Will of John DAWS

written 3/22/1809 probated 9/21/1819

Mecklenburg County Virginia Will Book 9, page 70, Will of John Daws

In the name of God, Amen. I, John Daws of the county of Mecklenburg and State of Virginia being sick and weak but of a sound and perfect mind and memory, thanks be to God for it, and calling to mind that it is appointed of God for man once to die, do make and ordain this my last Will and Testament in manner and form following:

Item, First of all it is my will and desire that all my just debts be truly and punctually paid.

Secondly, It is my Will and desire that my whole estate of every description after my just debts are paid, shall be kept together until the year of our Lord 1818 and then to be sold at public auction and the money arising therefrom equally divided between my beloved wife and children namely William Daws, Thomas Daws, Patsy B. Daws, Betsy Daws, Polly I. Daws, John I. Daws, Joel Daws, Isaac H. Daws, Sally Ann Daws, and Rebecca Holmes but as my daughter Rebecca Holmes has had property to the amount of one hundred and two pounds already, it is my will and desire that she should have no more claim in my Estate until my wife and every other child has their equal part to the amount of the sum she the said Rebecca Holmes has had already. Then after the equal division if there should be a surplus of my Estate still remaining it is my Will and desire that she, the same Rebecca Holmes, should come in for an equal claim of the said surplus with my wife and the rest of my children. But should my estate not be sufficient to make my wife and the rest of the children equal to the said Rebecca Holmes it is nevertheless my Will and desire that she should keep and enjoy what I have already given her, viz. the sum of one hundred and two pounds. It is also my will and desire that the sum of forty-three pounds shall be deducted from my son William Daws part of my estate as I have given him property to that amount already.

Item, It is my Will & desire that my daughter Nancy Farrar shall receive the sum of three pounds which is to raised and levied to her out of my Estate and no more.

Lastly, I appoint my wife Elizabeth Daws Executrix and William Daws and Thomas Daws Executors to this my last Will and Testament. In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my Seal this 22 nd day to March 1809.

John Daws

Witnesses:
Z. Curtis,
James Jones,
Polly Moore

At a court held for Mecklenburg County the 20 th day of September 1819

The within written last Will and Testament of John Daws dec. was exhibited in Court and proved by the oaths of two witnesses thereto subscribed and ordered to be recorded. Whereupon on motion of Elizabeth Daws the Executrix therein named who made oath thereto according to law and together with James Jones, William Daws, Daniel Mer??eigh and Frankling Moore her securities enter into and acknowledged bond in the penalty of twenty thousand dollars conditioned as the law directs Certificate is granted her for obtaining probate thereof in due form.

Teste. Edward L. Tabb

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Contributed by Shirley (Johnson) LaFleur

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