HANOVER COUNTY CHANCERY WILLS AND NOTES
Compiled by William Ronald Cocke, III
Genealogical Publishing Co, Inc. Baltimore, 1978
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p. 31-32

William England's Will, VA, 1854

ENGLAND, William.
"In the name of God Amen.  I, WIlliam England of the County of Cumberland in the State of Virginia in feeble health but of sound and disposing memory knowing that it is appointed that all shall die and being desirous of disposing of the little property I possess do make and ordain this to be m last will and testament (revoking all previous wills & testaments if any there should be) in manner and form following that is to say.
... first I desire all my just debts and funeral expenses paid.
... I have heretofore given to my son Wm. C. England a negro woman Harriett and her two children and
... I have also given to my son John L. England (now dead) a negro woman Martha and her two children
and
... and I have also given to my daughter Sally who first married Parker and then Catlin and who is since dead a negro woman Eliza and her three children and
... which said property I estimate as being of equal value to each of my three named children and confirm the same to them and their heirs in the manner it is now held with the contingency placed upon the property held by my son William C. England.
... I have also put into the possion of my son Wm. C. England a negro boy Isham of the value of seven hundred dollars to be held in trust for the benefit of his children to be estimated without interest as to so much advanced to my son Wm. C.
.. At the final division of my estate, I give to my grandson Benjamin A. England son of Wm. C.  a negro boy Robert to be valued if alive at the division of my estate and to constitute so much of the portion of my estate designed for the children of my said son Wm. C.
... I give to the children of my dead son John L. a negro boy Dick to be valued (if alive) at the division of my estate and estimated as so much designed for them.
... I give to the children of me dead daughter Sally a negro boy Albert to be valued if alive in the same manner as the boy to the children of my dec'd son John L. and to constitute a part of their portion of my estate.
... To my three oldest sisters (if living at my death) I give fifty dollars each for three yers to be raised from the hire of the negroes Robert, Dick and Albert before distribution as herein directed, 
... My old and faithful servent Clary to be at liberty to choose her master and be sold at valuation and in no event if it can be avoided to b exposed to public sale.
... My boy Henry I wish valued and the privelage given to either of the representatives of my grandchildren to take him so as to keep him in the family and to avoid a public Sale which I wish avoided if it can be arranged.
... in witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this 1st day of May 1854."
signed and sealed in presend of
                            Wm his+mark England (Seal)
Hez. Ford, Wm. Ranson, Susan A. Ranson

Probated Cumberland County 22 May 1854 by witnesses, Hez. Ford and Wm. Hanson. Creed D. Coleman.
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Contributed by: "Barbara Rivas"  sayona@swbell.net