I Margaret Browning Of the County of Russell and State of Virginia do make this my last will and testament.
1st, It is my will that my funeral expenses and all my just debts be paid out of my estate.
2nd, I will devise and bequeath to my brothers and sisters all the rest and residue of the property whereever situated, real, personal and mixed, that I may own, or be entitled to at the date of my death: except the sum of one thousand dollars, one gold watch, and the house and the lot situate in the town of Lebanon, where Isaac B. Fickle now lives which is hereinafter, disposed of otherwise.
3rd, I will devise and bequeath to my sister Betty Fickle the house and lot aforesaid, in addition to what I have herein before given her.
4th, I will and bequeath to my nephew Fred Gray my gold watch.
5th, My will and desire is that out of my estate, the sum of $1000.00 be set apart and be deposited in some safe bank, or be loaned out and secured on good unencumbered real estate, and that my faithful nurse Sarah Puckett be allowed to draw and use the annual interest thereon during her natural life.
6th, My will and desire is that at the death of the said Sarah Puckett the one thousand dollars herein before set apart for her benefit, be equally divided between my two nephews, Paul Gray, Carell Gray, sons of my two brothers E.D. Gray and Henry F. Gray.
7th, My will and desire is that there be no changes in name letters or engraving on my tombstone now erected in the cemetery near Lebanon, futher than what is necessary to show the date of my demise, that is the date of the death of "Margaret J. Carrell".
8th, And lastly, I do hereby appoint J.C. Gent Executor of this my last will and testament hereby revoking all former wills and testaments by me at any time. I therefore set my hand and affix my seal this 18th day of August 1891.
M.J. Browning (Seal)
Witness
H.A. Routh
C.M. Jenks
At a County Court begun and held for Russell County, at the Courthouse thereof on Tuesday the 8th day of September 1891. the last will and testament of M.J. Browning deceased was this day produced in court and proven by the oaths of H.A. Routh and C.M. Jenks the two subscibing witnesses thereto, and thereupon ordered to be recorded.. And thereupon J.C. Gent the Executor named in said will appeared in court and entered into and acknowledged a bond in the penalty of ($40,000.00) forty thousand dollars together with Wm.E. Burns, H.F. Gray, E.D. Gray, H.A. Routh, and H.H. dickenson as his securities thereto conditioned according to law, thereupon the said J.C. Gent took the oath of an Executor prescribed by law, a certificate is therefore granted him for obtaining letters of administration on the estate of said M.J. Browning deceased in due form.
Teste: C.F. Dickenson D.C.