John Nickell, Sr.-- Last Will and Testament

Date: About 24 Mar 1755 to 17 Aug 1774
Location: Staunton, Augusta, Virginia

WILL OF JOHN NICKELL, SR. Written 24 Mar 1755. Filed Aug 24, 1774 Will book 5 page265 Staunton, Virginia IN THE NAME OF GOD AMEN: I John Nickell, of Augusta County within the dominion of Virginia, being very sick and weak of Body but of perfect Mind and Memory---Thanks Be To God Therefore, Calling into Mind the Mortality of My Body and knowing that it is Appointed for All Men Once To Die, Do Make and Ordain this My Last Will and Testament; That it to say Principally and first of All I Give and Recommend My Soul into the Hands of Almighty GOD that gave it, and my body to the Earth to be Buried in a Decent and Christian Burial at the discretion of Executors,---Nothing Doubting but at the General Resurrection I shall receive the same again by the Mighty Power of GOD; And, as touching such Worldly Estate wherewith It Has Pleased GOD to Bless Me in This Life.

I give and bequeath unto My Eldest Son John the Reversion of said Plantation.

And likewise I give and Bequeath unto Barbara My Well Beloved Wife, the lower End of the Said Plantation during her Widowhood, And Afterward to My two Sons Joseph and Isaac.

I also give and Bequeath to my Eldest son John, one cow and one sheep

I also give and Bequeath unto my son Thomas, a Horse creature and the Fat Swine and the Whetstone,---only at His Mother's Pleasure as he Shall Behave or Please her; And if Thomas Shall Refuse Subjection to His Mother I GIVE AND BEQUEATH unto him One Dollar as his Sole Part of My Estate.

I do hereby Authorize and Empower my Well Beloved wife Barbara, and Her Brother Andrew McCombe as whole and sole Executors of This My Last Will and Testament. In Witness Whereof I have here unto Set My Hand and Seal this Twenty-fourth Day of March In the Year of Our Lord Seventeen Hundred and Sixty-five.

John Nickell

Signed, Sealed, Published, Pronounced and Declared By the said John Nickell in the Presence of Us,

The Subscribers:

James Rea Burne

Alexander Blair

At a Court continued and held for Augusta County, August 17th, 1774, This Last Will and Testament of John Nickell, deceased, was proven by the Oaths of the Witnesses thereto and Ordered to be recorded on the Motion of Barbara Nickell and Andrew McCombe, the Executors therein named, who Made Oath according to law. certificate id granted them for obtaining a probate thereof in die form, they having, with securities, entered into and acknowledged this Their Bond, According to Law.

Este--John Madison, Clerk:

Appraisal of the Estate of John Nickell, deceased. Dated August 24th, 1774. As submitted to the Court By Barbara Nickell and her Brother Andrew McCombe, Executors.

1 Negro Wench

2 Grained deer skins

3 Earthern Crocks

9 Cows

2 Large hides in tann

1 Great Bowl

9 Calves

2 Spinning Wheels

1 Large iron pot

2 Bulls

1 Smoothing iron

2 Wooden Platters

7 Two yr. old Steers

2 Wool Shears

12 Spoons

1 Bay Stallion

1 Iron harrow

2 Pewter Platters

2 Young Pacing mares

1 Set Barshue plow irons

6 Forks

3 Young Trotting horses

1 Plow bar & iron trucks

6 Trenchers

1 Work team

1 Wagon 6 Knives

1 Colt

1 Sheer maul, rings

1 Corner Cupboard

11 head hogs wedges & iron trucks :1Dress Board

22 head Sheep

1 set wagon gears & lock

2 Cheats

2 Saddles chains

1 Table

1pr. Old Saddle Bags

1 Bell

4 Chairs

1 Shot gun

6 Halters

2 Barrels

1 Rifle gun

1 Set acythe hangins &

1 Bed & Furniture

1 Old Gun horse trees

1 Smaller Bed & Furniture

2 Axes,

4 Bee hives

Also a Quaintity of Rye in the barn, :Set of measures including bushel etc. :a large outdoor Bake oven,

two iron pots,

2 large earthern crocks,

a coarse hackle,

set fire tongs,

steel yards &

Mattock,

shovels,

Sheep bells,

a grid iron,

frying pans,

4 sickles,

An augur,

1 plane,

a quantity of flax cleaned,

a Quantity of corn and ochrem

A quantity of hemp in the field,

80 dozens of wheat,

a quantity of Barley,

Several Oaks,

1 Hay fork,

3 Hemp breaks,

2 horse Trees and Irons,

1 large Hand saw

a quantity of small tools,

1 Bowl and some Knoggins,

1 Coat and Vest,

1 old Suit,

1 Great Coat, ETC.

Books listed by appraisers were:

2 Bibles

1 Confession of Faith

1 Clements of Catechism;

1 Louis Sermons;

1 "Henry on Prayer";

Several Spelling Books

signed Steve A. Pritchett 2090 Hill Way st. Medford, Oregon 97504, Aug 7, 1999