Will of John Graham, 1771

In the name of God, Amen the 29th of July, A.D. 1771. I, John Graham being sick in body but of sound mind and Memory thanks to God Almighty, and Calling to remembrance the uncertain estate of this transitory Life and that all flesh must yield to death when it pleaseth God to call I do make Constitute + ordain and declare this to be my Last Will and Testament in Manner and form following Revoking + annulling by these Presents all former Wills + Testaments either Written or by Word of Mouth this to be my last and none other. I first recommend my soul to God, my Savior + Redeemer and my Body to the dust to be decently Buried at the discretion of my Executors hereafter named + Appointed + as to my worldly goods which God hath Granted to me I leave and Bequeath in the following Manner Viz: To my oldest son, Lanty, I devise and leave my Plantation whereon I dwell, to him and his heirs forever upon his allowing my Beloved wife her living off it with what stock she Pleases to keep also the said Lanty is to give six Pounds to James Graham’s son John and Six Pounds to his brother John’s son, John also to my Daughter Anne I leave thirty Pounds besides my Roan horse + chest of draws[;] to my beloved Wife, Elizabeth Graham, I leave twenty Pounds, my Bay Mare two Cows her Choice of the flock, and all the household plenishing[;] to Jane Lockridge I leave fifteen Pounds[;] to Rebecca, my Buccles, and to her son, John, one Cow also to Robert Graham half the mill that belonged to me[;] to my two Daughters, Florence and Betty, ten Pounds each[;] to my sons, Robert and John ten Pounds each[;] to Rebecca Lanty’s daughter I leave ten Pounds + all the rest of the estate remaining to be enjoyed by my Wife (whilst unmarried) but if married to be divided equally between my daughters Flory, Jane, Betty + Anne. But if she never Marrys to be Left by my said Wife to her four daughters here named at her death. I also appoint my beloved Wife and my son Lanty Graham to be my Executors. I hereby revoke all other wills and testaments, appointing and Makeing this my last in the eleventh year of our Sovereign Lord Geore [sic] King of Great Britain, +c. And in the year of our Lord God, 1771.

Signed, sealed and published and pronounced in the presence of

Joseph Robinson
John Kinkead
John Armstrong

At a Court held for Augusta County November the 19th 1771 This Last Will and Testament of John Graham, Decd. was Proved by the Oaths of John Kinkead and John Armstrong, two of the witnesses thereto and Ordered to be recorded. For the motion of Lanty Graham and Elizabeth Graham the executors therein named who made oath According to Law[,] Certificate is Granted them for Obtaining a Probat thereof in due form, they haveing with Securitys entered into + acknowledged their Bond according to law

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Know all men by these Presents that we Elizabeth Graham Lanty Graham James Gay and William Young are held and formly bound unto James Sochart Geo. Moffett John Poage William Tees Justices in the Commission of the Peace for Augusta County for and in behalf of the Justices of the said County and their Successors in the sum of five Hundred Pounds to be Paid to the said Justices and their Successors which payment well and truly to be made we bind ourselves and each of us our & every of our heirs Executors Administrators Jointly + Severally formly by these Presents sealed with our seals this 19th day of November 1771.

The condition of this Obligation is such that if the above bound Elizabeth Graham + :Lanty Graham Executors of the last Will and testament of John Graham Decd. do make or Cause to be made a true + Perfect Inventory of all in singular the Goods Chattles + Credits of the said deceased which have or shall come to the hands Possession or knowledge of him the said Elizabeth + Lanty or unto the hands Possession of any other Person or Persons for them + the same so made do as habit or Cause to be a to be exhibited into the County Court of Augusta and whereupon time as they shall be thereunto required this and Court & the same Goods, Chattles, + Credits & all other Goods Chattels and Credits of the said decd. which at any time after shall come to the hands or Possession

Sealed + Delivered in the Presence of

Elizabeth Graham
Lanty Graham
James Gay
William Young

At a Court for Augusta County November the 19th 1771 Elizabeth Graham and Lanty Graham with James Gay and William Young Their Securitys Acknowledged this their Bond + Ordered to be Recorded

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Augusta County Will Book Number 4, 1767-1772, p. 452, Augusta County Courthouse, Staunton, VA.

Jordan Jones
jordan@leapingdogpress.com