Will of John Anderson

Submitted by Paul B. Anderson

John Anderson’s Will, from the ‘Official’ Grayson County VA Will Book (1793) Transcribed April 2001, by Paul Bryan Anderson, a descendant. The document’s spelling and format are preserved.

Abstract: This is a variation of the standard will format in use at the time. John requests that his funeral expenses be paid and his wife, Mary, be cared for. George, William, Jonathan, Isaac, Joseph and Nancy each receive 1 cent from the estate. Milley inherits a yearling cow. Elizabeth and her husband Stephen Ross (m. 12 Mar 1818) inherits the remainder of John Anderson’s estate. The will was witnessed 7 Jan 1826; Probated Aug 1830, continued to Nov 1830, and an estate inventory was recorded 01 Jul 1831.

274 [hand written] [rubber stamp] 374

Jo Anderson will [hand written on inside margin of page]

In the name of God Amen. I John Anderson of Grayson County Commonwealth of Virginia, being very sick in body but of perfect mind and memory thanks be to God. Caling into mind the mortality of my body, and knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die, do make and ordain this my last will and testament. That is to say principally and first of all I give and recomend my soul unto the hand of almighty God that gave it, and my body I recomend to the earth to be buried in decent Christian burial at the descression of my executers, nothing doubting but at the General Resurection I shall receive the same again by the mighty power of God and touching such worldley estate where with it hath pleased God to bless me in this life I give dismiss and dispose of the same in the following manner and from first — my desire is that all my just debts and funeral expenses be paid, Secondly I give and bequeath unto my beloved wife Mary her maintenance as long as she lives, Thirdly I give unto my beloved son George one cent. Fourthly I give unto my beloved son William one cents Fifthly I give unto my beloved son Jonathan one cent Sixthly I give unto my beloved son Isaac one cent, Seventhly I give unto my beloved son Joseph one cents Eightly I give unto my beloved daughter Nancy one cent. Ninthly I give unto my beloved daughter Milley One yearling cow brute, Tenthly I give to my beloved daughter Elizabeth the remainder of all my estates real and personal lands and tenements freley forever by her and her heires to be possessed. I likewise constitute and appoint and ordain Stephen Ross the soul executer of this my last will and testament all and singular my lands and missuages and tenements by him freely to be possessed and enjoyed by him, and I do hereby utterly disallow and revoke and disanule all and every other former testament, wills legaceess bequath and executers by me in any wise and confirming this and no other to be my last will and testament. In witness whereof I have here set my hand and seal this 7th day of

375 [rubber stamp] 275 [hand written on second page, top of will]

January One thousand Eight hundred and twenty six.

Teste. Jonathan Thomas John Anderson [John’s mark is here]
William Anderson
William Ross

August – Court 1830

The last will and testament of John Anderson Dec. was proven in court by William Anderson a subscribing witness and continued for further proofs November Court 1830 fully proven by Jonathan Thomas and William Ross and ordered to be recorded Teste M. Dickenson C. C.

J Anderson Appraisment (Hand written on outside margin of page)

An inventory of the estate of John Anderson Decd. in obediance to an order of court to us directed after being sworn we the commissioners have appraised and find it as follows to wit