Orange County, Virginia
8 Jan 1815
In the name of god amen I Caleb Abell of Orange County and State of Virginia being in tolerable health and perfect mind and memory for which I give God the praise but calling to mind the uncertainty of this mortal life I do hereby make and ordain this my last will and testament
First I recommend my sole to God who gave it and his son Jesus Christ who redeemed it. My body I commit to the earth to be buried after the Episcopal manner by my executors. I also desire that as much of my property or crops may be sold as may be sufficient to pay all my just debts
Item my will and desire is that my mantion house plantation and tract of land containing nine hundred acres shall be sold for ready cash and the money arising thereof shall be laid out in land in Kentucky and equally divided between my three sons Caleb, Richard and Joshua and if either dies before the division the surviving parties to be divided between them and their heirs forever Item. I give unto my daughter Elizabeth a negro girl named Nance and her increase to her and her heirs forever Item_ I give unto my son John one negro fellow named Tom to him and his heirs forever. Item_ I give my daughter Nancy a negro boy named Phill and a negro girl named Caroline to her and her heirs forever. Item I give unto my daughter Susannah a negro woman named Sue with all her children and her increase to her and her heirs forever Item I give unto my son Caleb one negro man named Bill also my waggon making tools a bed and furniture yoke of oxen and cart to him and his heirs forever Item I give unto my daughter Mary a negro woman named Silve with the children delivered with her to her and her heirs forever_ Item I give unto my son_ Richard one negro lad named Joe my black smith tools one good horse saddle and bridle a good bed and furniture one cow and twenty dollars— cash to him and his heirs forever Item I give unto my son Joshua one negro man named James and one negro girl named Eliza also my Desk book case and books my new road waggon a good horse saddle & bridle a bed and furniture one hundred dollars cash to him and his heirs forever_ Item I give unto my daughter Sally one negro fellow named Bob also Lonnon and his wife Vine and child named Clara a horse bridle and saddle feather bed and furniture one cow twenty dollars cash to her and her heirs forever Item I give unto my daughter Jose a negro fellow named Manuel his wife Bet and a negro girl named Pamilia one hundred dollars cash good horse saddle and bridle bed and furniture and one cow to her and her heirs forever Item my will and desire is that all my Pewter knives and forks shall be equally divided between my two daughters Sally and Jose and that the residue of my estate shall be equally divided between all my children. And I do hereby constitute make and ordain my two sons John S. Abell and Caleb S. Abell the whole and sole Executors of this my last will and testament and do hereby revok all other wills by me made
In witness whereof I hereunto have set my hand and affixed my seal this eighth day of January in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred and fifteen
Caleb Abell {Seal}
Signed Sealed & delivered in presence of
James Scott
William Clark
John White
Stephen G. Nelson
Thomas Johnson
At a monthly court held for the County of Orange at the courthouse on Monday the twenty seventh of Febuary 1815 This last will and testament of Caleb Abell deceased was proved by the oaths of William Clark and Stephen G. Nelson witnesses thereto and ordered to be recorded And on the motion of John S. Abell an executor named in the said will who made oath thereto according to law and together with William Wright and John Payne his securities entered into and acknowledged their bond in the penalty of twenty thousand dollars conditioned as the law directs, certificate is granted him for obtaining a probate thereof in due form
Teste
Transcribed by William R. Emanuel, Charlottesville, Virginia, 19 Oct 2021 from an image of the original as filed with the Clerk of Orange County, Virginia.