Samuel Steel Gay Will

Albermarle County Virginia

 

 

 

Dec. 24, 1849            

Will of Samuel Steel Gay

Will Book 19, pg. 506

 

"In the name of God: Amen. I Samuel Steel Gay of the county of Albemarle and state of Virginia being weak of

body, but of sound disposing mind and memory and understanding do make this my last will and

testament as follows:

 

Imprimus: I recommend my soul to the mercy of God and my body to be decently buried at the descretion of my executors herein after mentioned.

Item Ist. After the discharge of my debts. I wish my estate disposed of in the following manner.

Item 2nd. I give to my wife, Elirabeth Gay, this portion of my land where on I now dwell, and which lies principally

on this side of the public road, and which is bounded by the lands of Jn. D. Wingfield [unreadable wordl Charles

W. Gay, David Gay, William S. M. Gay, and Albert G. Gay, and which contains two hundred and seventy three

acres and twenty nine purches, to hold during her life or widowhood: I also give to her (my wife E Gayi to hold

during her life or widowhood twenty acres and a half of land Ideeded to my son W. S. M. Gay) adjoining the lands

of David Gay and Albert Gay: and also the field lying immediately below the public road on the south west side of

the Black Walnut Branch if being a part of the land deeded to my son C. W. Gay and also another field on the

same side of the public road, and adjoining the aforesaid field, it being a part of the land deeded to my son Albert

G. Gay: And also the mountain tract of land deeded part to my son W. S. M. Gay, and part to my son C. W. Gay:

I also give to her (my wife E. Gay all my perishable property to hold during her life or widowhood but if she marry againg, she is to have only three of her choice servents, and one third of my other perishable property to hold

during her life: The remaining servents and the ramining two thirds of my perishable property shall be sold and

the proceeds amassing therefrom, divided between my children in such a manner as to make each ones share

of estate equal to that of the other, including the advances heretofore made, and at her death the three aforesaid choice servants with them, increase together with the mentioned [wordl of the other perishable property shall be

sold and the proceeds arrising therefrom divided among my children as above said concerning the remaining servants and the [wordl thirds of the otherperishable property.

Item 3rdAt my wife's  death or marriage, my four sans, viz - W. M. Gay, Albert G. Gay, JamesGay, and C. W.

Gay, shall have an equal portion (with the rest of my children) of the balance of my estate provided any remain

after making my childrens shares equal to each other including the advances heretofore made.

Item 4th1 give to my daughter Lucy Ann wife of James Hamner, at my wife's death my mahogany bureau and workstand at valuation.

 

Item 5th. I give at my wife's death to my Daughter Elizabeth A. Gay [wordsl and the large walnut table at valuation.

 

Item 6th. I give to my son John Henry Gay at my wifes death the 273 acres and 29 purches of land left to my wife as stated in item 2nd, the land to be valued at $845. for the whole, I also give to him (J. H. Gayl when he becomes

of age a horse beast valued at 550. And also one bed furniture valued at $20.

 

Item 7th. Provided that any of my old servants live to become burdensome, my three sons W. S. M. Gay and C.

W. Gay Ionly lists twol are to take one each and to take good care of them.

 

Item 8th. My home shall be a home for any of my children so long as they remain single provided they maintain themselves.

 

Item 9th. At the death of any of my children all the perishable property given to them including the advances heretofore made with [wordl increase is to go to the benefit of their heirs if they leave any, and if  they leave no

heirs, the said property is to be returned for the benefit of my children and heirs.

 

Item 10. It any of my sons a part of whose lands I have removed by wife's benefit for her life time or widowhood refuse to let her keep the reserved part of land Ilived quietlyll, such son or sons shall be cut-off without any further part of my estate.

Item 11. And now if any of my children should be dissatisfied with the decisions that I have made among them, and shall contend for any other decision, that child or those children who may contend shall be cut-off without any further portion of my estate.The advances spoken of in this my last will may be seen by reference to my memorandum book kept for that purpose. My motive for giving my wife all my property during her life or widowhood as mentioned in item 2 is that she may without interferring with the property of my estate be enabled out of the yearly proceeds arrising from the plantation, to employ any of my children whom she may chose to remain with her and attend to

the benefits of the plantation.And now I do constitute and appoint my son W. S. M. Gay executor to put in force this my last will and testemanet, I hereby set my hand and affix my seal in the presence on this 24th day of Dec 1849.

                        SamueIS.Gay [witnessesl James M. Gay David Gay Jno. O. Wingfield

 

Presented to court an 5th of August 1850.

 

Transcribed and submitted by Nancy Gay Crawford.

__________________________________________

 

 

© Copyrighted 1999, Nancy Gay Crawford