In the name of God, Amen.
I William Fraley Senr. of the County of Russell and State of Virginia, being indisposed in health but of sound mind and memory, and calling to mind the mortality of my body, and knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die - with those reflections I make this my last Will and Testament, to dispose of what worldy estate it hath pleased Almighty God to bless me with.
First, I recommend my soul to Almighty God who gave it, and my body to the dust from whence it came to be buried decently by my executor, nothing doubting but to be raised again by the almighty power of Almighty God.
Secondly, I lend to my loving wife Nancy Fraley dureing her life the following named property, first the dweling house with all the other buildings and all the plantation that I now occupy with free access to any timber on my land for fire wood rails &c and the shugar orchard where we now occupy also two of her choice horses ten head of her choice cattle all the sheep one half of my stock of hogs two choice beds and furniture, all the household furniture one half of the kitchen furniture all the fowls three choice plows two pair gears three hoes with waggon and after the death of my wife I desire that all the properperty before mentioned be equally divided between my three daughters Celia Fraley, Judith Powers and Cloey Lee (the land excepted)
3rd I give to my son Reuben Fraley five dollars to be paid out of my estate by my executor.
4th. I give to my son Andrew Fraley the West part of my land after the death of my wife commenceing on a sassafras bush next to Goses land runing thence across the fields to a mulberry, thence eastward to an apple tree, thence to a black walnut in the fence corner, thence runing through a sink hole to a blk & white walnut bush thence west to a large white oak at the bars, thence to two white oaks on the top of a hill west of Boon's house, thence with the road to a white oak, thence south to a maple, thence to a hickory & dogwood thence to a poplar at the outside line also a small piece on the top of the river hill that Andrew bought of Reuben provided he pays my daughter Cloey Lee one hundred dollars and my grand daughter Eliza Murphy fifty dollars when of within two years after my death.
5th I give my daughter Celia Fraley one hundred dollars to be paid by my son William R. Fraley withing two years after my dec
6th I give to my son Willaim R. Fraley that part of my land whereon he now lives - commencing on a large white oak at Goses bares runing with the fence to a stooping white oak near the Wright cabin thence eastward to a white oak, thence to a shugartree on the hill side, thence to a white oak on the top of the hill, thence to a large poplar above the spring thence to a double poplar thence up the hill to two wild cherry trees eastward to sugar tree thence with the fence as marked to the outside line and with that line to H. Fraley's old line and with that line and Gose's to the beginning Also a small lot laid off for him at the south east of my land beginning on a chinguapin oak on the hill side above the long field and strait up the hill to the outside line, provided he pays my daughter Celia Fraley one hundred dollars within two years after my dec
7th I give to my son Boon Fraley after the death of my wife that part of my land joining Andrew - Begining on a blk walnut bush at the upper end of the lot field on a line with Andrew and runing with his line to a poplar at the back line next to the old Smith land thence to a hickory by the road thence to a blk walnut, thence to a double cherry tree thence to a honey locust near the pond thence to the beginning provided he pays my grand daughter Elizabeth Murphy a good forty dollar horse when she becomes of age.
8th I give my daughter Cloey Lee one hundred dollars to be paid by my son Andrew within two years afte my death.
9th I give to my daughter Ibba Fraley after the death of my wife all that part of my lands lying between those two lots laid off for Boon and Martin including the dwelling house and buildings where I now live to hold during her life then to her heirs if any and if none I wish it equally divided between my four sons and their heirs - Andrew, Boon William R. and Martin.
10th. I give to my son Martin Fraley after the death of my wife a certain part of my land beginning at a sassafras bush near the lane next to Gose's land the cornering with Andrew and runing with the same line to the blk & white walnut above the sink hole thence about 7 or 8 pole to a hackberry thence passing the stack yard to a bunch of locusts thence up the fence 48 steps to a stake thence to a bunch of locusts thence to apple tree by the gate thence through the field to a bunch of apple trees thence to a chinkapin oak thence to a chinkapin oak on the hill side above the long field thence with William R. line to the old line and with the same to Wm. R. line and with his line to the stooping oak by the Wright cabin thence to the beginning provided he pays my daughter Judith Powers one hundred dollars within two years after my death, (also to pay Hannah Fraley thirty bushels of corn yearly for five years.
11th. I desire that all the rest of my estate both real and personal of what nature or kind soever it may be not herein before disposed of be appraised and sold by my Executor at his will and convenience, and after paying all my just debts and funeral expenses I wish the ballance equally divided between my daughters Celia Fraley, Judith Powers, Cloey Lee and Nancy Murphy.
And lastly, I do hereby constitute and appoint my friend John Dickenson executor of this my last Will and Testament. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this 23rd day of March 1847 - N.B. I desire that no Court of Justice set aside this my last Will and Testament
his
William X Fraley (Seal)
mark
Teste
Virginia to wit:
At a Circuit Superior Court of Law and Chancery held for Russell County at the Courthouse, on Monday the 20th day of September 1847.
This instrument of writing was exhibited in Court as and for the last Will and Testament of William Fraley deceased and proven by the oaths of David Osborn and Albert G. Clay two of the subsribing witnesses thereto, and ordered to be recorded and on the motion of John Dickenson executor named who made oath, and together with Andrew Fraley and David Osborn his securities, entered into and acknowledged a bond in the penalty of $1000.00 conditioned as the law directs, certificate is granted the said John Dickenson for obtaining probat of the said will in due form.
Teste,
James P. Carrell C.C.