AAFA Wills
WILL OF JOHN ALFORD

In the Name of God Amen I John Alford of Frederick County being very Sick and weak of Body but in perfect health of mind & Memory Do make constitute & appoint this my last will & Testament in manner & form following.

First & principally I give my Soul to Almighty God, my Body I give to the Earth to be decently Buried at the Discretion of my Executrix hereafter mentioned and for what Worldly Estate it hath pleased God to bless me with my Will is that it may be Disposed of in the following Manner.

Imprimis I Give to my beloved wife Mary Alford the use & benefit of all my Estate during her Natural Life except as is hereafter Excepted and after her Decease to be equally Divided amongst all my Children Male & female except also the Specifick Legacys hereafter mentioned.

Item I Give to my Son John Alford one Negro Boy named Cesar my Still with the appurtenances thereunto belonging my young Dark Bay horse called Prince & a young Natural pacing Mare with a Blaize in her face to be delivered to him when he shall arrive to the age of Nineteen Years unless his Mother Marry before he arrives to that Age & then my Will is that my Said Son Shall be possest of the above Legacies Directly on her Said Marriage: always provided that my Said Wife Mary shall have & enjoy half the profits arising & accruing by the Said Still. During all the Time that She shall Remain a Widow & my will further is that if my Said Son John Should Die without Heirs & before his Mother that then the before Bequeathed Legacies Shall be equally Divided amongst all the rest of my Children - Males & females & further it is my Will that my Sd son John Shall not Enjoy or have any other part of my Estate or any Share with my other Children than what is above given & bequeathed to him: and further it is my Will that if my wife Marry before or after my said Son John Arrives to the Age of Nineteen years that he after his Arrival to that Age & such her Marriage shall have & take the Estate belonging to my other Children into his hands.

Item I give to my Daughter Mary Alford one Natural pacing young Bay Mare Commonly called hers to be Delivered to her at the Day of her Marriage.

Item I Give to my son Thomas Alford a young black pacing Mare commonly Called his to be Delivered to him at the Day of his Marrying.

Item I Give to my Son William Alford a young Dark bay Yearling pacing horse Commonly called his to be Delivered to him at the Day of his Marrying.

Item I Give to my Daughter Priscilla Alford one Negro Girl called Licia to be Delivered her after the Decease of my Wife. Also one Mare Colt that came of a black Mare called Flower to be Delivered to her at the Day of her Marriage.

Item I Give to my Daughter Aquilla Alford a young horse which Came of my Roan Mare to be Delivered to her at the Day of her marriage.

Lastly I Nominate & appoint my Loving Wife Mary Alford my Sole Executrix of this my Last Will & Testament hereby Revoking all other Wills before by me made.

In Witness whereof I have hereunto Set my hand & Seal the 13th day of November 1748.

John Alford (Seal)

Sign'd Seal'd, & published in the presence of

Jno Hurman John Paverly Richard x Robason (his mark)

At a Court continued & held for Frederick County on Wednesday the 4th day of January 1748. This Will of John Alford Deceased was presented into Court by Mary Alford the Executrix therein named who in open Court refused to abide by the S'd Will. John Hurman & John Paverley two of the witnesses thereto having on Oath proved the Same & John Paverley on his Oath Declared that he saw Richard Robinson the other witness Sign the Same then & Will is admitted to Record.

Test T. Woods

Alford Adm'r Bond

Know all men by these presents that we Mary Alford John Hurman Isaac Pennington & Edward Sniggers are held & firmly bound unto Marques Calmses Gent. The first Justice in the Commission of the peace for Frederick County for & in behalf & to the Sole Use & behoof of the Justices of the s'd County and their Successors in the Sum of Five Hundred pounds Current Money; To be paid to the said Marquis Calmses his Ex'r & Adm'r & Assigns: To the which payment well & truly to be made we Bind ourselves & every of us our & every of our Heirs, Ex'r & Administ'rs: jointly & severally firmly by these presents. Sealed with our Seals Dated this 4th day of Jan'ry 1748.

The Condition of this Obligation is Such that if the above bound Mary Alford Administratrix of all the Goods Chattels & Credits of John Alford Deceased with the Will annexed. Do make or cause to be made a true & perfect Inventory of all & singular the Goods Chattels & Credits of the said Dec'd which have or shall come to the Hands possession or knowledge of her the Said Mary or into the hands or possession of any other person or persons for her: and the Same so made Do Exhibit or cause to be Exhibited into the County Court of Frederick at Such Time as she shall be thereunto required by the Said Court and the same Goods Chattels & Credits and all other the Goods Chattels & Credits of the said Deceased at the Time of his Death which at any time after Shall Come to the hands or possession of the said Mary or into the hands & possession of any other person or persons for her Do well & truly administer same according to Law. And further Do make a just & true Account of her Actings & Doings therein when thereto required by the Said Court and all the rest & residue of the Said Goods Chattels and Credits which shall be found remaining upon the s'd Administratrix Account the Same being first examined & allowed by the Justices of the Court for the Time being Shall Deliver & pay to such person or persons respectively as the said Justices by their Order or Judgement shall Direct pursuant to the Laws in that Case made & provided; And if it shall hereafter Appear that any other last Will & Testament was made by the Deceased and the Executor or Executors therein named Do exhibit the Same into the said Court making Request to have it allowed and approved accordingly. If the said Mary Alford being thereunto required Do Render & Deliver up her Letters of Administration Approbation of such Testament being first had & made in the Said Court: Then this Obligation to be void & of none Effect or else to remain in full force & Virtue.

Mary x Alford (her mark) (Seal)

Sealed and Delivered in presence of The Court

Jno Hurman (Seal) Isaac Pennington (Seal) Edward Sniggers (Seal)

At a Court continued & held for Frederick County on Wednesday the 4th day of January 1748 -- Mary Alford Administratrix of John Alford Deceased together with Jno Hurman Isaac Pennington & Edward Sniggers her Securitys Acknowledged in open Court this their Bond for the Sd Mary her true & faithful Administration of the said Deceaseds Estate w'ch was admitted to Record.

Test T. Woods C. C.

Frederick County, VA, Will Book No. 1, Page 231-233.

John Alford (1696ca - 1748)

The Will document has been separated into paragraphs, and some punctuation has been added to assist in reading. The spelling and wording are the same as in the original.