I John Dorton of the County of Russell and State of Virginia do hereby make my last will and testament in manner and form following
1st. I give to my son John W. Dorton all the property and money already advanced to him as his full portion of my estate.
2nd. I having placed my daughter Matilda Hartsock in possession of a portion of my land which has already been surveyed and laid off for her, and recently by me conveyed to her and her husband James Hartsock, and in addition to the said land and advancements heretofore made to her, I also direct that my executor pay to her and her husband the sum of one hundred dollars out of any of my property that may best suit them, I desiring that and the land as a compensation for what they have hertofore paid me and also as their full portion of my whole estate.
3rd. I give my daughters Unity Vicars & Sarah Osborn, my tract of land lying on both sides of Copper Creek, which was conveyed to me by Tyre Culbertson the same to be equally divided agreeable to quality by running a line from the top of the Moccasin Ridge to the line of the Copper Creek Knobs, giving the western division to Unity Vicars and the eastern division to Sarah Osborn for and during their natural lives and at the death of Unity Vicars I desireth that her interest in the same revert to her children, and at the death of Sarah Osborn I direct that her interest in said land revert to her children.
4th. I give to my son Francis M. Dorton & my daughters Mary Osborn & Patsy Dorton the land whereon I now reside including all my land adjoining thereto not herein otherwise disposed of; I also give them all my household and kitchen furniture together with all my farming tools including my wagon, logwheels & the harness belonging thereto, also my smith tools together with all my stock of cattle, horses, sheep & hogs, geese & poultry of every description except only such property as may be herein otherwise disposed of.
5th. I give to my granddaughter Nancy Osborn (Mary Osborn's daughter) two cows and two calves also my bay horse colt about twelve months old also ten head of sheep.
6th. I direct that immediately after my decease my executor proceed to collect all the debts due me and after paying all my just debts and funeral expenses, the remainder of the proceeds of the collection of the debts together with all my money on hand at my decease be equally divided with my three children Francis M. Dorton, Mary Osborn & Patsy Dorton.
7th. I having disposed of all my property I direct that the usual form of having property appraised etc. be dispensed with I having full faith and confidence in my executor; I hereby constitute and appoint Robert Fugate my executor to this my last will and testament, hereby revoking and declaring void all former wills heretofore made by me, given under my hand & seal this 2nd day of December 1857.
John Dorton (Seal)
Signed & sealed by John Dorton in our presence as his last will and testament.
Moses Dorton
David Jessee
At a court held for Russell County on the 5th day of January 1858.
The last will and testament of John Dorton deceased was produced in court and proved by the oath of Moses Dorton and David Jessee the two subscribing witnesses thereto and ordered to be recorded - And on the motion of Robert Fugate the executor therein named who took the oath of an executor prescribed by law and entered into and acknowledged his bond in the sum of $2000.00 with Henry D. Aston and William B. Aston as his securities conditioned as the law directs, a certificate is therefore granted him for obtaining probate of the said will in due form.
Teste,
R. H. Lynch C. C.