The Will of William Lyon
Written March 10, 1811; Probated April 22, 1811
Nelson County Will Book A, p. 110-?
In the Name of God, Amen; I William Lyon of the County of Nelson being weak of body but of sound mind and memory do make and ordain this my last will and Testament in manner and form following, to wit:
Item my will and desire is that all my just debts be paid, and after funeral expences & other necessary charges attending the same, I devise and divide my estate in the following manner that is to say, I lend to my loving wife during her natural life the land and plantation with all its appurtenances whereon I now live (in lieu of Dower) and after her decease I give and devise the same, to be equally divided between my two sons James Lyon and Gutridge Lyon, both as to quantity and quality which said land I then give in manner aforesaid to them and their heirs forever; my will also is that my daughter Sally Lyon shall be at full liberty to remain on my lands above devised and at my dwelling house thereon, as at home until she marries or otherwise chooses to leave the same.
Item I give to my loving wife Sally Lyon during her natural life my following slaves, Alexander, Knelly, Jude, Mary, Daniel, Matt, Salley, Abraham, Peter and Alexander, Jr. together with all my stock of every kind, plantation utensils, tools, household and kitchen furniture in short all my goods and chattells, not hereafter specially given and after her decease I give and devise the same to be equally divided among my following nine children, to wit, Elizabeth Gentry, John Lyon, Frances Boyd, Salley Lyon, William Lyon, James Lyon, Mary Thurmond Anderson, Gutridge Lyon, and Nancy Boyd in such manner as my executors hereinafter mentioned, shall think the most proper, so as to make the same equal to each and every of them, respectively, which said property I give to them and their heirs forever.
Item, having given my daughter Elizabeth Gentry, a negroe woman Beck which is now in her possession, which slave was at the time given thought to be worth one hundred and twenty pounds, and was then agreed on and intended to be only half her value, that my will and desire is that sixty pounds be retained for the use of my other children out of her equal proportion (after my wife’s decease) mentioned in the preceding cause.
Item, I give to my daughter Salley my negro girl Catey and her future increase, together with my black mare, and one cow and calf, which I give to her & heirs forever.
Item, I give to my son James Lyon my negroe boy Dick, and his heirs forever.
Item I give to my daughter Mary Thurmond Anderson my Negro girl Rose and her future increase which I give to her and her heirs forever, under this special condition, that she is to possess her not subject to the controul or paiment of the debts of her husband John Anderson, and I do hereby appoint my son Gutridge Thurmond a trustee under this clause of my will to carry it into effect.
Item, having given my son William a negroe boy named Lewis, which he has sold to my son James his Bequest and sale is confirmed by this my will to my said two sons and to their heirs forever.
Item, I give to my son Gutridge, my negroe boy Squire, to him and his heirs forever.
Item, I give to my daughter Nancy Boyd my Negroe girl Fanny and her future increase, which negroe girl is now in her possession, which said Negroe Fanny and her future increase I give to her and her heirs forever.
Item my son John Lyon and Frances Boyd (my daughter) having received my Negroe fellow Nathan, which they divided between themselves my will is that the said Negroe be vested between them as divided to them and their heirs forever.
Lastly I appoint my loving wife Salley Lyon executrix and my two sons James Lyon and Gutridge Lyon, executors of this my last will and testament, hereby revoking all other wills by me theretofore made, acknowledging this to be my last.
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seals this 10th day of March one thousand eight hundred and eleven.
his
William (X) Lyon (SEAL)
mark
Signed sealed published
And declared in presence of
Thomas Ewers
Jesse Gentry
Harmon Gentry
Hudson Martin
At a Court held for Nelson county at the Court house on Monday the 22nd day of April 1811. This last Will & Testament of William Lyon dec’d was produced in court and proved by the oaths of Thomas Ewers, Jesse Gentry, Harmon Gentry and Hudson Martin four subscribing witnesses thereto and ordered to be recorded. And Sally Lyon the Extrx. and James Lyon and Guttridge Lyon the Exors. In said will named appeared in court and qualified thereto according to law who together with Hudson Martin, Thomas Ewers, Nelson Crawford and Michael Woods entered into and acknowledged their bond in the penalty of $8000 current money and conditioned as the Law directs. A Probat thereof is granted them according to Law.
Teste
Spotswood Garland Clk.Will Book A, p. 112
Know all men by these presents, that we Sally Lyon, James Lyon, Guttridge Lyon, Hudson Martin, Thos. Ewers, Nelson Crawford, Michael Woods are held and firmly bound unto Nathan Crawford, Jos. Shelton, James Montgomery Jno. Mosby Gentlemen Justices of the Court of Nelson County now sitting in the sum of eight Thousand Dollars, to the payment whereof, well and truly to be made to the said Justices and their successors, we bind ourselves and each of us our and each of our heirs, executors, and administrators, jointly and severally, firmly by these presents. Seals with our seals, this 22nd day of April in the year of our Lord 1811 and in the 35th year of the Commonwealth. The condition of the above obligation is such, that if the above bound Sally Lyon, James Lyon and Guttridge Lyon executrix & executors of the last will and testament of William Lyon deceased, do make or cause to be made, a true and prefect inventory of all, and singular the goods, chattels, and credits of the said deceased, which have or shall come to the hands, possession or knowledge of them the said Exex. & Exors. Or in the hands and possession of any other person or persons for them, and the same so made do exhibit, or cause to be exhibited into the County Court of Nelson at such time as they shall be thereunto required by the said Court, and the same goods, chattels and credits, and all other the goods, chattels and credits of the said deceased, which at any time after shall come to the hands, possession or knowledge of the said Exex. & Exors. Or into the hands or possession of any other person or person for them do well and truly administer according to Law, and after, do make a just and true account of their acting and doing therein, when thereto required by the said Court, and also shall well and truly pay and deliver all the legacies contained and specified in the said testament, as far as the said goods, chattels & credits, will thereunto be extend, and the Law shall charge, then this obligation to be void and of no effect or else to remain in full force and virtue.
Signed, Sealed and delivered
In the presence of
Sally Lyon
James Lyon
Gutridge Lyon
Hudson Martin
Mich. Woods
Thomas Ewers
Nelson Crawford, Jr.
Cas. Perrow DC
At a Court held for Nelson County the 22nd day of April 1811.
This Bond was acknowledged in Court by Sally Lyon, James Lyon, Guttridge Lyon, Hudson Martin, Michael Woods, Thomas Ewers and Nelson Crawford parties thereto and ordered to be recorded.
Teste
Spotswood Garland CK