Will of John B
Will of John B. Douglas
"In the name of God Amen, I John Douglas of the County of Botetourt and the state of Virginia being weak and feeble in body but of sound and disposing mind memory and understanding, Considering the certinity of death and the uncertinity of the time there of and being desirous to settle my worldly affairs and thereby be better prepared to leave this world when it shall please God to call me hence to therefore make and publish my this my last will and testament in the manner and form form following.That is to say First and principally- I commit my soul unto the hands of Almighty God and my body to the earth to be decently buried and after my just debts and funeral expenses are paid I desire and bequeath as follows:Item --- I give and bequieth to my wife Katherine Douglas during her natural life time one third of the Estate I may die possessed of and at her death to be equally divided between the five children I have had by her namely, William B. Douglas, James J. Douglas, Mary E. Douglas, Eveline Douglas and Katherine Douglas. ItemI give and bequieth to my son Benjamin Douglas fifteen hundred dollars he having received fourteen hundred and ninety dollars of the same.ItemI give and bequieth to my daughter Elizabeth Walker one thousand and fifty dollars including my woman Fanny, and her increase except the two oldest children Maris and Lot she having received one thousand dollars of the above legacy. ItemI give and bequieth to my five children which I have had by my wife Katherine Viz William B. Douglas, James J. Douglas Mary E. Douglas, Eveline Douglas, and Katherine Douglas an equal proporition of two,thirds of my estate to be delivered to each one of them as they may become of age or marry and an equal proporition of the one already bequeathed to my wife Katherine to be delivered to them at the death of her the said Katherine my further wish is that my Executors hereinafter named do make the best disposition in their power of the two thirds of my estate, willed to my five children above named so as to render to each their equal proporition so soon as they become of age or marry and also of the one third willed to my wife Katherine Douglas, Execx and Thomas Martin to be Executors of this my last will and testment annuling and revoking all former wills by me heretofore made ratifying and confirming this and none other to be my last will and testment-- In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and afffixed my seal this nineteenth day of July in the year of our Lord One Thousand Eight Hundred and Thirty.Jno. Douglas(Seal)
Signed sealed published and delivered by John Douglas the above named Testator as and for his las will and testament in the presence of us, who at his request in his presence and in the presence of each other have subscribed our names or witnesses thereto.
Mary B. Casey
Sim Robinson
At Botetourt--August Court1830
This instriment of writing purporting to be the last will and testment of John Douglas decd was Exhibited in Court and proven by the oaths of James Wallace and Simon Robinson subscribing witnesses thereto and orded as recorded.
Test.H.W. BowyerBC."
A copy of this will was recorded in Warren County, Kentucky onthe 31st of May 1847 by William B. Douglas.He apparentlydid this to prove that the property in Riverside belonged to his family.
Original on file at Botetourt County VirginiaCourt House, Will BookE , p-115