Front Royal Virginia Court House 1840

Elijah Roy-Will Book A-pages 104,105 and 106

List of Heirs, Book A, page 157 and Bond Book A, page 158

In the name of God Amen. I Elijah Roy of the County of Shenandoah and State of Virginia being very sick and weak of body but in _____ mind and memory and knowing the uncertainty of human life do hereby declare this my last Will and Testament.

1st After all my just debts are paid out of my Personal Estate I give and Bequeath to my son Gibson N. Roy the tract of land whereon I now reside containing three hundred acres and adjoining a tract of land which I have heretofore conveyed to the said Gibson N. Roy by deed whereon the widow of Lewis Lawrence now resides----and I also further give and bequeath to Gibson N. Roy forty acres of land being part of tract of land formerly owned by Gilbert Atwood deceased also a tract of land lying in Shenandoah County on top of a mountain called Mathews Arm containing by survey two hundred and seven acres and one other tract of land on the arm of the same mountain containing one hundred and fifty acres the same land I purchased of William D. Walters the aforementioned lands to Gibson N. Roy and his heirs forever–

My will and desire is that there should no dispute arise among my heirs as respect the land I conveyed to my son Gibson N. Roy whereon my daughter now resides containing by survey four hundred acres as it was a bonafide conveyance and my will and desire that it should be good to all intent and purposes.

2nd I give and bequeath to my daughter Polly Lawrence two hundred and four acres of land lying and being in Shenandoah County and adjoining John Jackson?__ and others. Also fifty acres of land adjoining the same acres John Atwood formerly owned.. Also ninety one acres adjoining that tract which was conveyed to me by John Barber.

3rd I give and bequeath to my daughter Betsy who intermarried with Abraham Murphy the tract of land whereon they now reside containing by survey one hundred and sixty five acres lying and being in the county aforesaid to them and their heirs forever. Also one other tract of land adjoining the aforementioned containing one hundred and twenty five acres by survey. Also one tract of two hundred acres of land where James Devoughs__ now resides.

4th I give and bequeath to my daughter Nancy who intermarried with William Grant the tract of land whereon he now resides lying and being in Shenandoah County containing one hundred and thirty three acres also the two tracts of Grant?__ land which are now in the occupation of Samuel Cave and S. Marlowe the two tracts containing two hundred and forty four acres-also two hundred acres of land in fee simple where William Farley now resides the same land I purchased of William D. Walters to them and their heirs forever.

5th I give and bequeath to my son Gibson N. Roy one negro man by the name of Lewis- one negro woman named Hannah- one negro by name Jones?-one negro named Marthene to him and his heirs forever with the _____of the family. I also give and bequeath to Gibson N. Roy a tract of land lying in Shenandoah County on the hills of the South River which I purchased of Walter Cunningham containing one hundred and sixty eight acres to him and his heirs forever.

6th I give and bequeath to my daughter Nancy Grant for some time heretofore by the name of Kelly and her three children and their unborn forever.

7th I give and bequeath to my daughter Betsy Murphy one negro women by name of Amelia also Amelia’s younger child by the name of Argy? With the unborn to her and to her heirs forever.

8th I give and bequeath to my granddaughter-- eldest daughter of Betsy Murphy named Lucy one negro girl now in the possession of Abraham Murphy and his wife Betsy by the name of Matilda to her and her heirs forever with her unborn.

9th Also give and bequeath to my granddaughter, Alcinda Murphy daughter of Betsy Murphy one negro named Arthelia her and her unborn forever.

10th I give and bequeath to my granddaughter, daughter of Polly Lawrence a negro girl of the name of Mariah with her unborn to her and her heirs forever the name of my granddaughter is Susan Lawrence.

-To the last bequest I further give and bequeath to my daughter Polly Lawrence one negro by the name of Marison to her and her heirs forever. I further give and bequeath to my daughter Elizabeth Murphy one set of Blacksmith tools now in the possession James Petty or Petticord? to her and her heirs forever. I give and bequeath to my daughter Nancy Grant one bound one in addition to my former bequest.

-I give and bequeath to my grandson Levy? Lawrence a rifle gun which I purchased from his father Lewis Lawrence with all the apparatus thereto to him and his heirs forever.

- I give and bequeath to my son Gibson N. Roy four feather beds with the foundation attached thereto two of the four beds to be first choice and him the said Gibson N. Roy to select them. Also one dish and bookcase and one Corner Cupboard with all the ware which said cupboard contains, one large Dining table which was purchased of R. Smith sale, one trunk, one large mirror, one large Server Sideboard, two half-round tables with the covers attached thereto, one eight day clock and __ __by the clock, one dozen window chains of his own choice, one chest, one set of work__tools in the shop occupied by Mark Johnston, one new wagon at the shop after being ___complete with __ attached thereto such as he may make choice of on my__, two Barkow? Ploughs, his own choice of one horse saddle and bridle and the apparatus thereunto belonging the horse name Saladin also choice of any horse belonging to me, two Gold watches, and forty dollars in Gold which he has now in his possession also the crop now growing on the place

articles attached thereto and as much of the kitchen furrniture as he may think necessary together with ___tongs? And irons, Iron poker on breze kettle-also one Tin Slate Stove to to him and his heirs forever. The balance or remaider of the personal estate which it has pleased God to bless me with which I have not herein disposed of my will and desire is that it may be set up at auction and sold to be equally divided among my daughters herein before named.

Ratifying and confirming this to be my last will and testament and no other, revoking and dismissing all former wills I have hereto set my hand and seal this first day of August 1826.

Elijah Roy (Seal)

Signed sealed and published and declared by the said Elijah Roy to be his last will and testament in the presence of and desire- to witness the same

A. Smith

William Lawrence

James Stinson, Jr.

I hereby declare this as a part of my will that Gibson N. Roy shall be my Executor and moreover injoin it on him to support his mother and give her a gentile maintenance during her natural life

witness my hand and seal this day and year above written.

Elijah Roy (Seal)

At a court held for the county of Warren on Thursday the 24 day of December 1840 this last will and testament of Elijah Roy deceased and Codicil thereto attached was presented in court and proved by the oath of Abner Smith and James Stinson, Jr., witness thereto and ordered to be recorded and on the motion of Gibson N. Roy the Executor therein named who was present and entered into Bond with Joseph S or T Spangler, Thomas Buck, John E. Thompson, William Woodward, Marcus B. Buck and Mordecia Cloud his security in the sum of sixteen thousand dollars condition according to law

Certificate granted him for obtaining probate of said will in due form of conveyance

Teste

Robert Turner, Clerk

Rachel Keller Mathews married Elijah Roy after Benjamin Mathews (Mathes) died. She is the mother of Gibson N. Roy mentioned in the Codicil at the end of the will.

Rachel died after 1840.

Gibson N. Roy Will recorded at Front Royal Virginia Court House in 1873. He was married twice. Will Book D Accts 329, E page 14, E, page 302.

Contributed by Ruth Henry