Last Will and Testament of Johann Adam Harman

Date: 1 Sep 1831
Location: Wythe, Virginia, United States
Surname/tag: Harman

The last will and testament of Johann Adam Harman was entered into Wythe County, Virginia, Will Book #4 on pages 15 - 17. Adam's will was dated 1 September 1831 and was proven and accepted in court on 10 October 1831^[1]. Images of these pages can be viewed with a free account at FamilySearch. A transcription of his will is below.

Part II Chapter IX Page 123 of John Newton Harman's "Harman genealogy (southern branch) with biographical sketches, 1700-1924" indicates that Adam was the father of twelve children^[2]. Eleven of those twelve children are named in his last will and testament: all six sons, and five daughters. One daughter is not named - Sydney, who married William Cubine - although William Cubine is noted as one of Adam's neighbors.

Family Members Named In Adam's Will

The following family members were named in Adam's will. For each family member, their relationship to Adam is either explicitly noted in the will, or is inferred. Note that this list does not contain every person noted in the will and, for example, does not include the names of neighbnors and witnesses.

Count	Name	Relationship to Adam	Notes
1	Adam Harman	Self	Author of the will.
2	Rhody Harman	Daughter
3	Daniel Harman	Son-in-law	Husband of daughter Rhody.
4	Betsey (Harman) Cubine	Daughter
5	Wilbourn Harman	Son
6	Cynthia Harman	Granddaughter	Unsure which of Adam's children is her parent.
7	Nancy (Harman) McGuire	Daughter
8	Samuel Harman	Son
9	Susan (Harman) McGuire	Daughter
10	Daniel Harman	Son
11	Anna (Harman) Murdock	Daughter
12	Henry Harman	Son	Named as legate. Inferred son.
13	Elias Harman	Son	Named as legate. Inferred son.
14	William Harman	Son	Deceased. His heirs are named as legate. Inferred son.

Slaves Named In Adam's Will

The following slaves were named in Adam's will. For each slave, their disposition as noted in Adam's will is also provided. Adam's will also requested that none of the slaves be sold to someone outside of his family.

Count	Name	Disposition
1	Humphrey	Given to son Samuel.
2	Dina	Given to son Samuel.
3	Frank	Son of Dina. Given to son Samuel. To be freed at age 22.
4	Violet	Given to daughters Anna, Betsy, Nancy, Rhody. Also granddaughter Cynthia, if Cynthia marries and has children.

Transcription of Adam's Last Will and Testament

Please update this transcription with corrections as necessary.

In the name of God Amen, I Adam Harman of the County of Wythe, being sick and weak in body but of sound mind and disposing memory (for which I thank God) and calling to mind the uncertainty of human life and being desirous of disposing of all such worldly estate as it hath please god to bless me with. I give and bequeath the same in manner following.

1st I desire all my just debts and funeral expenses to be paid out of moneys arising from the sales on my personal property as herein after directed.

2nd I give to my daughter Rhody and the heirs lawfully begotten of her body forever that tract or parcel of land adjoining the land on which her husband Daniel Harman now resides and containing ninety four acres more or less.

3rd I give to my daughter Betsey Cubine and the heirs of her body lawfully begotten to have and to hold forever a tract of land lying on the south side of Walkers Creek adjoining the lines of William Cubine, Daniel Harman, and Henry Harman and supposed to contain one hundred acres more or less.

4th I give to my son Wilbourn Harman and his heirs forever the middle lot of the Oney? survey containing eighty acres more or less; also thirty acres more or less adjoining Balser? Helvy? at the burnt houses.

5th I give to my granddaughter Cynthia Harman now living under my roof and the heirs of her body lawfully begotten to have and to hold forever the N.E. lot of the Oney? tract containing fourty six acres more or less; also a tract of thirteen acres adjoining the same and conveyed to me by patent.

6th I give to my daughter Nancy McGuire and the heirs of her body lawfully begotten to have and to hold forever the upper lot of the Oney? survey, in other words, the third west lot of said survey, containing fifty acres more or less; also a tract of land conveyed to me by patent and containing thirty one acres more or less, the same adjoining the lands of Elias and Samuel Harman.

7th I give to my son Samuel Harman and his heirs forever a tract or parcel of land containing twenty six acres more or less ????? near the Bear? Wallow and adjoining the Brushy Mountain.

8th I give to my daughter Susan McGuire and the heirs of her body lawfully begotten to have and to hold forever a part of the tract of land which Daniel Harman now lives on the same on which Joshua McGuire settled adjoining the lands of Helvy? bounded by the Brushy Mountain and containing eighty acres more or less.

9th I give to my son Daniel Harman and his heirs forever certain tract or parcel of land on which he now resides excluding the part already bequeathed to my daughter Susan in the 8th preceding clause - the said tract or parcel of land being bounded by Balser? Helvey's lines, Samuel Harman's and Joshua Bence's?.

10th I give to my daughter Anna Murdock and the heirs of her body lawfully begotten to have and to hold forever the Home Place and all other lands adjoining the same to me belonging and not herein before mentioned. All of the bequests herein before mentioned I warrant and defend against me and my heirs forever as far as my just rights extend.

11th I give to my son Samuel Harman and his heirs my negro man Humphrey on this condition that at my death Humphrey be fairly valued and said Samuel Harman after deducting the one tenth as his proportional part pay in property at a fair price on a credit of three years the amount of the valuation to the following nine legates to be equally divided among them viz Henry Harman, Daniel Harman, Elias Harman, Wilbourne Harman, William Harman's heirs, Rhody Harman, Betsey Cubine, Anna Murdock and Nancy McGuire. I also give the said Samuel Harman my negro woman Dina? and her yellow child Frank and it is my desire and will that Frnak be set free at twenty two years of age.

12th It is my will that my negro woman Violet belong equally to Anna Murdock, Betsy Cubine, Nancy McGuire, Rhody Harman and also to my granddaughter Cynthia Harman provided she marry and have children.

13th It is my desire that my daughter Anna Murdock and my granddaughter Cynthia Harman may have two good beds and bedding apiece, two good beasts apiece that can work and plough well and three good cows apiece. And I desire that my smith tools may remain on the home place and belong to Anna Murdock. It is my wish and desire that none of the negroes may be sold out of the family and that they all be well treated and kindly dealth with. It is also my wish that my granddaughter Cynthia may live with Samuel Harman as long as she remains single and that said Samuel Harman be her guardian and treat her as one of his own children.

14th All the rest of my estate both real and personal of what nature or kind so ever it may be not herein before particularly disposed of, I desire may be equally divided among my several children herein before named which I give to them their heirs executors administrators and assigns forever and lastly I do hereby constitute and appoint my son Samuel Harman executor of this my last will and testament.

I make this will with the exception that I have power to revoke or alter the whole or any part thereof during any time of my natural life and this my will and testament is not to be admitted to recorded without my order or until after my death. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my name and affixed my seal.

Elijah Murdock Adam Harman {his seal}

Gideon H. Brashier

Hiram Brashier September 1 day 1831

Virginia. At a Court held for Wythe County at the courthouse on Monday the 10th day of October 1831. This the last will and testament of Adam Harman deceased was presented to the Court, proved by the oath of Gideon H. Brashier and Hiram Brashier subscribing witnesses thereto and ordered to be recorded. And Samuel Harman the executor named in said will came into Court and declined taking upon himself the burthen? of the execution thereof. And at a Court continued and held for said County at the courthouse on Tuesday the 11th day of October 1831. On the motion of Thomas J. Davis who took the oath required by law and together with Daniel Harman and Leonard Phelps his securities entered into and acknowledged bond in the penalty of $1000.00 conditioned as the law directs certificate is granted him for obtaining administration with the will annexed on the estate of Adam Harman deceased in due form.