In the name of God Amen
I William Fletcher of the County of Russell & State of Virginia being weak in body by the reason of a wound but perfect in mind and memory thanks be unto God Calling unto mind the mortality of my body and knowing that it is apointed for all men once to die that is to say I do make and ordain this my last Will and Testament that is to say principally and first of all I give and recommend my soul unto the hand of God that gave it and my body I recommend to the earth to be buried in a decent christian burial at the discretion of my executor nothing doubting but at the general resurrection I shall receive the same again by the mighty power of God and as touching such worldly Estate wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me in this life I give devise and dispose of the same in the following manner and form first after paying my just debts I give and bequeath Item I give to my beloved wife Jane fletcher my home plantation that is the one where I now reside one negro boy by the name of Wimor and two young mares, one sorrel with a blaze on her forehead and the other a gray by the name of kit, five cows, and calves, ten head of sheep and all my household furniture not otherwise disposed of and all my farming utensils, this she is to have and hold during her natural life of widowhood at the expiration of either of them two above mentioned, to be equally divided among my three children that is to say Elizabeth Ferrell once fletcher and Major A. Fletcher and Jane Fletcher Item 2nd I desire that my son Major A. Fletcher and my daughter Jane fletcher shall each have a good bed and furniture a piece equal to the one I have give to my daughter Elizabeth Ferrell Item 3 I give to my daughter Jane Fletcher a mare saddle and bridle to be worth a hundred dollars and thirty-five dollars in cash to make her equal to what I have give my daughter Elizabeth Ferrell and I further give her a negro girl by the name of Jane Item 4 I give to my daughter Elizabeth Ferrell once fletcher two ___ negroes by the name of Maria and Jerry - Item 5 I give to my son Major A. Fletche all the property now at this time that is called his own and I furthermore give him a negro girl by the name of Cintha Item 6 I give the ballance of my estate both real and personal to my three children above mentioned to be equally divided among the three and if they can't agree among themselves it must be divided by disinterested men and I choose my wife Jane Fletcher and my brother James Fletcher for my executors I do hereby utterly disallow revoke and disannul all and every other former Testament will bequeath'd and En'td by me in any ways before ___ called and bequeathed ratifying and confirming this and no others to be my last Will and Testament. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 5th day of September 1833.
William Fletcher (Seal)
in the presence of
Johnston Howard
William Johnson
E. D. Kernan
Virginia, to wit:
At a court held for Russell County on the 8th day of October 1833.
This instrument of writing was exhibited in Court as and for the last
Will and Testament of William Fletcher deceased, and proven by the oaths of Johnston Howard and William Johnson two of the subsribing witnesses thereto, and ordered to be recorded; and on the motion of Jane Fletcher and James Fletcher executrix and executor therein named who made oath, and together with Cummings Gilmore and Johnston Howard their securities entered into and acknowledged a bond in the penalty of five thousand dollars conditioned as the law directs, certificate is granted the said Jane Fletcher and James Fletcher for obtaining probat of the said will in due form.-
Teste,
James P. Carrell C.R.C.