Will: William Alexander (Effingham)

Will of William Alexander
PWCo Will Book K, pg. 286
Proved: 2 May 1814

I William Alexander of Effingham in Prince William County make this my last will & testament. I hereby confirm to my children respectively the property which I have heretofore given them. 

I give & bequeath to my son Laurence Gibbons Alexander one fourth part of my horses & sheep & one third part of my cattle and two feather beds & their furniture and I hereby confirm to him the Slaves which I have heretofore given him Viz. Seymour, Sawney, Nero, Dick, Jess, Will (of Juno), Polly, big Lucy, Hester, Sidney, Sukey, George, Mary & the two twins (of Polly) with their future increase. 

I give & bequeath to my son William Segismund Alexander one fourth part of my horses & sheep he accounting in his part of the horses for the sum of one hundred and fifty dollars which he has already received. I also give him one feather bed & its furniture. I give to my Executors hereinafter named in trust for my Grand Daughter Jane Alexander Slaughter the following Slaves to wit Lotty, Nancy, Kitty, Lewis & William & their future increase & one bed and its furniture, which trust shall continue untill my said Grand Daughter shall arrive to the age of twenty one years, or marry, on the happening of either of which events the trust shall cease & the property be delivered absolutely to her, but I reserve to my wife the use of Negro Lotty just above mentioned for & during my said wifes life and I direct in case my said Grand Daughter Jane A. Slaughter shall die before she attains the age of twenty one years or marries, all the property herein bequeathed to her shall be equally divided amongst my four sons Philip, Gerard, Laurence & William, & the issue of such of them as may then be dead leaving issue such issue to take the part to which his or her parent would have been entitled if living. 

One moiety of the lands lying in Fairfax county (formerly Loudon) which I purchased of Newtons Executors I gave to my son John Stuart Alexander, the remaining moiety lying on Bull run I devise to my Executors to be by them sold, and the proceeds to be equally divided amongst my sons, Philip, Gerard, Laurence, William, & my Grand son Robert (son of Robert) & provided that if before a division of the sd. proceeds, any one of the Devises should die leaving issue such issue shall take the part the father would have been entitled to if living & to any other Lands which I may be entitled to excepting the Farms commonly called Effingham, Congress and Massey Dale.

I devise to my Executors to be by them sold & the process divided in the same manner and subject to the same limitations as those in the County of Fairfax. My lands in Prince William County commonly called Effingham, Congress & Massey Dale and all other my property real & personal not heretofore disposed of in this will I give & bequeath to my wife Sigesmunda Mary Alexander for & during her life, & after her death I desire that my personal Estate may be divided amongst my sons, Philip, Gerard, Laurence & William, my son Philip accounting in the division for negro Fran if she be living at the time of the division. The lands after my wifes death to be divided equally amongst my sons Philip, Laurence & William agreeable to quantity and having regard to an equal division of the Woodlands as will appear by a survey made (by Mr. Daniel Grant) of the whole Farms, in such division I desire that my son Philip's part be laid off on the Congress Farm, Laurence's part on the Effingham Farm & William's on the Massey Dale Farm. If either of my said sons Philip, Gerard, Laurence or William shall die leaving issue living at the time of his death or before the abovementioned Division shall have been made such issue shall be entitled to the portion to which his her or their father would have been entitled if living but if either of my said sons shall die before the said division without leaving issue living at the time of his death, or before such division shall take place, such Decedents part both real and personal shall be divided amongst the survivors of my said four sons, and the issue of such as may be dead leaving issue which issue shall take the part to which the father would have been entitled if living.

I desire that my Estate may not be appraised and I appoint my wife Sigesmunda and my sons Philip, Gerard & Laurence my Executors. In Witness of all of which I have hereunto set my hand and Seal this tenth day of September in the year 1813.

Wm. Alexander {seal}

At a Court held for Prince Wm. County May 2nd 1814

This Last will and testament of William Alexander decd. was presented to the Court by Laurence G. Alexander one of the Exors. therein named and it appearing to the Court that the said Will is all in the handwriting of the said William Alexander by the Oath of William Foote it is ordered to be recorded. And at a Court held for sd. County May 2d 1814 Laurence G. Alexander one of the Exors. named in the last will and Testament of Wm. Alexander decd. came into Court and made oath to the same according to law and having taken the Oath of an Executor and performed what is usual in such cases Certificate is granted him for obtaining a probate thereof in due form.

Teste   Phil. D. Dawe   Ct. Cur.

Coming Soon: Justice and Vengeance: Scandal, Honor, and Murder in 1872 Virginia

Just in time for the completion of the renovation of the Brentsville Jail comes a book about one of the most sensational and dramatic murders in Prince William County:

"In Justice and Vengeance, Arwen Bicknell offers the first full account of the events leading up to the shooting of James Clark by Lucien Fewell and the sensational, headline-grabbing murder trial that followed. Set against the backdrop of Reconstruction, tumultuous Virginia politics, and the presidential election of 1872 featuring Ulysses Grant, Horace Greeley, and protofeminist Victoria Woodhull, the first female presidential candidate, Bicknell paints a vivid picture of the evolving South as she traces the families and fortunes of Lucien Fewell, a hellraiser with a passion for drink and for abusing Yankees and scalawags, and James Clark, a rising legal and political star with a wife, a daughter, and a baby on the way."

Justice and Vengeance by Arwen Bicknell is available for preorder here.

Will: John Lansdown (1812)

JOHN LANSDOWN Will

Prince William County Will Book K, pg. 132

31 Dec 1811; proved 06 Jan 1812

In the name of God Amen I JOHN LANSDOWN of the County of Prince William and State of Virginia being sick in body but of sound sense and memory do make and ordain this my last will and testament in manner and form following Viz, Item I give and bequeath to my wife ELIZABETH LANSDOWN one fourth of my estate real and personal for and during her natural life and at her decease to be equally divided between my three sons WILLIAM LANSDOWN, JOHN LANSDOWN and GEORGE LANSDOWN to them and their heirs forever.  Item I give and bequeath to my son WILLIAM LANSDOWN one fourth of my property real & personal to him and his heirs forever, and as I have heretofore given my said son WILLIAM fifty pounds eleven shillings in cash, that the said fifty pound eleven shillings be deducted out of his fourth part and added to the parts of my sons JOHN and GEORGE LANSDOWN.

Item I give to my son JOHN LANSDOWN one other fourth part of my estate real and personal to him and his heirs forever.  Item I give to my son GEORGE LANSDOWN the other fourth part of my property real and personal to him and his heirs forever.  Item Whereas I have given to my daughter ELIZABETH who intermarried with EDWARD DICKERSON thirty eight pounds ten shillings, and four Negroes.  I give unto the heirs of my said daughter ELIZABETH decd. one shilling sterling.  Lastly, I nominate and appoint my son JOHN LANDOWN Executor of this my last will and testament.  In Witness whereof I have hereunto affixed my hand and seal this thirty first day of December in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred and eleven.

JOHN LANSDOWN {seal}

Signed sealed and delivered in presence of

JOHN EDRINGTON

BENJ. JAMESON

DANIEL GRANT

At a Court held for Prince William County January 6^th 1812.

This last will and testament of JOHN LANSDOWN decd. was presented to the Court by JOHN LANSDOWN the Executor therein named who made oath to the same according to law and the said will being proved by the oaths of JOHN EDRINGTON and DNAIEL GRANT is ordered to be recorded. And the said JOHN LANSDOWN having taken the oath of an Executor and performed what is usual in such cases certificate is granted him for obtaining a probate thereof in due form.

Teste, J. WILLIAMS

Deed: French to Dade (1803)

STEPHEN FRENCH to LANGHORNE DADE Deed 

dated 4 June 1803 Prince William Co. Deed Book 2, pg. 207-208

THIS INDENTURE made the fourth day of June in the year Eighteen hundred and three between LANGHORNE DADE & SARAH his wife of the County of Prince William & State of Virginia of the one part and STEPHEN FRENCH of the County & State aforesaid of the other part. Witnesseth that the said LANGHORNE DADE and SARAH his wife for and in consideration of the sum of one hundred pounds to them in hand paid by the said STEPHEN FRENCH before the execution of these presents the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged have granted bargained, sold aliend & confirmed & by these presents do grant bargain sell alien and confirm unto the said STEPHEN FRENCH and to his heirs forever one tract r parcel of land situated lying and being in the aforesaid county of Prince William containing seventy eight acres be the same more or less and is bounded as follows, to wit. Begining at two white oaks corner to Graham on the north side of the Brentown road thence So. 50 Wt. 22 poles to a large sweet gum on the South side of the said road, thence No. 56 Wt. 127 po. to a red oak corner of GEO. GRAY in the said FRENCH’s line thence S 74 E. 29 po. to two white oaks at the head of a small branch thence S61Wt. 58 po. to some marked bushes where Grahams corner formerly stood thence S. 5 Et. 97 poles to the Beginning which said land is part of a larger tract purchased by the said DADE of ISAAC BRIDWELL together with all members, rights priviledges and appurtenances to the same belonging or in any wise appertaining and the reversion and reversions, remainder and remainders rents issues and profits thereof to have and to hold the before described land and premises with their appurtenances unto him the said STEPHEN FRENCH & his heirs to the only proper use & behoof of him the said STEPHEN FRENCH and his heirs forever and the said LANGHORNE DADE & SARAH his wife do for themselves & their heirs covenant and agree with the said STEPHEN FRENCH & his heirs that they the said LANGHORNE DADE & SARAH his wife and their heirs shall and will forever hereafter warrant and defend the before mentioned land & premises free and clear of all incumbrances, made done or suffered by the said LANGHORNE DADE and SARAH his wife unto him the said STEPHEN FRENCH & his heirs, against the claim and demand of them the said LANGHORNE DADE & SARAH his wife & against the claim & demand of all & every other person whatsoever. In Witness whereof the said LANGHORNE DADE & SARAH his wife have hereunto set their hands & affixed their seals the day and date before mentioned.

LANGHE. DADE {seal} SARAH DADE {seal}

Signed Sealed acknowledged & delivered in presence of: 

THOMAS HARRISON, JAMES JAMESON, DAVID JAMESON, W. GRANT, RD. FOOTE, GEO. WILLIAMS

June the 4th 1803 Received of STEPHEN FRENCH the within mentioned consideration in full. 

Witness my hand the day & date above.

LANGE. DADE

Test, 
W GRANT, GEO. WILLIAMS, THOS. HARRISON, JAMES JAMESON, RD. FOOTE, DAVID JAMESON

The Commonwealth of Virginia to THOMAS HARRISON & WILLIAM GRANT, Gentleman, Greeting, Whereas LANGHORNE DADE and SARAH his wife have by their certain deed of bargain and sale dated the fourth day of June 1803 have bargained and sold & conveyed unto STEPHEN FRENCH the fee simple estate of and in to seventy eight acres of land situate in the County of Prince William and commonwealth aforesaid and whereas the said SARAH DADE cannot concurrently travel to the county Court of Prince William aforesaid to make acknowledgment of the same, therefore power is hereby given unto you or any two of you to receive the acknowledgment which the said SARAH DADE shall be willing to make before you of the conveyance aforesaid contained in the said deed which is hereto annexed and you are therefore commanded that you do call and cause to come before you the said SARAH DADE and examine her privily and apart from her said husband whether she doth the same freely and voluntarily without the persuasions or threats of her said husband and whether she be willing the same should be recorded in the County Court of Prince William aforesaid and when you have taken her acknowledgment and examined her as aforesaid that you distinctly and openly certify the Justices of our said county Court there of under your seals, sending there this wit. Witness JOHN WILLIAMS clerk of our said County at the Court house thereof, this first day of June 1803 and in the 27th year of our Foundation.

JOHN WILLIAMS

June the 4th 1803 We the undersigned did in pursuance of the within power to us directed this day examine the within Mrs. SARAH DADE wife of LANGHORNE DADE privily & apart from her said husband respecting the sale of the Lands in the deed herein to annexed mentioned who that she does the same freely & voluntarily without the persuasion or threats of her said husband & that she is willing that the said deed with this commission shall be recorded in the County Court of Prince Wm. Certified under our hands & seals the day & date above written.

THOS. HARRISON {seal} W. GRANT {seal}

At a Court held for Prince William County Sept. 5th 1803. This deed from LANGHORNE DADE & wife to STEPHEN FRENCH was proved by the Oaths of GEORGE WILLIAMS, W. GRANT & DAVID JAMESON and ordered (together with a [illegible] for the privy examination of the same retd. executed) to be recorded.

Teste, JOHN WILLIAMS

Will: John Hedges (1804)

JOHN HEDGES Will

Prince William County Will Book I, pg. 24

2 April 1804; proved 7 May 1804

In the name of God amen I JOHN HEDGES of Chappawamsic and the county of Prince William do make and ordain this my last will and testament.

Imprimis; I will and direct all my just debt be paid for the payment of the same I subject all my estate.

Item. I will and bequeath that my executors hereafter named shall sell on such credit as to them shall seem most adviseable all my estate both real and personal and that for my real estate they shall make to the purchaser or purchasers deeds in fee simple.

Item. I will and desire that my said executors after paying my debts shall divide the proceeds of the sale of my real and personal estate into six equal parts of which one part or sixth of my real and personal estate after paying my debts funeral charges and expenses of administration, I bequeath in trust to my executor aforesaid their executors & administrators to receive the interest and profits of the same and to pay annually the interest and profits thereof to my son ROBERT during his life and at his death to divide the said sixth among his children living at his death or the child or children of any one of his children who may die in his life time having one or more children.

Item. One other sixth or share of my estate after my debts funeral expenses & charges of administration are paid. I bequeath unto my daughter Mrs. AMEY BOTTS accounting for the negroes now in her possession all of which she has held on loan.

Item. One other sixth or share after the same deduction or debts & charges are paid I bequeath unto my son ISHAM HEDGES.

Item. One other sixth after deducting the same charges & debts I bequeath my executors afsd. In trust to receive the interest and profits thereof annually and to pay the same over to my son SOLOMON annually during his life and at his death to divide the said share or sixth among his children.

Item. I bequeath one other sixth of my estate after a like deduction for debts, charges & expenses to my daughter POLLY HEDGES to her and her heirs.

Item.  And I bequeath the other sixth of my estate after a like deduction for debts charges and expenses to my son FREDERICK to him and his heirs.

Item. To my son JOHN I bequeath my best wishes thinking I have already given him his share.

And lastly I appoint my son ISHAM HEDGES and my son in law SETH BOTTS my Executors of this my last will and testament, hereby revoking and annulling all former wills and testaments.  Given from under my hand and seal this 2 April in the year of our Lord 1804.

JOHN HEDGES SR.  {seal}

Signed sealed & published in presence of us who attested this will at the same time by the request of the testator

M. HARRISON

JOHN HEDGES

JOHN BRONAUGH

April 2, 1804.  My desier is that this shall make part of my last will to wit my desier is that a sertain man slave which I now possess named HENSON shall receive annually from the person who by any means may hereafter possess him the just sum of five pound current money to be paid to him the sd. HENSON on or before the twentyeth day of September in every year.  Also my desier is that a woman slave named JANE shall receive from the person who may hereafter poses her by any means the just sum of fifteen dollars to be paid to her annuly on the twentyeth day of September.

Also my desier is that a female slave named AGGY now about ten years old shall belong to and be posesed by my son ROBERT HEDGES and his heirs till she shall arrive to the years of twenty five & if the said ROBERT HEDGES or any of his heirs should think proper to detain her the said AGGY any longer in slavery then the time as above mentioned my desier is that she the said AGGY shall receive from such detainer the just sum of ten dollars for every year served after & my desier that if she the said AGGY shall have any children during her servitude that they serve in the same manner til they arrive to the age of twenty five years, and after that time if detained in servitude as before mentioned to receive each the same sum of ten dollars annuly at the same time in the same manner as before mentioned.

JOHN HEDGES SR.  {seal}

Test

W. GRANT

At a Court held for Prince William County May the 7^th 1804.

This last will and testament and codicil of JOHN HEDGES deceased was presented to the court by SETH BOTTS and ISHAM HEDGES the Executors therein named who made oath thereto according to law and the said will being proved by the oaths of JOHN BRONAUGH and MATHEW HARRISON was ordered to be recorded and the codicil to sd. Will being proved by WM. GRANT was also ordered to be recorded and the said executors having performed what is usual in such cases certificate is granted them for obtaining a probate thereof in due form.  This writing purporting to be the last will & testament of SARAH DAVIS decd. was presented to the Court and being proved by the oath of DENNIS ENSEY was ordered to be recorded.

Teste

JOHN WILLIAMS  Ct. Cur.