WILL of Edward Masterson copied from

Fairfax County, VA Will Book B1 pp. 69-71

In the name of  God Amen, I Edward Masterson of Fairfax County Millwright being weak of body but of perfect mind and memory thanks be to God for the same do make and ordain this my last will & Testament in manner & form following, Imprimis I commend my soul into the hands of almighty God hushing in the merits of my saviour to obtain & forgiveness of all my sins & my body I comit to the Earth to be decently buried at the discretion of my Executors hereafter named and as for my temporal estate I give and dispose of the same in manner following

Item.  I give unto my loving wife Mary Masterson the use of three negro’s Viz. Will George & Sarah two feather bed and furniture & the rest of my household goods (except what is hereafter mentioned) & the third part of my stock of Cattle, Horses, Hoggs, sheep etc. during her natural life, and after her decease to equally divided among her children by me lawfully begotten.

Item.  I give & bequeath to my son Edward Masterson a negro Lad called Tom, one feather bed, two cows & calves six head of sheep which he is now possessed of to him and his heirs forever.

Item. I give and bequeath to my daughter Mary Lindsey a Negro girl called Honey which she is now possessed of to her & her heirs forever.

Item.  I give and bequeath to my son Robert William Masterson five pounds Virginia-Currency or one thousand pounds of Crop Tobacco to be paid by my Executors when he is free.

Item.  I give and bequeath to my son Robert Masterson a negro boy called Phil to him and his heirs forever.

Item.  it is my will that negro’s Bess, Jack & Ross and their increase be kept for the benefit of my younger children Viz. Sarah, Elizabeth, John, Thomas & Richard for eight years.  & at the Expiration of the said term that the said Negros and their increase be equally divided among the said Younger children to them and their heirs forever.  And if it should happen that any of the said younger children should die before the Expiration of the said Eight years, my will is that the said negro’s & their increase be equally divided among the said surviving younger children to them & their heirs forever.

Item.  I give and bequeath to my daughter Sarah one feather bed & furniture to be delivered to her at the Day of Marriage or at the age of eighteen years over and above her part of the said three Negro’s and their increase.

Item.  I give and bequeath to my daughter Elizabeth one feather bed and furniture to be delivered in manner as afsd. over and above her part of the said three negro’s and their increase.

Item.  my will is that my negro woman called Lemon and her child Phebe be sold and that twenty pounds Currency of the money arising from the sale of the said Negro woman and child be paid Abraham Farrow for a tract of land during her natural life and after her decease to descend to my two sons John and Thomas Masterson to be equally divided to them & their  heirs forever.

Item.  In case that either of my said sons John and Thomas should die without heirs lawfully begotten that his part of the said land shall descend to my son Richard and his heirs forever, and in case my said son Richard or his survivors of my said sons john and Thomas should die without heirs my will is that his or their part of the said land should descend to my son Robert Masterson and his heirs forever.

Item.  my will is that a pair of Millstones now lying in my pasture be sold to raise money to discharge my  debts, and I hereby appoint my loving wife Mary Masterson & my son Edward Masterson Executors of this my last will & Testament utterly revoking and disanulling all former wills by me made.  In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand seal this twenty-fifth day of July in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred & fifty four. and before

                                                the word (except what    }

Signed and Sealed              is hereafter mentioned)    }            Edwd. Masterson    seal

in the presence of}                   were interlined between   }                                

Christopher Neale               the tenth & Eleventh lines.}

Pat Rowan

Elizabeth (X) Simmons

At a Court Contd. and held for the County of Fairfax 18 September 1754.

This will was presented in Court by Mary & Edward Masterson Executors therein named who made oath thereto and being proved by the oaths of the witnesses is admitted to record.  and the said Executors having performed what is usual in such cases Certificate is granted them for obtaining a probate thereof in due form.                  Test.