New Garden Russell County Virginia
I Moses Ball of the County of Russell and State of Virginia feeling the uncertainty of this mortal life, being of sound mind & disposing memory & desiring to dispose of my estate of land and personal property in my life, do make this my last will and testament in manner and form as follows:
1st, After my death and funeral expenses are paid I will and bequeath all my land and property except my Lilbern Ball land to Mary A. Ball my beloved wife, to have & to hold during her natural life providing she does not marry a second time. If she the said Mary A. Ball marries she forfeits all right to the land and property I bequeath to her.
2nd, I will and bequeath to Lilbern Wilson my Lilbern Ball land in trust for the benefit of Virginia F. Ball, Mariah A. Ball, & Nannie B. Ball to be used jointly for their benefit until the death or marriage of Mary A. Ball my beloved wife. I will and bequeath two hundred dollars to my eldest son Robt. S. Ball to be paid in person out of the land and property I have bequeathed to Mary A. Ball my beloved wife, in twelve months after her death or marriage. I will and bequeath two hundred dollars to my grandson Robt. S. Ball son of B.F. Ball and schooling up to the single rule of three, provided he stays with my family until he is 21 years old, to be paid to him out of the land and property I have bequeathed to Mary A. Ball my wife. All that remains of the land and property that I have bequeathed to my wife Mary A. Ball at her death I will & bequeath to five of my children B.F. Ball, Isabel S. Hurt, Virginia F. Ball, Mariah A. Ball, Nannie B. Ball, to be equally divided between them. B.F. Ball & Isabel Hurt interest to be layed off to them as far as possible on the same side of the railroad. The Lilbern Ball land which I have willed and bequeathed in trust to Lilburn Wilson for the benefit of Virginia F. Ball, Mariah A. Ball, and Nannie B. Ball at the death or marriage of Mary A. Ball is to be placed with the interest in land which they get in the land I have bequeathed to my wife Mary A. Ball & divided equally between Virginia F. Ball, Mariah A. Ball and Nannie B. Ball. Virginia F. Ball interest in land I bequeath to Lilbern Wilson for her benefit & at her death to be equally divided among her heirs. Mariah A. Ball interest in land I bequeath to Lilbern Wilson for her benefit and at her death to be divided among her heirs. Nannie B. Ball interest in land I bequeath to Lilbern Wilson for her benefit and at her death to be equally divided among her heirs. I also appoint my son B.F. Ball my executor & Mary A. Ball my executrix of this my last will and testament. Given under my hand on this the 21st day of January 1888.
Moses Ball (Seal)
Witnesses:
I.D. Hurt
Moses Hurt
At a court continued & held for Russell County at the Courthouse thereof on the 6th day of July 1888. The last will and testament of Moses Ball Deceased was this day produced in court & proven by the oaths of Moses Hurt & I.D. Hurt the two subscribing witnesses thereto & was there upon ordered to be recorded.
Teste W.P Gray D.C.