Walnut Grove, VA

(Will Book, II, page 119)

I, John Preston, of Washington County, in the State of Virginia, being of perfect mind and memory, and calling to mind the mortality of my body, knowing it is appointed for all men once to die, do make and ordain this my last Will and Testament as followeth, vis: I recommend my soul into the hands of Almighty God who gave it, and my body to be buried in a Christian manner at the discretion of my Executor, believing that at the general resurrection I shall receive the same again by the Almighty Power of God, and as touching such worldly estate as it hath pleased God to bless me with, I give and dispose in the manner following:

First, I give and bequeath to my wife, Eleanor Preston, all of my movable estate to live upon and make use of as she may think proper, with the advice and consent of my Executor hereinafter named, and at her decease, to dispose of amongst my children as she may think proper. And as to my lands, I order and allow them to be sold for the best price that can be got, giving reasonable credit not to exceed three or four years, and that in annual payments as nearly equal as the circumstances of the case will allow, and out of the first payment, I give and bequeath to my son-in-law, Matthew Rhea, forty pounds, or a likely young negro girl not under twelve years of age, not over twenty, and to my son, Walter Preston, I give and bequeath sixty pounds, or a likely young negro fellow not to exceed twenty years of age, and the remainder of the price of my land I allow to lie in the hands of my Executor and should my wife stand in need, her to be supported out of it, and at her decease, my son Robert to have an equal share with Walter, and the remainder if any, to be equally divided between my two sons, Robert and Walter Preston, and my son-in-law, Matthew Rhea, first allowing all my just debts to be paid out of my estate, and I do hereby appoint my son, Robert Preston, Executor of this my last Will and Testament, hereby revoking all others. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 4th day of June, 1790.

His

John X Preston

Mark

Signed, sealed and acknowledged in the presence of John Campbell and Elizabeth Campbell. His daughter Jane was not mentioned in the will so she must have died between 1786, date of her last child, and 1790, date of this will.