Gilmore Family Archives

Will and Estate Settlement of James Gilmore,
Rockbridge County, VA; Recorded in Book 1, p 174
Written 22 June 1781

Transcribed from the a copy of the original
by Freda Strampe

In the name of God, Amen, the 22nd of June and in the year of our Lord God one thousand seven hundred and eighty one, I, James Gilmore of the County of Rockbridge and State of Virginia, being weak in body but of sound mind and memory thanks be to God for al all his mercies to me, therefore calling to mind the mortality of the body knowing it to be appointed once for all men to die, I do make and ordain this to be my last Will and Testament that is to say principally and first of all I give and commend my soul into the hands of Almighty God from whence it derived its existence and my body to earth from whence it came to be buried in a Christian like manner at the discretion of my executors hereafternamed, nothing doubting but at the General Resurrection I shall receive thine same by the mighty power of God; and as touching such worldly estate as it has pleased God to bless me with in this life, I give and devise and dispose of the same in the following manner and form and first of all it is my will and I do ordain all my just debts to be paid.

I give and bequith to my two sons Joseph and William Gilmore the Plantation I now live on containing two hundred eighty five acres and three surveys adjoining to s. tract to be equally (divided) between them in quantity and quality.

I leave to my son Samuel Gilmore two surveys consisting of one hundred and twenty acres known by the name of Hutson's Spring, fifty acres at J. Haus Mountains at the head of Collyers Draught.

I leave to my son John Gilmor(sic) three hundred fifty seven acres formerly the property of Benjamin Watsons.

I leave to my daughter Mary Foster ten pounds. I leave to Margaret Anderson and to the heirs of her Body forever, a negro wench named Sally, which negro is now in their possession. I leave to Martha Hall a negro named Calop which is in their possession.

I leave to my son James Gilmore one hundred pounds Specie and I disanul and make void all bonds and amounts which I have against him.

I leave and bequeath the slaves that I am possessed of to be equally divided between my sons Samuel, Joseph and William Gilmore and all other moveable property to be equally divided between my beloved wife Martha Gilmore, Samuel, Joseph, William, Agnus, Isabella and Elenor Gilmor.

I do order and ordain that my beloved wife shall have her maintenance of the Plantation House bequeathed to my two sons Joseph and William Gilmore I say during her widowhood and to have her choice of a horse and furniture bed and cloaths over and above a child's part likewise a negro wench to attend on her lifetime if she remains a widow.

I do hereby authorize and appoint my below mentioned executors to transfer deeds to John and Samuel Gilmore for the above tracts of land, likewise to give John Gilmore one negro out of these divided of said estate, and I do constitute and appoint my two sons Joseph and William Gilmore to be my executors of this my last Will and Testament, and I do hereby Disanul Revoke and Disallow all and every Will or Wills or Testaments by me heretofore made Ratifying allowing and Confirming this to be my Last Will and Testament. In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal the Day and Year above Written James Gilmore, Signed, Sealed Delivered in the Presence of George Warren Parker, Henry Miller, James Poage

[The inventory of the estate was made by John Gilmore, John Greenlee, Henry Miller and Hugh Barclay and presented February 11, 1783. Settlement of the estate dated December 1805. The recorded information below provides an interesting note to the apparent reaction of James, Jr. to the Will.]

Rockbridge County, VA Deed Book A, p. 415.

An indenture between James Gilmore, heir at law of James Gilmore, deceased of the county of the one part, and Joseph Gilmore of the County of Rockbridge of the other part witnesseth that whereas the said James Gilmore deceased made his last Will and Testament in writing bearing date the second day of June 1781 . . . and therein did bequeath unto his sons Joseph and William Gilmore the Plantation where he then lived containing 285 acres together with three surveys adjoining said tract . . . but through a mistake did not includ (sic) the said Joseph & William's heirs and assigns which makes them only tenants for life.

Now the said James Gilmore by Virtue of the power ..... uppon (sic) him by being the eldest son and heir at Law of James Gilmore, and in consideration of the sum of five hundred pounds current Money of Virginia to him in hand paid by the said Joseph Gilmor hath granted, bargained and sold unto Joseph Gilmore, his heirs and assigns forever . . .

Witnesses: John Bowyer, Wm. McKee, Wm. Alexander, John Paxton.

[Transcriber's Note: In all probability, there were bad feelings between James and his
brother after Joseph had to pay James £500 for title to the land he had inherited!]

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Gilmore Memorial Stone
High Bridge Cemetery, Lexington, Via
2001 photo by Michael Gardebled, N.O, La.

memstone

This 2001 photo by Michael Gardebled, N.O, La.
may be used freely by family researchers
provided credit is given to the photographer.