Transcribed Will of Mary Bell Peirce

Date: [unknown] [unknown]
Location: Wythe, Virginia, United States

Transcribed Will of Mary (Bell) Peirce (abt.1777-1858)

Source Citation

Wills, 1790-1906; General Index to Wills, 1790-1911; Author: Virginia. County Court (Wythe County); Probate Place: Wythe, Virginia Wythe, Wills, vol 9-10, 1855-1865, image 228 of 714

In the name of God amen, I Mary Peirce of Wythe County being of sound mind and disposing memory do hereby make and publish this my last will and testament in manner following

First, I give and bequeath unto my grand children Mary Bell, Harold, William, Charles, Malvina, and David Mathews, children of my deceased daughter Maria Mathews all the interest in the lead mine property in Wythe County which I acquired and now hold by purchase from my son in law Alexander S Mathews and Maria his wife to be enjoyed by them equally: And as my said grand children are all infants, I hereby appoint Alexander N Chaffen a trustee to manage the property and interest hereby bequeathed for them until the males severally attain the age of twenty one years and the females – either attain age or marry, the said interest in said property together with all profits which shall be derived therefrom to be managed by the trustee aforesaid for the exclusive use and benefit of my grand children before named, and if any of them shall die before attaining age – in case of the males or before attaining age or marrying in the case of the females then the survivors are to take equally the share or shares of their deceased brothers or sisters.

2nd. I bequeath to my aforesaid grand daughter Mary Bell Mathews, a negro girl named Emily.

3. I bequeath to my grand son David Mathews a negro boy named Josephus.

4. I bequeath to my grand son David Graham a negro boy named George.

5. I bequeath to James Henry son of my deceased grand daughter Lucy Auman fifty dollars.

6. I bequeath to my grand daughter Emily Crockett two hundred dollars.

7. I bequeath to my grand daughter Virginia Miller my {bureau} one bed furniture, my {scot} carpet, clock and wardrobe.

8. To my grand daughters Laura and Victoria Miller I bequeath all my table furniture of every description together with my window curtains to be equally divided between them and each of them one feather bed and furniture.

9. I bequeath to my grand daughter Laura Miller my carriage and harness.

10. I hold three notes executed to me by my son James in his life time. These notes I direct shall be given to his three children by his first wife for their exclusive benefit. I have heretofore advanced money for the education of these children of my said son James and expect to future advances for the same purpose. I therefore direct that these advances are not to be charged to them by my executor it being a mere gratuity on my part.

11. To my grand daughter Martha Pepper I bequeath one hundred [one line lost].

12. To my grand children Sally, Florance, and Joseph Peirce children of my son Alexander Peirce, two hundred dollars each.

13. To my grand son James B Miller I devise all the interest in the Wythe lead mines which I acquired by purchase in conjunction with the Wythe Union Lead Mine Company from my son Alexander Perice.

14. To the children of my grand son David Perice now living I bequeath the sum of four hundred dollars to be equally divided between them.

15. To my daughter Elizabeth Chaffen I bequeath a negro woman named Charlotte, my sideboard, sofa and cane bottom chairs.

16. To my daughter Patsey Graham I bequeath one thousand dollars, my purple carpet my shovel tongs and fender

17. To my daughter Malinda Watson I bequeath one thousand dollars and my {palin glapes}.

18. To my grand daughter Mary Watson I bequeath four hundred dollars.

19. To my grand daughter Mary Graham I bequeath a negro girl named Martha and one feather bed and furniture.

20. To my grand daughter Elizabeth Graham and Emily Marie Graham I bequeath one hundred and fifty dollars each.

21. To my grand daughter Mary Fox I bequeath a negro girl named Mary, one feather bed and furniture also my {tross and jams}

22. To my grand daughter Mary Bowen I bequeath a negro girl named Betsey which she has already received, one feather bed and furniture.

23. To each my grand daughters Mary Bell Peirce and Mary Graham one feather bed and furniture.

24. I bequeath to the trustees of Bethney Church in Wythe County the sum of five hundred dollars for the exclusive use and benefit of said church to be applied in such was as they may deem best for the interest of the said church.

25. To my grand son David Watson I bequeath two hundred dollars.

26. I direct that my executor shall sell the residue of my estate not herein before specifically devised and out of the proceeds of the sale together with any other estate which may belong to me at my death and not disposed of by any of this will, he shall pay my just debts and funeral expenses and divide the {???} equally amongst such of my grand children as have not been named or accorded a legacy under this will.

27. I hereby revoke and annul all wills heretofore made and publish this true last will and testament.

28. I appoint David Graham executor of this will.

In testimony of all which I have hereunto set my hand seal this 30th day of May 1857. - Mary Peirce

Signed and acknowledged in our presence - And S Fulton, Walter McGhee

Virginia. At a court held at the Courthouse on Monday the 9th of August 1858. This last will and testament of Mary Peirce deceased was presented in court by the oaths of Andrew S Fulton and Walter McGhee the subscribing witness thereto and ordered to be secured.

And in the motion of David Graham the executor named in said will who took the oath required by law and together with Robert Gibboney, Charles C Tate, Thomas Morrison, Robert Raper and M B Tate his securities entered into and acknowledged above in the penalty of fifty thousand dollars {anortimed} as the law directs certificate is granted herein for obtaining probate of said will in due form. – A J Mathews Clerk

[I have transcribed Mary’s surname in several different ways – attempting to closely reflect the script as it appears on the will pages. The name is spelled so many ways here and in other documents, that I frankly do not have any opinion as to which version is “correct”.]

[Note that if you search for this will in Ancestry, it is found under the name Mary Price.]

[Note that { } signifies a questionable transcription and [ ] signifies a transcriber’s comment.]

Transcribed by Rick Fryrear on 17 January 2024.