The Last Will and Testament of William
Meriwether [TMSI #31136]
Will Book 9, pages 36-38
Amelia Co., Virginia
IN the name of God Amen. I William Meriweather of the County of Amelia
being of sound & disposing mind and memory do make constitute and ordain
this to be my last will and Testament To Wit;
Imprimis. It is my will and desire that the whole of my
Estate real and personal be kept together for the support of my beloved wife
during her life and for the support of my children William Weaver Meriwether,
Sally Scott Meriwether, Joseph Mauro Meriwether and Ann Elizabeth
Meriwether.
Item after the death of my wife I leave
part of the tract of land lying on Appomattox near clement town which I am
siezed Beginning at the corner on the river near Clement town thence up the
meanders of the river to the line between the lands I bought of Henry Cox &
Overtons legatees thence along the line to big bent creek thence down the creek
to the first fence which crosses it thence along the fence southwardly to the
south side of the woods nearest to Mrs Clements thence east to a corner made by
running a line from Mrs Clements lower corner at a pine in the direction of
that line thence along the line between me and Mrs Clements to the road thence
along the road & near it as my line runs to the river at the beginning and
which lines I have described to my friend Josep(h) Scott to whom I give full
power and authority to designate the said lines to my son William Weaver
Meriweather to him and his heirs forever. The ballance of the Tract of land I
leave to be equally divided between my two daughters Sally Scott Meriwether and
Ann Elizabeth Meriwether giving to Sally Scott M that part of the land which
formerly belonged to Thos. Overton and the ballance to Ann Elizabeth Meriwether
to them and their heirs forever
Item after the death of my wife I give
unto my son Joseph Mauro Meriweather the plantation whereon I now live to him
and his heirs forever.
Item I give unto my son William Weaver
Meriwether all my medicines, shop furniture medical Books and Instruments and
to my son Joseph Mauro Meriwether the ballance of my books and after the death
of my wife I give to each of my children two Beds & furniture to them
forever.
Item after the death of my wife I give
unto my son Joseph Mauro, all the (Pg 37) household & kitchen furniture
plantation utensils stock etc that is on his land at the time of her death and
not before disposed of.
Item After the death of my wife I give all the stock plantation utensils and other furniture that is at that time on the plantation on Appomattox river to be equally divided between my son Wm Weaver & daughters Sally Scott and Ann Elizabeth to them forever~
Item I
leave my debts to be collected monies on hand & crops after paying my debts
& the current expenses of the year to make a fund the interest of which is
to be applied to the general fund for the support of my wife, the support and
education of my children but should there be any lands to be sold, adjoining
any lands devised to Sally Scott and Ann Elizabeth then and in that case I give
my Executors full power and authority to purchase as much in their discretion
as woud make Sally Scott and Ann Elizabeth's share of lands equal to William
Weavers from the above funds and any others in their hands undisposed of and
when so purchased to become part of the general fund above mentioned till the
death of their mother
Item after the death of my wife I leave
the whole of personal Estate not before disposed of let it consist in what
nature or kind soever to be equally divided among all my children William
Weaver Meriwether Sally Scott Meriwether Joseph Mauro Meriwether and Ann
Elizabeth Meriwether to them & their heirs forever.
Item It is my will & desire that no
part of my Estate be sold or appraised. Lastly I nominate and appoint my friend
Joseph Scott and Ara Vaughan and my wife Sally Meriwether Executors &
Executrix to this my last will & testament with full power to carry into
complete effect all the devises herein made annulling and revoking all former
wills by me made In Testamony whereof I have here unto set my hand and seal
this day of
William
Meriwether (Seal)
In Amelia County Court November 26th 1818
This
last will and testament of William Meriweather dec'd was entriduced into Court
and the hand writing of the will was proven by the oaths of John Booker and
John T Leigh to be William Meriwethers hand writing. Sworn by Sally (Pg 38)
Meriwether and Joseph Scott Execx and Exocr and ordered to be recorded. And in
the matter of said Exrx & Exor who entered into and gave bond with John
Jeter, Rodophil Jeter and Daniel Willson their securitys in the penalty of
Sixty thousand dollars constituted according to law probate is granted them in
due form.
Teste. J.T. Leigh c of c.
Examined
Transcribed by Barbara E. Mellor, November 11, 2004
Transcribers note: All spellings have been left as accurate to the original as can be detected from the clerks handwriting. Therefore, names (ie. Meriwether) are spelled differently several times in regard to the same person and other words are not spelled as we would consider them correct. At the first mention of Joseph Scott's name, I indicate the missing (h). I am still not sure that Joseph "Mauro" Meriwether is the intended middle name. This clerk writes an "n" in waves like a "u", both are very similar to his "r" and does not look exactly the same in several repetitions. We need verification from some completely separate source. Also note that in naming his Executrix, he clearly states the wife's name is "Sally" Meriwether, not Lucy as has been published in the past. BEM
Note: Joseph MONROE Meriwether is mentioned in his mother Sally's will so the above Mauro should probably be Monro.