Will of John Handley
County Clerk's office, Union, Monroe County, VA (Now WV)
W. Bk. I, pp. 183/189 (Bk. for 1799-1817)
In the name of God, Amen, Dec. 27th, in the year of our Lord, 1810, I, John Handley, of Monroe County, State of Virginia, being weak in body but of perfect memory and calling to mind the mortality of the body and that it is appointed for all men once to die, do make this my last will and testament in the manner and form following, this is to say,
I recommend my soul to God who gave it, and my body to the earth to be buried in a decent and Christian-like manner. As for the worldly goods and estate which God far above my deserving has bestowed upon me, I dispose of as followeth, (summary follows):
1. I allow all my lawful debts to be paid.
2. I allow my son William one dollar
3. I allow my son John one dollar.
4. To my daughters Margaret Clark and Sarah Keys, the price of a negro woman, Feeb, and child - the woman to choose her own master.
5. To daughter Nancy Aken, a negro girl, Libby.
6. To son James, a negro boy, Peter.
7. To son Alexander, a negro boy, Jake.
8. To daughter Betsey Walker, a negro girl, Eamy.
9. To son Archibald, 100 A. of land between Patterson's and me.
10. To son Samuel, a piece of land where Isaac now lives between me and my son John and adjacent Samuel Clark and Ewing's lands and $100 to be paid by my son Isaac when he comes in possession of the homeplace.
11. To son Isaac, balance of home plantation, bounded by the lines of Archibald & Samuel's lands, except his mother to have living out of place her life time.
12. To gr.son John Mastin, when of age, 1 horse, saddle & fifty dollars.
13. To my well-beloved wife, Mary, homeplace her life time, a negro girl, Tilde, choice of mares, work-horses, a year old filly, also 3 cows and calves and one steer, with her saddle and bridle, all farming tools, household and kitchen furniture, personal belongings, all the sheep, hogs, poultry and grain with all other provisions laid up for consumption. If any of aforesd. remains at her death, except the negro girl, to be sold and divided amongst my legatees.
14. I allow my son John and my son-in-law Samuel Clark the Peters Mountain place, joining surveys made for Beckly, George Hutchison and Wm. Brown, jointly with my sons, William, Archibald & Isaac- to be equally divided between them.
15. I allow my executors to sell a negro man, Dave; and all the horses, cattle and every other article or piece of property not otherwise disposed of in this my will, and if there should be any money left after paying my debts and legal expenses of executing this will they are to pay my widow 10 pounds and divide remainder amongst my legatees. I appoint my wife and sons John and Archibald the executors of this my last will and testament, given under my hand and seal the day next preceeding after the first day and date above written.
John Handley (seal)
Witnesses:
Handley
James Christy
Joseph Ewing, Jr.
