Will of Thomas Preas Sr.  -  1853

                In the name of God amen, I Thomas Preas Sr. of the county of Bedford and State of Virginia do make and constitute

        this my last Will and testament.

                1^st        I wish all my just debts and funeral expenses to be paid.

               2^nd        I give to my wife Mary all my negroes, together with my land together with stock of different kinds sufficient for

                            the support of the place, as also plantation utensils, household and kitchen furniture together with grain of ours

                            and provender of every kind that may be needed on the place for the present year.  If my wife Mary should not

                            wish to keep all the negroes during her natural life, she may keep such as she pleases and the balance of them

                            are to be hired out and the money to be equally divided amungst my children.  My daughter Polly Fuquas children

                            are to have the part that she would be entitled to had she been living and to be given to them as here in after

                            provided. 

              After the death of my wife Mary I wish the land and negroes to be equally divided amungst my children and Polly Fuquas'

        children are to have an equal portion with the others but they are to have their part in money as they become of age.  Also all

        my perishable property of every kind to be sold and the money to equally divided as provided above.  I hereby appoint my son,

        William H. Preas as trustee to recieve and keep and pay out to Polly Fuquas children their part as herein provided sortly. 

       I hereby constitute and appoint William H. Preas as my executor to this my last Will and Testament.  In witness where of I here

        unto set my hand this 29th day of January 1853.

                                         Witness                   Thomas (his X mark) Preas Sr.

                                       Don F. Jones                          (Seal)

                                      Joseph Tate

                        At a court held for Bedford County, the 28th February 1853, this writing purporting to be the last will and

        testament of Thomas Preas, Sr. deceased ws produced in court and Thompson Daniel P. Jones and Joseph Tate, subscribing

        witnessing thereto being duly sworn, state that the said Thomas Preas Sr. acknowledged the said writing to be his last will and

        testament in their presence, that they in the presence of the testator at his request and in the presence of each other subscribed

        their names as witnesses thereto, and that the testor at the time of their witnessing said writing was capable of making a will,

        and it is ordered that the said Thomas Preas, Sr., deceased, and as the motion of William H. Preas, the executor in said will

        named, who made oath and together and with Nancy Preas, John F. Preas, Daniel P. Jones and Fielding H. Jeter, his

        securities entered into and acknowledged bond in the penalty of Fourteen thousand dollars conditioned according to law. 

       Certificate is granted him for obtaining a probate of said will in due form.

                                                             Teste       A. A. Arthur

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