AAFA Wills
WILL OF JOHN ALFORD

I John Alford make this my last will and testament as follows, that is to say that I desire all my just debts to be paid as soon after my death as may be convenient.

Secondly It is my wish and desire that the two peices of Land lying on the south side of South River, one the peice bought of Saml Clarke containing 135 ½ acres and the peice containing 20 acres bought of David Kyger shall be sold to pay the following Legacys__

First I wish Five hundred dollars to be paid to the heirs of Sarah Shiner and as I have given to Nancy Philips Twenty two acres of land worth $450 - I also bequeath to her fifty dollars- I also give and bequeath to my sister Elizabeth Greer to be paid to her in money four hundred and fifty dollars and Forty dollars to Isaac Long and John Hashbarger for building my sister Elizabeth’s house and I do further give and bequeath to my sister Ellen Allerson’s Heirs five hundred dollars to be equally distributed between them. I do also give and bequeath to my brother James Alford one dollar. It is my wish to the above named legacys be paid out of the proceeds of the sale of the above named property, but should it not reach and pay them all then tha (sic) are to be paid pro rata and the balance paid after the death of Mrs. C. Alford.

It is my wish that the balance of my estate be held by my wife Catharine during her lifetime and at her death I give and bequeath to Jacob Coffman senrs. heirs Two hundred and fifty dollars to be equally distributed between them and I give and bequeath to Abraham Aysbaugh ? Four hundred dollars. I give and bequeath to Christian Coffman Senr. Four hundred dollars and I give to Abraham Garber ? Senr. Four hundred dollars and to the heirs of John Coffman dec’d four hundred dollars out of which Jacob Coffman Jun. is to have seventy five dollars. I also give and bequeath to Elizabeth Clarke Three hundred dollars. I further give and bequeath to Saml Coffman one dollar and to Dandy Martin, Benjamin and Solomon Coffman each one dollar and also I give to John Fry one dollar and the residue of my estate if any remain I wish to be equally divided between my sisters and the heirs of those deceased and my wife’s brothers and sisters. I wish my bonds and all my property of every kind except the land that I have specified that I want sold to go immediate into my wife’s possession after my death.

I nominate and appoint as my Executors T. G. Stout and Jacob Coffman Jun. this 15th day of October 1862.

John x Alford (his mark)

Signed in the presents of

J. C. Barger Wm. Croft

In the County Court of Augusta March 26th 1866

This last will and testament of John Alford dec. was presented in Court and proved by the oath of J. C. Barger one of the subscribing witnesses thereto; who also proved the hand writing of Wm. Croft the other subscribing witness and thereupon ordered to be recorded. And Jacob Coffman Junr one of the Executors named therein appeared in open Court and refused to take upon himself the _______ of its execution. And thereupon Thornton G. Stout the other executor named in said will appeared in Court and made oath thereto according to law, and together with William Pattersen and Franklin Fretwell his securities who justified as to their sufficiency entered into a bond in the sum of Eight thousand dollars payable and with execution as required by law, which bond was acknowledged in open Court by the obliged (?) thereto and ordered to be recorded. Certificate is granted the said Thornton G. Stout for obtaining a probate of said will in due form.

Teste

William A. Barnett Clk

Augusta Co., VA Will Book 41, pg. 50, 51.