Individual Details

Will

transcribed by Greg Wulker
In the name of God Amen.
I William Chenowith of Berkeley Co. though weak and infirm in Body yet thanks to God of Sound memory calling to mind the uncertainty of this present life do make and appoint this my last will and testament in the manner following revoking and disanulling all former wills and testaments.
Imprimus I give my soul to God who gave it and my body to the earth to be buried at the discretion of my Executors in hopes of its resurrection and reunion at the last day and as for my worldly estate I bequeath in the manner following.
Viz. I will that all my just debts and funeral charges be first paid and I give and bequeth unto my well beloved wife Anne the sole right and privilege and property of all the houses and land whereon I now live during her widowhood (excepting the land and tenement whereon he now lives unto him and his hiers) also I give unto my said wife Anne the bed and all the household furniture (excepting the beds and clothing formerly given to the girls.)
Item. I give unto my wife Anne one third part of all the stock chattles and farming utensils and the woolen yarn and flax and wool, but if said wife Anne should see cause to marry then I allow her to have only one third of said land and the other two thirds of said land to go to my son Absolom.
Item. I give unto my son Wiliam all that land whereon he now lives containing 94 acres as surveyed by John Gray but the same more or less to him and his heirs forever.
Item. I give unto my son Absolom at the decease of his mother all that tract of land whereon I now live to him or his heirs or otherwise if his mother should marry then Absolom shall get the possession of two thirds of the same land provided that he the said Absolum shall pay unto the rest of his brothers and sisters one hundred pounds in three years after his mothers death of in four years after her marriage according as either shall happen first or if Absolom rather choses to sell the land and take an equal dividend with the rest of his brothers and sisters he may do so.
Item. I will that all the rest of my estate be appraised and sold or divided equally between the rest of my children viz my son Isaac and the heirs of my son Joseph dec’d provided that the heirs executors or administrators of my said son Joseph shall well and truly pay unto David Ruble or his heirs and assigns twenty five pounds for which I stand bound into the said Ruble on account of the said Joseph but if they should not discharge the said debt then I do not allow his heirs any part of my estate but that the said twenty five pounds be accounted the whole of the legacy coming to the heirs of the said Joseph Chinoweth, and to my son Absolom and my daughters Mary, Anne and Hannah equally. I will also that my son Isaac shall get my smith tools allowing them to go for six pounds of his part of the legacy and I lastly constitute an appoint my said wife Anne and my son William joint executors of my last will and Testament
William Chenowith
Signed Sealed Published and Declared to be the last will and testament of William Chenoweth in the presence of us October 10, 1785.
John Gray
John Gerrard
Matthew Rippy
Codicil first I William Chenowith do allow and give unto my wife Anne all the grain in the ground for the support of her stock and all the grain and hay in the barn, and our stock of hay for said purpose.
Secondly I will that my son William shall pay twenty five pounds unto his sister Anne as she shall need it, now these two clauses are to be considered as part of my will. Witness my hand and seal Oct 10th one thousand seven hundred and eighty five.
William Chenowith
Signed Sealed Published and Declared to be the last will and testament of William Chenoweth in the presence of us.
John Gray
John Gerrard
Matthew Rippy
At A Court held for Berkeley County the 20th day of Dec 1785, the last will and testament and codicil annexed of William Chenowith deceased, was presented in Court by William Chenoweth and Anne Chenoweth the executors therein named, who made oath thereto according to law and the same being proved by the oaths of John Gray, John Gerrard and Matthew Rippy witnesses thereto and ordered to be recorded and on the motion of the said executor who entered into bond with John Gerrard and Isaac Stanley their securities in the penalty of one thousand pounds conditioned for their true and faithful administration of said Estate Certificate is granted them for obtaining a probate thereof in due form of law.
Testi
Moses Hinton, Clk.