I John Whitt Of the County of Russell and State of Virginia, a farmer knowing the uncertainty of life and the certainty of death make this my last will and testament hereby revoking and making void all former wills made by me at any time theretofore made, and having some property both real and personal that I wish to divide and dispose of as it suits me.
1st, I give to my wife Ruth in her own right to do so as she pleases to do with all my household and kitchen furniture of every discription, and one horse of her choice, all the cattle of every age, all the sheep, I also leave to my wife during her lifetime all my land together with all the buildings and fixtures thereon to manage and control as long as she lives.
2nd, I have given and sold to my son Wm. H. Whitt all the claim I have on the south side of the ridge whose the said Wm.H. Whitt now lives too a fence on the top of the ridge and Henry is to pay Warders the notes I owe Warders for said land except $20.00 of said note my estate must pay with its interest, and the Warder land north of said ridge and fence must be deeded to my estate as my other land.
3rd, I have sold to Z. N. Whitt my son; one acre of land which I am satisfied for him to hold the same.
4th, I also sold Alonzo Whitt my son one acre also fully satisfied with the balance of my estate both real and personal not herein disposed of to be sold and the proceeds thereof equally divided between my seven children alike and the land at the death of my wife also equally divided among my said children, and when the land is divided I require my estate to pay my daughter Martha, two hundred and twelve dollars extra in addition to her legal share. In witness of this my last will I set my hand and seal this the 13th day of May 1887.
John Whitt (Seal)
At the request of John Whitt, we witness this as his last will.
Thos.W. Davis
John W. Smith
At a Court Continued and held for Russell County at the Courthouse thereof on the 3rd day of June 1890. The last Will and Testament of John Whitt this day was produced in Court and proven by the oath of Thomas W. Davis who testified that he witnessed said will at the request of said Whitt deceased and in his presence and in the presence of John W. Smith the other subscribing witness thereto, and thereupon said will is ordered to be recorded, and on the motion of W.H. Whitt and Z.N Whitt and appearing that the widow of said John Whitt renounces her right to qualify as Administratrix, they are permitted to qualify as Administrators of the Estate of said John Whitt deceased, with the will and thereupon the siad W.H. and Z.N. Whitt entered into and acknowledged a bond in the penalty of $1000.00 together with J.F. Griffith and P.L. Johnson as their securities conditioned according to law, and thereupon the said W.H. Whitt & Z.N. Whitt took the oath prescribed by law, a certificate is therefore granted them for obtaining letters of administration of the estate of said John Whitt deceased in due form.
Teste: T.T.Dickenson D.C.