In the name of God Amen.  I Jeremiah Claxton of the County of Fauquier and State of Virginia being sick and weak of body but of sound & perfect memory blessed be God for the same do make and ordain this my Last Will and Testament in manner & form following.  I desire all my Just Debts be paid.  I give and bequeath to my son Pope Claxton and his heirs my Negro a named Griffin my Negro boy named Henry and a Negro Boy named David which boy he has Already Received.  Item I give and bequeath to my son John Peyton Claxton and his heirs my Negro woman named Milley and her Two children Reuben and Dick with their Future Increase[,] one feather bed with common Furniture[,] my Gun & Sadle & ten pounds Cash.  Item I give and bequeath to my son James Claxton and his heirs my Negro woman named Jane a Negro called Davy a Negro Girl called Sall an infant Negro boy the child of Jane yet unnamed with the future Increase of Jane and Sall & a feather bed with Common Furniture. Item I give and bequeath to my Son William Claxton my Negro Man named Simon and two Negro Girls named Hannah and Nancy with their Future Increase and one Feather Bed with Common furniture to him & his heirs.  Item I give & bequeath to my Grandson Richard Claxton a Negro boy named Moses.  Item I desire that my Land may be sold either on a credit or for ready money whichever my Executor may Think most advantageous for my children and the money arising from Such Sale equally divided among my four sons Pope, John Peyton, James & William or Such of them as may be then living.  If my son John Peyton should have any means of keeping a beast I desire that he may [have] his Choice whether to take again the Mare I bought of him or to let her remain as part of my estate and receive of my Executor the price which I was to give for her with Interest According to our Agreement and as the price of every thing is likely to experience a considerable fall I devise that my Land may not be sold until it will bring its Worth or nearly So in The Opinion of My Executor living in this State.  I desire all the Rest of my estate may be sold and the money arising therefrom after paying all my Just Debts and the necessary expences may be equally Divided between my above named Sons vz. Pope, John Peyton, James & William or Such of them as may be then living.  I have a Loving Desire that my friend and Brother in Law Job Garvey of the Sate of Kentucky and my Sister Elizabeth Garvey if Living at the time of my Death and Willing to do so Should take my Youngest Son William into their care with his part of my estate So that they may not be losers by it and Do the Best they can with his fortune to give him a good English education.  I do not desire an appraisement of my estate but that my Executor may take the Inventory of it and Lastly I Do Appoint my son Pope Claxton my Good friend William Stone and my Above named Brotherinlaw Job Garvey Executors of this my Last Will and Testament the said Garvey to act in the Case of my Son Popes moving with my younger Children to the State of Kentucky and Carries their fortunes with them.  I[n] Witness of the Above I have hereunto Set my hand and Seal this Seventeenth day of September in the year of our Lord 1808.

Signed Sealed &

Acknowledged before us vz

Peter Grant                                                                            Jeremiah Claxton [Seal]

Thos. Tyler

James Stigler Sr.

Robert Embry

 

At a court held for Fauquier County the 26th day of December 1808 This Will was proved by the oath of Thomas Tyler and Robert Embry and ordered to be Recorded and on the Motion of Pope Claxton who made oath and together with Wm Stone John Hilley, William Skinker Jr.and Robert Embry his Securities entered into and Acknowledged Bond in the penalty of Ten thousand Dollars  conditioned as the Law directs  Certificate is Granted him for Obtaining a Probate Hearing in Due form.

                                                                                    Teste

                                                                                                H. R. Campbell C.C.