Abstract of Will of Nicholas FIRESTONE, June 20, 1804 was made in Maryland

1. To my son, John, all real estate on which he now lives, for which he is to pay $900 over a period of six years following my death, as follows: to my daughters Magdalen, the wife of John WREN, and Susannah, the wife of Philip HEILMAN, $217.83 to each; to my daughter Eve, the wife of John KALBLFLISH, $317.83; to my son Nicholas, $146.50, he having alrady received $221.22 from me.
2. To my youngest daughter Elizabeth, all real estate on which I now live, for which she is to pay over a period of ten years following my wife’s and my deaths a total of 100 Pounds as follows: 25 Pounds each to my children Eve, Nicholas, Magdalen, and Susannah.
3. If I should die before my wife, Eve Catherine, my son John is to give her annually, as long as she remains a widow, 15 bushels of wheat, 15 bushels of rye, 15 bushels of corn, 10 bushels of turnips, 10 bushels of potatoes, 10 pounds of flax, and is to give her one cow of her choice, and to cut and haul her firewood to her door at his own expense, and to furnish her one gentle horse whenever she wants to ride. If she remarries, then my son John is to pay her yearly $10 per year, also one cow, one bed, her wearing apparel and no more.
4. To my daughter Catherine wife of Charles LONG, 150 acres of land, for which LONG already has the deed and possession, but he is to pay to me before April 1, 1805, $300, or the deed is void.
5. To my son Mathias, the 150 acres of aland on which he now lives.
6. Except for personnel estate which my wife wants, my personal estate is to be sold in public venue, the proceeds together with all money owed to me, bank accounts, etc., to be equally divided among my four children Nicholas, Eve, Magdalen, and Susannah.
7. Appoint my sons Mathias and John to be executors.

Witnesses: John George BUTLER, William BUTLER

Probated in November 1808, Botetourt County, Virginia

NOTES:

Nicholas’ daughter, Catharine, wife of Charles LONG, was devised 150 acres of land. Charles owned Nicholas $300 for the land, payable on or before April 1, 1805. This tract of land lay in Rockbridge County and when Nicholas coveyed it in 1799 he recited that Charles LONG lived in Frederick County, Maryland (Rockbridge Deed Book "D", pg. 184) Nicholas also recited this was the tract of land upon which he had been living.

Mathias FIRESTONE, Nicholas’ son, was confirmed in 150 acres on which he then lived. This land was probably in Rockbridge County also. Mathias and his wife Mary, conveyed substantial acreage in Rockbridge in 1804 and 1805 an sold a 150 acre tract on Cedar Creek to William SHIELDS in August, 1814 (Rockbridge County Deed Books "E", pp. 269,369 and "H". pp. 575, 577. In the latter reference, Mary FIRESTONE acknowledged the deed and released her dower.)

Nicholas FIRESTONE began acquiring lands on Cedar Creek in Rockbridge County in 1796. His first purchase was a tract of 900 acres from Samuel and Susanna WALKER on June 7, 1796. The deed recites Nicholas is of Frederick County, Maryland. In July, 1796, he acquired the interest of other heirs of Samuel WALKER, deceased, in and to 930 acres on Cedar Creek. Two of the heirs and their spouses, William and Barbary Walker McCLELLAN and David and Catharine Walker SCOTT, had moved to Knox County, Tennessee. The other heir, Joseph WALKER, was then residing in Greenbrier County (now W.VA). (Rockbridge County Deed Book "C", pp. 270,318,332,477) Susanna WALKER, the widow Sam, released her dower in the original tract of land. She had not signed the deed to Nicholas and recited in her release she was now living in Wythe County, Virginia, and was unable to come to Rockbridge County. In 1798, Nicholas acquired another 103 acres on Cedar Creek from Peter LANTZ and his wife, Elizabeth.