Transcription by Michael D. Ingram

 

 

In the name of God Amen, this the fifth of December 1780. I Alexander Ingram of Botetourt County and colony of Virginia, being sick and weak of body but of perfect mind and memory thanks be to God and calling to mind the mortality of my body and that it is appointed for all men once to die do make, constitute, and appoint this to be my last will and testament.  Inprimis I commend my soul unto Almighty God who gave it nothing doubting but at the general Resurrection I shall receive the same by the mighty power of Almighty God and my body I recommend to the Earth to be buryed in a Christian like manner at the discretion of my Ex.s and touching such worldly goods wherewith it has pleased God to bless me with I give, devise and dispose of them in the following manner and form:

 

First, I give and bequeath to my beloved wife Mary six acres of land on each side of Cravans branch wherever she chooses and also my Negro wench named Grace during her natural life and likewise all my beds and bedcloathes and the whole of my Pewter to her and her heirs.

 

Secondly, I bequeath to my daughter Ann and her husband the half of the tract of land I now live on the branch running through sd. land called Cravens Creek to be the division line between her or him and their brother John as far as to a spring on the West side of sd. branch and near the old mill path and a line to be run from the sd. spring through 54 acres of land of mine adjoining to the tract I now live on to divide the same in two equal parts and my daughter to have and to hold one half and my son John the other half ......

 

and I also will and bequeath to my Daughter Ann a Negro Wench named Else and it is my will that the above land and Wench be the Property of my sd. Daughter and her Husband during their natural lives or the Survivor during their Widowhood and at their Decease to be the Property of their Oldest Son if alive if not to his next surviving Brother & Secondly to my sons William and James I Bequeath a tract of land on the Bent Mountain of 400 acres to be equally divided between them both as to Quality and quantity .....

 

and to my Son William I Bequeath a Mullato Wench named Pet and to his Eldest Son at his Decease and both Land and Encrease of sd. Wench to fall to his Brother as before & and to my Son James I will Bequeath a Negro Wench named Poll and at his Decease to be disposed of as above mentioned &.....

 

 Thirdly, I give and Bequeath to my Son John the other half of the Tract I now live on And also my Negro Primus and my Wench Grace at his Mothers Decease the above land and the Encrease of said Wench to fall at his Decease as before Willed, to his Eldest, and further I Will and Bequeath to my son Wm. One hundred and fifty Acres of Land on the south fork of Lynches Creek in Craven County, and to my Son James two hundred Acres on Lynches Creek bounded on Moses and William Ingrams land and as I have a right to 400 Acres of Land besides what is already Willed I leave that to be disposed of Equally amongst my above Heirs...

 Except one hundred acres to my daughter Mary on Hanging Rock Creek to her and her Heirs and Assigns and......

 

 Lastly I constitute and appoint my beloved Wife and Son John to be my whole and sole Executors of this my last Will and Testament and it is my Will and Request that my Sons William Ingram, James Ingram, and John and Alexander Ingram Jun. Do each of them pay fifteen Pounds hard Money or Equivalent thereunto to Purchase her a Negro Wench and I hereby utterly Revoke and Disannul all and every other former Wills and Testaments by me made Ratifying and Confirming this and no other to be my last Will and Testament in witness thereof I have hereunto set my Hand and Affixed my Seal the day and Year above Written Signed, Sealed, Published, and declared to be the last Will of Alexander Ingram in the presence of Wm. Bryans