without payment.

Fourth, It is my will and desire that my daughter Fanny Dawes wife of William Dawes shall receive out of any moneys that may be in the hands of my executors after my death twenty dollars.  It is also my will that my daughter Aleinda Hill, wife of John Hill shall receive out of any moneys that may be in the hands of my executors after my death twenty Page 34(?) twenty dollars,

Fifth, it is my will and desire that my two single daughters namely Mary Ann & Margaret Coyle shall receive after my death each of them a bed, bedstead and bedding lso eachof them to have a young cow.  It is also my will that after the deathof their mother should they survive her that each of them should have a good plain bureau or sooner if they should marry.

Sixth, It is my will & desire that my grand daughter Martha Elizabeth Coyle, daughter of Joseph & Courtney Coyle shall receive after the death of my wife one hundred dollars to be paid to her out of any moneys that may be in the hands of my executors should there be no assetts in the hands of my executors, them it is my will that after the death of my wife, that the personal property willed to her or so much of it be sold as will pay the legacy of one hundred dollars to said Martha Elizabeth Coyle provided she has arrived at the age of eighteen years.

Seventh, It is my will & desire that the black man Isaac which I have willed to my wife during her natural life shall at her death go to my son Joseph O. Coyle at a moderate valuation, the money to be paid in two equal annual payments without interest after the death of my wife, and the money equally divided between all the rest of my children or their descendants the said Joseph O. Coyle reserving to himself one eighth part.

Eighth, It is my will and desire that after my death all my personal property not otherwise disposed of, shall be valued by three good disinterested men, and should my wife & two executors hereinafter named see proper to take all the property at valuation they are at liberty to do so, and the money applied to the payment of my just debts, should they refuse to take the property at valuation, then it is my will that all be sold at public sale and they money applied to the payment of my just debts.

Nineth, It is my will and desire that my son James Coyle, shall after the death of my wife have the farm I now live on with all the buildings and improvements, to him and his heirs forever subject to their incumbrance, the said James Coyle shall pay to each and all the rest of my children or their descendants, namely Fanny Dawes, Aleinda Hill, Edward N. Coyle, John Coyle, Joseph O. Coyle, Mary Ann Coyle, and Margaret Colye each five hundred & fifty dollars, the money to be paid in four equal annual payments without interest, the first payment to be made twelve months after the death of my wife.

Tenth, I do hereby appoint my son James Coyle, and my son in Law William Dawes my executors of this my last will and testament.  In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the day and year above written.

James Coyle Senr   { Seal }

In the presence of

J. C. Wiltshire

John Gardner

David H. Cockerill

Jefferson County, State of Virginia, Towit

At a Court held for said county on the 16th day of May 1842, the foregoing last will & testament of James Coyle decd, was proved by the oaths of John C. Wiltshire & John Gardner, subscribing witnesses thereto & ordered to be recorded.

Teste, T. A. Moore, Clerk

And afterwards, to wit, at a Court held for said county on the 20th day of June 1842, on the motion of James Coyle, one of the executors named in the foregoing will, certificate is granted him for obtaining Probate in due form, in complying with the law, and thereupon the said James T. Coyle, with Wm Dawes & John M. Coyle, his securities, entered into & acknowledged a bond in the penalty of thirty thousand dollars with condition according to law, and made oath as the Law requires.  And on the same day Wm Dawes, the other Executor named in the said will, refused in open Court to take upon himself the burthen of the execution thereof.

Teste, T. A. Moore, Clerk

Contributed by:  Betty Helf 2006

Source: F232 S5N8 1972 Copy 2 (Library of Congress)