In the Name of God
I William Gleaves make my Will
I allow my affectionate Wife Elizabeth to live in the house where we now reside during hir life & her will supported from the proceeds of the plantation, (as I shall hereafter direct.)
I devise to my wife, to dispose of as she thinks propper, My2 negroe women named Lett & Winny, I also give to my wife all the balance of my Negroes during her natural life. But she may dispose of them, provided she dispose of as I shall hereafter direct, I also devise to her, to dispose of as she thinks propper - one third part of all the money that may be on hand & also one third part of all the money that may be due on bonds, also one horse Saddle & Bridle hir choice of all my Horses & 2 beds & furniture hir choice & her apperrl (apperal)
I bequeath to my Wife the ballance of my household & kitchen furnature during her natural life, & when it is please heavin to call her hence the property given hir, Except, such as is at hir disposal shall be divided as hereafter directed.
To My Daughter Nancy Gleaves I devise my Negroe girl Patt & hir three
children (towit) Levina Dicy & Eliza with their increases also a Horse called Charles & a young mare called the gray Mares Jelly & hir saddle & Bridle, 2 Beds & all their furnature 10 head of cattle (towit) 5 cows & 5 head of young cattle & 10 head of sheap.
To my son James Gleaves I bequeath the land whereon I now live with the lands adjoining (towit) The survey, which lies on the South side, also Hobbses and place with the survey adjoining it, also a 150 acres of land which Capt James Newell Senr is to make me title to, also the tract of land on which Mrs Turner now lives & he is to support his mother during hir life, also his sister Nancy Glaves during hir single life, hir not being allowed to keep more than four Negroes at his expense ( I also allow him to have my Crab orchet (orchard) tract of land as long as his mother lives & then to be disposed of as I shall hereafter direct) I also allow him 4 horses a new Waggon & gears & all the farming utensils, I also devise to my son James Gleaves my 2 negroes namely Samson & Rachel 1 good Bed & furniture, 10 head of cattle (towit) 5 cows and 5 young cattle
10 head of sheap & all my hogs
To my son Thomas Glaves I bequeath my negroe Boy Plim
To my Daughter Polly Porter I bequeath the sum of thirty three Dollars & 33 cents
To my Daughter Elizabeth Ramsey I bequeath the sum of thirty three dollars & 33 cents
To my son Absalom Gleaves I bequeath my negroe girl Sharlott.
To my daughter Margaret Turk I bequeath my negroe girl Kissy
To my daughter Ester Finly I bequeath my negroe girl Malindy
To my daughter Sally Allen I bequeath my negroe girl Sarah –
I allow all My personal property not otherwise disposed of, to be sold, and the money arising therefrom, together with money on hand & the proceeds of the bonds due, to be equally divided between Thomas Gleaves, Elizabeth Ramsey, Absalom Gleaves, Margaret Turk, Ester Finly Sally Allen James Gleaves & Nancy Gleaves –
I wish all the grain & forage on hand or in groth (growth) not to be disposed of at the Sale but to go to the support of the family,
My crab orchet Tract of land I allow
to be sold at my wifes death, & the money arising from the Sale, to be equally divided between Elizabeth Ramsey Margaret Turk Ester Finly Sally Allen & Nancy Gleaves
I appoint my sons Thomas Absalom & James my Executors
Wm Gleaves (Seal)
17th May 1817
Signed sealed & Published
As his last Will before
And. Kincanon Junr
Joseph Bell
Absalom Thompson
This is not William Gleaves' last will. See letter 461 for his final will dated March 30, 1820, which is also the day he died. Note that the negroe woman, Patt, who was left to Nancy Gleaves has had a fourth child, Harden, between the time that the two wills were written. Two of the witnesses to this document, Kincanon and Bell, will appear on several documents in this collection on receipts from the Wythe County Court, in actions dealing with William Gleaves, Jr.