Orange Co Will Book 2, pg 358-359

In the Name of God Amen. I William Johnson of the County of Orange being sick and weak but of sound and disposing mind & memory (Thanks be God for it) Do make and ordain this my last Will and Testament. In manner and form following. Imprimis. I desire that my Body may be decently buried at the discretion of my Executor hereafter named and as to my Worldly of which it has pleased God to Bless me after my Just Debts and funeral Expences are paid I give and Devise as follow. (to wit) I Give and devise unto my son Robert my land which I have in Culpeper County to him and his heirs forever but that he do not enjoy the same during the Widowhood of my Wife, who I desire may possess the same during her Widowhood. Item. I give and devise the land whereon I now live in Orange County unto my son Benjamin, to him and his heirs forever, subject nevertheless to the use of my Wife during her Widowhood but in case she should marry again then my desire is that she shall have and enjoy one third part of my said land that I live on during her natural life. Item. My Will and desire is that in case my son Robert should die without issue that then the land which I have devised to him shall go to my son William Cave Johnson and his heirs forever subject nevertheless to the limitiation above mentioned and it is also my Will and desire that in case my son Benjamin shall die without issue that then the land which I have devised to him shall go and descend to my son Valentine to him and his heirs forever but to be subject nevetheless to the limitation in favour of my wife as mentioned above. Item. I give and bequeath to my well beloved Wife, Elizabeth, my mill during her natural life and after her decease I give the said mill to my son William Cave Johnson to him and his heirs forever. Item. I give and bequeath unto my daughter Anne Rogers, one feather bed and its furniture, also my blazeface bay mare to be delivered to her as soon as conveniently can after my Death. Item. I give to my son Robert my young bay horse which came out of my above mentioned bay mare and my riding saddle. Item. I give and bequeath to my son Benjamin one sorrel colt about two years old which came of my sorrel mare. And I also desire that my said Wife will give each of my children (except my sons Robert and Benjamin and my daughter Anne Rogers) when they go from her to live, one riding beast. Item. All the rest and residue of my Estate I lend to my well beloved Wife, Elizabeth, during her Widowhood, and in case she should marry again or at the time of her Death, My Will and desire is that my said Estate, which I have lent my Wife, be equally divided among all my children which shall be then living or their legal representatives, except my daughter Anne Rogers, who is to make an allowance of the value of the feather bed and its furniture and mare which are to be valued when delivered to her, and the value of them to be deducted out of her said part of the lent Estate. Lastly, I constitute and appoint my two sons Robert and Benjamin, Executors to this my Last Will and Testament Hereby Revoking all other Will or Wills heretofore made by me. Witness my hand and Seal this sixteenth day of March Anno Dom MDCCLXVI. Signed Sealed Published & declared | By the Testator to be the Last Will | William Johnson (SS) & Testament. In the Presence of us | James Madison Robert During John Cave Benj. Cave Robert Johnson At a Court held for Orange County on Thursday the 22nd day of May 1766. The last Will and Testament of William Johnson Decd was presented into Court by Robert Johnson Junr, one of the Executors therein named and was Proved by the oaths of Robert Johnson Senr, and Benjamin Cave, two of the Witnesses therein & ordered to be recorded. And on the motion of the said Executor who made oath According to Law, certificate is granted him for obtaining Probate thereof in due form he giving Security whereupon have Benjamin Head Benjamin Cave and Robert Johnson Senr entered into and acknowledged their Bond for the same in the sum of one Thousand pounds Current money. Test. Geo. Taylor, C.O.C.

Transcribed from
Orange County Will Book 2, LDS film
by Polly Askew Menendez
July 1998