Russell County, Virginia, May the 28th 1850. I Larkin Herndon being weak in body but sound in mind, which I have reason to be thankful to almighty God and calling to mind that I must go the way of all the living I wish to dispose of all my wordly goods that it has pleased God to bless me with, when I am dead I wish to be decently and plainly buried.
1. I leave to my son Reubin Herndon the place he now lives on beginning at a sugartree corner thence to along the fence to the branch thence along the branch to Stephen Fuller's line to have and to hold to his proper use and beliefs.
2. I leave all the rest of my lands and tenement goods and chattels and all the ready money and outstanding debts I leave to my beloved wife during her natural life, and if the two black boys William & Isaac gets impudent and contrary and it should be thought best to sell them, sell them for the best price that can be procured and put the proceeds of them to the use of the family, and after my wifes death I want all the remains of my estate real & personal to be sold and after paying all the expenses to be divided amongst my several children making my grandaughter Sarah Jessee an equal heir after giving her, her bed, and furniture, her saddle, and a cow and calf and wheat, and when my wife is dead I wish Chancey to have his choice which of the children he will live with and they to have fifty dollars extra for keeping him in his old age. I want Archer Jessee to have one dollar and his two daughters Margaret & Mary to have fifty dollars a piece and I want Abram Ferrell to have one dollar and his two children William J. & Sophia to have fifty dollars a piece, and all the rest equally divided amongst the rest of my children that is to say, Edward, Frankey, Peggy, Betsy, Sarah, and Sarah Jessee. I also constitute and appoint my friend James Samples my Executor.
Larkin Herndon (Seal)
Teste
John Wallis
Stephen Fuller
At a Court held for Russell County at the Courthouse on the 3rd day of Dec 1850. This instrument in writing was exhibited in Court as and for the last will and testament of Larkin Herndon deceased and proven by the oaths of John Wallis and Stephen Fullen the subscribing witnesses thereto and ordered to be recorded, and on the motion of James Samples Executor herein named who made oath and together with Robert Boyd, Dale Carter, William B. Aston, his securities entered into and acknowledged a bond in the penalty of $5000.00 conditioned as the law directs, certificate is granted him for obtaining probate of said will in due form.
James P. Carrell CRC