The Last Will and Testament of Christian Leazer

Will Book 1, Page 17, Wetzel County Courthouse, New Martinsville, WV
     Copy of Will obtained on November 9, 2001.  Transcribed by Rick L Tennant on
     November 13, 2001, with spelling and punctuation intact.

     In the name of God amen I Christian Leazer of the County of Wetzel and State of
Virginia being in a low and languishing state of health but being sound in mind, memory and
understanding Thanks be to Almighty God for the same, do make and constitute this my last will
and testament.  First and principal I recommend my immortal Soul to God who gave it in hopes
of a joyful resurrection and my body to the earth.  After my death to be decently buried at the
discretion of my executors.  As to the worldly estate wherewith it has pleased God to bless me I
give and dispose thereof as follows.  It is my will and I do order that none of my personal
property be either appraised or sold untill after my death and that of my wife Nancy.  After
which time it may be appraised and divided or sold as best suits the legatees equally divided
among the following legatees viz. Mary Bartrug, John Leazer, Martha Leazer and Christena
Wright.  I nominate and appoint Henry Church, Jr and John Leazer to be my executors of this my
last will and testament.  I give and bequeath to Mary Bartrug a certain tract of land lying on the
west side of a line run by Nathan Rose and containing one hundred acres to be the same now or
less (see actual survey) to be her full portion of land and for which I have executed a deed.  I
bequeath to John Leazer all my real estate lying on the east side of the above described line / the
line run by Rose / containing two hundred and fifty acres be the same now or less for which I
have also executed a deed.  He shall pay Martha Leazer six hundred dollars in manner as follows
viz. Fifty Dollars yearly after my death untill the said six hundred dollars be paid.  In addition I
also bequeath to Martha Leazer one bed and bedding a spinning wheel and also my loom and
tacklings.  My wife and Martha Leazer shall each have a cow of my stock.  My wife and Martha
Leazer shall have peaceable possession of my dwelling house and all the property in it which
belongs to me.  The garden shall also be hers to occupy during her natural life.  Martha Leazer
shall have joint possession of house and garden with Nancy my wife her right shall extend untill
she is married and further John Leazer shall furnish at his own expence sufficient firewood redy
cut at the door of Nancy my wife and Martha.  He shall do all the necessary milling for them and
deliver it in their house, in short he shall provide all things necessary for a comfortable living for
them during my wifes natural life.  John Leazer shall in each winter feed my wifes and Marthas
cows and furnish them pasture during the summer.  To John Leazer I bequeath one bed and
bedding having heretofore given to my daughter Christena a valuable farm for which Absalom
Wright holds a deed from me.  I therefore consider that her full portion of land.  And lastly
seeing that my property is by the laws of my country garranteed to me I hold it as an undinable
fact that I also have a right to dispose of and to divide it with whom and to bequeath to whom
and in such manner as best pleases myself which in this my will I have done.  And I now ordain
that the heir or heirs or legatees any or either of them do attempt to change or abolish this my
will and bequest shall forfeit the respective shares in all the property which by this my will they
might have held and inherited.  And the share or shares so forfeited shall be taken from them and
be equally divided among the heir or heirs who have acquiesed in this my will.
     I publish and declare this and no other to be my last will and testament in testimony
whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 16th day March in the year of our Lord one
thousand eight hundred and fifty seven.
                              Christian (his CL mark) Leazer {Seal}

Signed sealed and delivered in presence of us
Wm H Doty
O P Ice
Charles Horner, Jr.
John Liming

Wetzel County Court - Clerks Office Aug 4th 1857

The last will and testament of Christian Leazer decd. was this day proven in court by the oaths of
Charles Horner Wm H Doty and John Liming and was admitted to record
                              O B Riess Dept. for
                                   Friend Cox Clerk