Last Will & Testament
Jesse Browning
Washington County, Virginia
Book 32, Page 497-498
Probated 28 July 1926
I, Jesse Browning, of the County of Washington, State of Virginia, do make this my last Will and Testament as follows:
1: First, I desire that my body be decently buried without needless expense in a manner corresponding to my state and situation in life, and that tomb-stones be erected, either double or single at my grave and the graves of my wife and children at Cedarville, Virginia
2: Second, I direct that all my just debts be pain as soon after my death as conveniently may be and to that end charge my whole estate, real and personal with the same.
3. Third, I give all my household and kitchen furniture of whatever kind or class, except my books, to Mrs. Jennie Litton, the lady who has been my house keeper for many years. I also give to the said Mrs. Jennie Litton one cow. I also give to her one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) in money, to be paid to her by my Executor hereinafter named as soon as he has funds in his hands with which to pay the same.
4: Fourth, I give to my youngest brother, A.P. Browning, the sum of Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) to be paid by my Executor as soon after my decease as conveniently may be, but after the payment of One Thousand Dollars to Mr. Jennie Litton.
5: Fifth, I direct my Executor hereinafter named, if I do not do so before my death to erect a tomb-stone at the grave of my son Montague Browning at Emory, Virginia.
6: Sixth, All the rest and residue of my estate I give to M.H. Honaker. Trustee, for my son, James S. Browning, with the power in said Trustee to pay such amounts as he may deem proper at any time to my said son, James S. Browning, and without accountability to him, as such Trustee, for such payments as he may make for the benefit of my said son, and I do not require the said M. H. Honaker to give security on any bond which may be required of him.
7: Seventh, I direct my Executor hereinafter named to sell my personal estate, except that hereinbefore specifically devised, as well as all my real estate that I may own at the time of my death, and out of the proceeds thereof to pay the legacies and bequests hereinbefore made to the parties to who the same are made. The sale of the real estate shall be on such terms as my Executor hereinafter named may think will be most beneficial to my said estate, except that said Executor shall sell the same at public outcry to the highest bidder, after due advertisement of said sale, and he is hereby empowered to make conveyance for the same.
8: Eighth, I hereby appoint my friend, A. W. Aston, as Executor of this my
last will and testament
WITNESS my hand, which I have set to this my will, this 10th day of August,
1922.
Jesse Browning
Signed and published by Jesse Browning as and for his last will, in the
presence of us, who in his presence and in the presence of each other have
herunto subscribed our names as witnesses.
F. B. Hutton
L. L. Bruce
VIRGINIA: In the Clerk's Office of the Circuit Court for Washington County,
on the 28th day of July 1926, before the Clerk of said Court.
A writing purporting to be the last will and testament of
Jesse Browning, deceased, was this day produced before the Clerk of said Court
in his office, and said writing and the signature thereto was proven by the oath
of L. L. Bruce, one of the subscribing witnesses thereto, and the signature and
due attestation of F. B. Hutton, the other subscribing witness thereto, was also
proven by the oath of the said L. L. Bruce. It si therefore ordered that the
said writing be recorded as and for the true last will and testament of the said
Jesse Browning, deceased.
And thereupon A. W. Aston, who is named in said will as the
Executor, appeared before the Clerk of said Court in his office and took the
oaths of an Executor prescribed by law, and together with the National Surety
Company, by John M. Kreger and John W. Neal, its attorneys in fact, entered into
and acknowledged a bond as such executor in the penalty of Two Thousand Dollars,
conditioned according to law. A certificate is therefore granted the said A. W.
ASton for obtaining probate of said will in due form.
Teste:
? White Clerk
Ordered that R. J. Smith, Lee K. Haynes and H. C. Browning, after being first duly sworn, do appraise the personal estate of Jesse Browning, deceased, to them shown, and make a report thereof under their hand, singed by the Executor, to the Commissioner of accounts of this court.