Submitted by
Doug Burnett
Satellite Beach Fl
[email protected]
 

Granville Caldwell (1851), Botetourt County Will Book H: 324, County Clerk’s Office, Fincastle, Virginia

 I, Granville Caldwell, of the County of Botetourt and State of Virginia, being of sound mind and disposing memory, do make this my last Will and Testament.
 First-I desire that my Executor hereinafter named, pay all my just debts and funeral expenses.
 Second  -  I will and desire that my son George W. Caldwell, have the plantation on which I at present reside, as well also as the tract or parcel of land purchased by me from John Burger, near and adjoining the home place, and containing by survey 58 acres—also one rifle gun.
 Third – Whereas, I have heretofore sold to my son Thompson Caldwell the land on which he at present resides adjoining Brown and others containing 64 acres more or less, for the sum of $800 of which such he has paid me four hundred dollars- and I now hold his bond for the balance( being four hundred dollars) now my will and desire is that his bonds for the said four hundred dollars be delivered up to him, and that my Executor pay to him in money four hundred dollars the same being the amount heretofore paid to me – and that my Exor pay to him the further sum of fifty dollars in consideration of the devises to my son George W. Caldwell  my  said Executor of the land purchased of John Burger.  The bonds and money herein before stated in this the third clause of my will is intended to make my said son Thompson Caldwell equal to my said son George W. Caldwell – so far as the devise is set forth and expressed in the second clause of this my will.
 Fourth – It is my will and desire that my Executor pay to Granville Caldwell – son of Fleming Caldwell – the sum of one hundred dollars.  This money I desire to be expended in giving to the said Granville an education.
 Fifth – It is my will and desire that my said executor pay over to my well beloved wife Catherine Caldwell the sum of Fourteen hundred dollars in money within 12 months from the date of my death.  I also give her one bed, one bureau and three milk cows.
 Sixth – It is my will and desire that Fleming Caldwell have no part of my Estate.
 7th – It is further my will and desire that my Executor as soon as may be, after my death expose to sale all my personal  property of every kind whatsoever not herein before disposed of, and that he also collect all claims due to me(the bonds executed by Thompson Caldwell excepted) and that he pay all just debts and the legacies hereinbefore-set-forth-,-, and should the money arising from the sale of personal property and claims due to me not be sufficient to pay said  demands then it is my will and desire that he sell one or more of the slaves belonging to my estate.
 8th – It is further my will and desire that all the residue of my estate after the payment of the foregoing bequest and debts be equally divided between my said sons George W. Caldwell and Thompson Caldwell.
 9th  It is to be understood that the said sum of fourteen hundred dollars here in before given to my said wife Catherine Caldwell is in Lieu and in full of Dower in my Estate.
 10th and lastly I hereby constitute and appoint my son George W. Caldwell Executor of this my Will hereby revoking all other or former Wills.  In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this 24th day of July 1851.
   Granville Caldwell   SEAL

Signed-sealed and acknowledged in our presence and in the presence of each other by Granville Caldwell as his true last Will and Testament on the day above stated.
    F. H. Mays
    Jacob C. Anderson
    John + Clapsaddle(his mark)

At Botetourt October Court, 1851:
This instrument of writing purporting to be the last-Will and Testament of Granville Caldwell deceased was exhibited in Court, proved by the oaths of Fletcher H. Mays, Jacob C. Anderson and John Clapsaddle, subscribing witnesses thereto, and ordered to be recorded.
 A copy-teste,
  Wm. Robinson D.C.