I, Norman Thompson of Honaker, Russell County and State of Virginia, being very sick but of sound mind and memory, and having an estate of both real and personal property, and wishing to dispose of it as it suits me, I hereby make this my last will and testament, and I hereby revoke all former wills that may purport to have been made by me.
First: I desire that my body be decently buried and all my funeral expenses paid.
Second: I desire all my just debts paid.
Third: I will and bequeath to my son, Perry Thompson, ($4,000) Four thousand dollars of which there has been about twenty hundred dollars paid some of which has been secured by notes.
Fourth: To my son, B. F. Thompson, I will and bequeath one dollar in addition to the one hundred and thirty two acres of land that I have already given him on Lewis Creek.
Fifth: I will and bequeath to my son, Pierce Thompson, fifteen hundred dollars in addition to twenty five hundred dollars that I have already given him.
Sixth: I will and bequeath to my son, Elbert Thompson, ten hundred and fifty dollars in addition to twenty nine hundred and fifty dollars that I have already given him.
Seventh: I will and bequeath to my daughter, Nora Etta Fuller, one third of the value of my mansion farm to be cut off of the lower end of this farm and joins John Breeding.
Eighth: I will and bequeath to my son, Ezra Thompson, eleven hundred and fifty dollars in addition to twenty eight hundred and fifty dollars I have already given him.
Ninth: I will and bequeath to my son, A. A. Thompson, one third of the value of my mansion farm to be laid off where he now resides but priviledges of water is reserved for the other two shares for water by pump for domestic purposes.
Tenth: I will and bequeath to my son, E. C. Thompson, one third of the value of my mansion place, his share to be cut off of the southwest corner of the place, during his natural lifetime and at his death to go to the heirs of his body, and I hereby decree that this land shall not be sold or rented for debt. But I hereby empower and appoint B. O. Caldwell trustee of this land and direct that he may sell this land at the request of E. C. Thompson and put the money into other land for the benefit of the said E. C. Thompson and his heirs as aforesaid, when in the judgement of the said trustee he can sell and buy to advantage. The same restrictions being thrown around the land thus purchased as I place around this. (Note) I reserve to each of my children between who I am dividing my mansion farm a right of way to the publick roads, and it shall be the duty of each to do their equal part in keeping up roads and gates.
Eleventh: I will and bequeath to my daughter, Emma C. Fletcher, the following described tract of land to be held in trust for her by my son, B. F. Thompson, and when in the judgement of the said B. F. Thompson he can sell the said land and invest the money in better farming land for my daughter, E. C. Fletcher, it shall be his right and province to do so and the said lands shall be held in trust for her by the said B. F. Thompson until his death, then Charlie Fuller to act as trustee in his stead with all the power invested in the said B. F. Thompson. The said land is described as follows, situated in the Co. of Russell and State of Va. and on Lewis Creek, and begins with the Russell's Fork and Transportation line near Frank Davis's and with their line to a stake or some other object between two houses and thence across the top of a cliff midway between the said two houses, to a corner, at or near the creek. Thence a straight line to the top of the ridge so as to include one hundred acres in said boundary.
Twelvth: I hereby appoint J. M. Smith, Elijah Smith and John Breeding as Commissioners to divided my mansion farm between my children according to the above directions set forth in my will.
Thirteenth: I appoint my son, B. F. Thompson, and my son-in-law, Charles Fuller, as executors of my will, and I hereby direct that they shall proceed to sell my personal property and land not included above when in their judgement they can get a price that will justify them and the other heirs to make sale of this property, and after having paid off all my just debts, then they shall proceed to pay to the heirs as heretofore set forth in this will and proportionately to what is coming to them until they shall each have their ($4000) as before set forth, and these several amounts are to be paid as soon as lands sufficient are sold and money collected for that purpose, and it shall be the province of my executor to give reasonable time as is cusomary in the sale of lands. And when my heirs as made up equal to the four thousand dollars each, then I direct my executors to divide equally between my children whatever money or effects that may yet remain in their hands.
Fourteenth: In case of the death of either of my executors, I appoint my son, Ezra Thompson, to fill his place. Now it be understood that so long as I live I shall retain possession of all this property and to do with it as I please, and now I commend my body to the dust and my spirit to God who gave it.
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this the 21st day of August A. D. 1913.
Norman Thompson (Seal)
Honaker, Va., Aug. 21, 1913
This is to certify that Norman Thompson whose name is signed to the above writing declared to us that it was his last will and testament and signed the same in our presence, and at his request we have witnessed the same, and signed this certificate in his persence and in the presence of each other.
Witnesses:
John Breeding
Carrie Breeding
J. T. Stinson