Transcription of copy of what appears to be the original will filed in Augusta County Will Book IV page 528 is true to the original except for highlighting. Occasionally letters, or an entire word along the margins were cut off when copied. Letters within brackets are assumed to be what wasn’t copied.

　

In the Name of God Amen, This 12th Day of Augt 1772 two I Robert Stephenson of the County of Augusta and Colony of Virginia being Weak of [body] but of perfect mind and Memory, considerating the Mortality of my Body, and knowing that it is appointed for all men once to Die, do make and ordain this my Last Will and Testament

And first of all I recommend my Soul into the Hands of Almighty God, and my Body I recommend to the Earth, to be Buried in a Decent like and Christian manner at the discretion of [my] Executor herein after named, and I order as it is my Will and desire that all my Legal Debts and D[eath] Charges may be paid by my Executor as soon as the situation of my affairs will admit

Imprimis, I give and Bequeath unto my Dearly Beloved Wife Martha Stephenson, one Third of my Real Estate of Lands either in Quality or Quantity During her Widowhood, together with [a] Bay Mare and Side Saddle and any three Cows she may please to Chusse out of my Cattle and the Pewter and Bedding which she Brought me, and one Third of my present Crop, and al[so] Winter provisions to be bought this year, and my great Bible

Item, I give Bequeath and Devise unto my Beloved Son Thomas Stephenson, all my Real [ ] of Lands except as reserved above to him his Heirs and assigns forever, together with my S[addle] and Worm, and Suit of Black Clothes

Item I give and Bequeath unto Each of my living Daughters One Dollar

[It]em I give and Bequeath unto Mary Rankin my Daughter in Law my Black Colt

And the Residue or Remainder of my Estate if any be, I Desire that it be Equally Divid[ed] amongst all my grand-Children, and Mary Rankin

I Likewise nominate Constitute and appoint John Poloch Esq and James Allen Ju[nr]

to be my whole and Sole Executors of this my Last Will and Testament and

also ratify and Confirm this and no other to be my Last Will, Dissanulling

manner of Wills or Executors made my me any time heretofore

Given under my hand & Seal his

[Sig]ned Sealed published and pronounced Robert R. Stephenson

by the said Robt Stephenson as his mark

Last will & Testament in presence

of us

James Anderson

Joseph (his J mark) Reaburn

[Ja]s (his mark) Allen Senr

　

Robt Stephensons

Last

Testamt

At a Court held for Augusta County August the 18th 1772

The last Will and Test of Robt Stephenson Decd was proved by the oaths of the Wits thereto & Ord to be Recorded and on the motion of John Poage and James Allen the Executors therein named who made oath According to law thereto as Granted them for Obtaining A Probat there of in due form they have ing with SecYs entered into and ack’d this their Bond According to Law.

Test

　

　

　

Linda Sparks Starr copyright May 2010

lsstarr@pilgrimage.us

Home: http://homepages.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~lksstarr/