I James Shoemaker Senr. of Russell County and State of Virginia, do make my last will and Testament in manner following, that is to say:
1st I give and bequeath to my wife Catherine two feather beds & furniture cupboard and kitchen furniture, one horse beast to be worth $100, such as she may choose, and saddle and bridle; also the use of that part of the dwelling house wherein I now live and a sufficient and comfortable maintenance from my plantation during her life to be given her by my son Joseph.
2 I give to my son Alexander Shoemaker my negro woman named Nell and her child and any increase she may hereafter have, and my negro man Will, to him & his heirs forever.
3 I give to my son James Shoemaker the sum of one dollar, to be paid out of my effects herein after directed to be sold; and I give to Samuel, son of my said son James my negro woman Lucy & her two children, and any others that she may hereafter bear: I also give to my said grandson that part of my tract of land and plantation which lies adjoining the lands of my said son James, being the eastern and western line of his tract adjoining my tract and to run directly across the plantation to the opposite side of my tract of land, and until he arrives at the age of 21 years it is my will that the rents, issues, and profits thereof be received and held for his use by my son James, out of which my said son James and his wife Elizabeth are to have for their own use and benefit whatever they may choose to reserve. If my said grandson Samuel Shoemaker should die before he attains the age of 21 years and without any lawful heir of his body or if he should afterwards die without making any will or testament, then it is my will and desire that all the said slaves and their increase and the land aforesaid to him given, shall after my said son James & his present wife Elizabeth, have had the use thereof during their life, shall revert to my two sons Alexander and Joseph & their heirs forever.
4. I give and bequeath to my son Joseph Shoemaker the residue of my lands being that part of them on which my dwelling house is situated; also my negroes York and Sela; my negroes Peggy and her five children together with the increase of any of them; also one waggon, and all my farming utensils, to him and his heirs forever; and I earnestly solicit him to afford to my wife Catherine a comfortable support from the lands herein bequeathed to him.
5 I give and bequeath to whomsoever of my son she may choose to live my negro woman Rose and request that she for her faithful services may be treated with all the kindness he situation will admit: except that my son James, if she chooses to live with him is to have and receive the use of her services for his son Samuel; and that she and the same shall descend in the same manner as the other estate herein before bequeathed to said Samuel my grandson.
6 I give and bequeath to my daughter Catherine Fraley the sum of fifty dollars in addition to a negro girl I gave her several years ago; which said sum of fifty dollars is to be raised from the effects herein after directed to be sold.
7th It is my will and desire that all my effects not herein before particularly disposed of be sold by my executor herein after named, and that the proceeds thereof and any money I may leave at my decease, after paying my debts and funeral expenses and the expense of the execution of this my last Will and Testament be equally divided between my three daughters Sarah Hollin, Jane Lynch and Judith Litton, or their heirs.
And lastly I do constitute and appoint James Gray executor of this my last Will and Testament, hereby revoking and disannulling all former wills or bequeaths by me made.
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 25th day of November 1822.
his
James X Shoemaker (Seal)
mark
Signed sealed published and declared as and for the last Will & Testament of the above named James Shoemaker in presence of us
James P. Carrell
William Nash jr.
Virginia
At a Court held for Russell County the 3d day of June 1823
This instrument of writing was exhibited in court as and for the last will and testament of James Shoemaker deceased and proven by the oaths of James P. Carrell and William Nash junr. the subscribing witnesses thereto, and ordered to be recorded. And on the motion of James Gray executor therein named who made oath thereto and together with John Jessee, James Dickenson junr. & William Nash junr. his securities entered into and acknowledged a bond in the penalty of $12,000 conditioned as the law directs, certificate is granted him for obtaining probat of the said will in due form
Teste
James P. Carrell D.C.