Last Will and Testament of Edward Ker 17 May 1786 - Transcribed by Gail M. Walczyk

In the name of God Amen I Edward Ker of Accomack County being in perfect health and enjoying my senses & memory nearly in as great perfection as ever, do make this my last will and Testament in manner and form following Vizt:

Imprimis I give and bequeath my soul to Almighty God who gave it hoping therewith the merits of Jesus Chirst the Lord of Glory to inherit eternal life. my body I desire may be de-cently interred at the discretion of my Executors

2ly I give and bequeath unto my loving wife the land and palnatation wheron I dwell containing three hundred and fifty acres for and during her natural life and at her decease unto my son George and his hiers forever, I likewise give unto my wife for and during the term of her natural life her choice of three of the house servants, and of six working negroes, the Phaeton and horses, three other horses fit for the [-----] Ten head of Cattle, Twelve head of Sheep and twenty head of hogs, one yoke oxen and Cart and wheels all the household and kitchen furniture three plows two harrows & all the [-----] provisions in the house laid up for family use with corm enough to support her family for one year and at her decease I give and bequeath what may remain of the above recited particulars and their incread to be equally divided amoungst my surviving sons.

3dly I give and bequeath unto my son George the plantation bough of Thomas H. Parker containing one hundred and seventy five acres to him and his heirs with a priviledge of getting timber for the support of his lands form the lands bought of Edmund Poulson and John Littleton Harmon

4th I give and bequeath unto my son John Sheppard three hundred acres of the land bought of James Cox with the houses, Orchards to him and his heirs forever, the line dividing him and his brother Hugh to be the branch runing into the head of Pungoteague below the land leased to Robert Twiford

5thly I give and bequeath unto my son Hugh all the lands bought of James Broughton as contained in three Deeds being one hundred and nine acres, and all the surplus Over three hindred of the land bought of James Cox. Supposed to be about ninety eight acres to be laid off as that part of the land where Betty Mahone lives and including that house. I likewide give unto my said son the land or plantation bought of Michael R. Tatham these three several tract I give and bequeath to my said son Hugh and his heirs forever.

6thly I give and bequeath unto my son Edward and his heirs forever all the land I now hold or may die possessed on in the County of Northampton, and the lands in Accomack bought of John and Littleton Harmon and Edmund Poulson

7thly I give and bequeath my three daughters Jean Scarbough Cathrine Chirstian and Ann Revell the lands I hold in Gloucester containing two hundred and forty three and one quarter acres to be disposed by them as they and their husbands shall see fit and to each of them a suit of mourning ----

9thly I give and bequeath unto my daughter Elizabeth Ker the sum of five hundred punds to be paid in two Negro girls and one Negro boy as the appraised value and in Stock and houshold furniture as the value, or in bonds that are good.

10thly I give and bequeath unto my daughter Isabel the sum of five hundred pounds to be paid in two Negro girls and one Negro boy at the appraised value and in Stock or household furniture at the value, or in such bonds as are good.

11thly In is my will and desire all my just debts be paid John Ball's claim is unjust and a claim made by the Exors of Samuel [Blank] of Philadelphia is unjust, neither of which ought to be paid, and what lands i now hold or may die possessed of not given away, in this will, I will to be sold and the money arising thereform and the residue and remainder of my estate to be equally divided between my four sons George John Sheppard Hugh and Edward, by should any of my said sons die before they arrive to lawful age I will and bequeath the Estate given such son in this my last will be equlaaly divided among the surviver

Latly I appoint my wife Executor and my sons George and John Sheppard, Executors of this my last will and Testament written wholly my my wn hand and signed and sealed with my seal the Seventeenth day of May Anno Dom: One thousand seven hindred and Eighty Six

Edward Ker

Codicil No 1. To this my last will and Testament
I revoke the fifth gift in my will to my son Hugh & in lew thereof will and bequeath unto my said son Hugh all the land and plantation near the Courthouse bought of the Estate of Severn Guthridge with the lots in the Court yard, also the lots held in joint tenancy with Catharine Scott to him and his heirs forever. In Lew of the lands bought of John & Littleton Harmanson [Harman] and Edmund Polson given unto my son Edward Ker in the seventh gift of my will which I shall hereafter or otherwise dispose of, I give and bequeath unto my said son Edward the land and plantation bought of Michael Rickets Tathan lying and being on the Northside of Andua, to him & his heirs forever

I give unto my son John Sheppard the remainder of the lands purchased of James Cox being about nineth eight acres and thirteen acres lying below the main road pruchased of James Broughton to him and his heirs forever

It is my will that and desire that my daughter Margaret have her board with either of my sons she may incline to live with or should she choose elsewhere I will and bequeath her twelve pounds per annum while she unmarried to be paid by my four sons three pounds each.

It is my will and desire that the representatives of my daughter Ann Revell deceased should have an equal share with my daughters Jain Scarburgh and Catharine Christian.

It is my will and desire that the three thousand pounds put in as a stock wt my two sons George and John Sheppard, shall remain and continue as a joint stock to the end of the proposed term of five years without any charge for Interest.

The lands purchased of John and Littleton Harman also those of Edmund Poulson I will and bequeath should be equally divided between my four sons - September 28th 1788

Edward Ker

Signed & Sealed in presence of
Reavel Watson George Pearson Rosy Harman

At a district Court held at Accomack Courthouse the 18th day of October 1790 This last will of Edward Ker deceased with a Codicil thereto annexed were offered to proof by George Ker and John Sheppard Ker the Executors in the said will metioned and is appearing by the oaths of John Wise Jabez Pitt and Edmund Bayly Junr. that the said will was wholly written by the Testator himself and the said codicil being being prove by the Oaths of Revill Watson and Rosy Harman as wittnessed thereto, the said will and codicil are Ordered to be recorded

And on the motion of the said George and John Sheppard Ker a Certificate is granted them for Obtaining a probat of the said will and codicil, they having taked the oath of an Executor and with Edmund Bayly Junr Edward Revill Peter Hack & George Parker their securitites entered into and acknowledged a Bond in the penalty of twenty thousand pounds consituted as the law directs.

Test

Benjamin Pollard CDC