George HAMMOND

In the name of God Amen I George Hammond of Brooke County, Virginia do make ordain and publish this my last will and testament.

First: I give and bequeath to my son Henry Hammond all my two tracts of land lying in Jefferson County where my said son Harry now lives consisting of one tract the title of which is coming from Wm. Davidson whom I hereby direct to make a deed to the said Harry and of one quarter section adjoining the same for which I have a patent from the United States.

Secondly: I give and bequeath to my sons Shandy Hammond, Rezin Hammond, and Thomas Hammond all my land in the county of Guernsey, State of Ohio consisting of one thousand six hundred and sixty one acres to be equally divided among them according to quantity and quality but no improvement made on any part of said land by any one of my said sons previous to the division shall be so estimated as to give to either of the other any part thereof the said land to be dived by my executors and the part of each set off to him at the time he may wish to improve the same.

Thirdly: I give and bequeath to my son Talbot Hammond the Plantation on which I live in Brook County, Virginia subject to this restriction that my wife and daughter so long as they shall live in one family, and my wife so long as she shall live shall not be disturbed in the possession of the mansion house and a reasonable portion of the arable and woodland to be set apart by my sons Charles and Harry or either of them in case of the death of either.

Fourthly: I give and bequeath to my daughter Rebeccah Hammond my little negro girl Kate as a legacy not to be estimated in the general distribution of my property herein after directed.

Fifthly: All the before mentioned devises are to be understood as ____ in fee simple and not otherwise and the reservation of the mansion house and part of any place as a home for my wife and daughters is not be understood or construed as a commutation for a limitation of my wife’s right of dower nor is my son Talbot to be secluded from the provision of a home thereby intended to be made for my family.

Sixthly: All the rest and residue of my property I hereby direct to be equally divided among my daughters taking into now such property as any one of my daughters my have received from me at any time previous to my decease as part of her dividend. The said property so to be managed and dispersed of by my executors as they shall deem best calculated to render the same productive and maintain the home establishment for my family.

Seventhly: I hereby direct that no schedule in appraisement be made of my property and returned to court in the manner the law directs but that my sons Charles, Harry, and Shandy appraise the same at my death and make out and preserve a list of such appraisement which shall at all times be _______ between any part of my daughters _______ their dividend. Provided that all ______ by causuality and all natural decay of the property reserved by my Executors for a home. _______ of my family during the life of my wife shall be estimated by my three eldest sons at her death and deducted from such list and in the manner the increase thereof as it relates to slaves which may be born if any shall be added to such list.

Eighthly: I hereby constitue [sic] my son Charles Hammond and my wife Elizabeth Hammond executors of my last will and testament.

In testimony ____ I have hereto set my hand and seal this 26th day of April 1810.

     Geo. Hammond (seal)

Witnesses:

John McCormack Sr.
Samuel McCormack
John McCormack Jr.
_______ McCormack.

History:

2001 July 28: First published here.

2001 July 29: Added location in will book, date of recording.