Page 7
Amelia County continued
Whereas Charles Featherston and Ann M. his wife did on the 23rd day
of October 1813 by deed recorded in the Clerk’s office of the county of Amelia convey
unto John R. Archer and Charles E. Featherston trustees certain property
real and personal mentioned in the said deed to be held by the said trustees upon trust
mentioned in said deed. And whereas it is provided by said deed that I shall have
authority and power by will to direct to whom the said property shall be given at my
death, now therefore in execution of the power conferred on me by said deed I do make the
following disposition and appointments of the said property to wit:
1. The tract of land conveyed by the said deed and all crops and stocks of
every kind, horses, tools, farming implements, wagons that may be on the farm at my death
together with all household and kitchen furniture and all other perishable property of
every description on the premises at my death I direct to be sold by my executors on such
terms as they shall deem best.
2. Out of the proceeds arising from the sales directed to be made by the
preceding clause I direct that a sum of money equal to one fifth of said sales and the
value of all the slaves which I have the power under the said deed to dispose of by will
be invested by my executor in the 6% registered debt of the State of Virginia or such
other public stock as my executors may deem best, the annual interest upon which I give to
my son John R. Featherston during his natural life and at his death I give such
issue to take such part as the deceased parent or parents would have taken if alive at the
death of my said son. But should my son die without issue living at his death then I
give the said capital sum to his brothers and sisters to be equally divided between them
or such of them as may be alive at his death, and the issue of such as may have died
leaving issue, such issue to take such part as their deceased parent or parents would have
taken if alive at the death of my said son.
3. I direct that the whole of the residue of the proceeds arising from the
sales directed by the 1st clause after providing for the investment directed to be made
for my son John and all the slaves which under the deed aforesaid which I have
the power to dispose of by will shall be divided into 4 equal parts, 1 of which is
to include Winney and her 6 children: Emmett, Catherine, Patrick,
Jordan, Phil and Jenny, and the future increase of the females. I give
unto my son Edward A. Featherston absolute property and if the slaves aforesaid
given to Edward A. shall exceed in value of his fourth he is to account for the
excess to his brother Everard M. Featherston and his sisters Martha and Mary
and such excess shall constitute a lein on the said slaves, and I give to my son Everard
M. Featherston in absolute property one other fourth part in which is to be included
a negro woman named Maria who is to be valued at $800, the said woman being now
in the possession of my daughter Martha. I give to my daughter Martha
E. Doty for her sole and separate use during her life free from the debts and control
of her present or any future husband and her death I give to her children living or the
issue of any who may have died leaving issue alive issue to take the part of the parent or
parents should have taken at the death of said daughter, but should said daughter die
without issue living at her death then I give the said fourth to her brothers and sisters
to be equally divided among them or such of them as may be alive at her death and the
issue of such as may have died leaving issue at her death such issue to take part deceased
parent or parents would have taken if alive at the death of my said daughter; and the
remaining one fourth (in which of my daughter Mary) which is to be valued at
$800, I give to my daughter Mary E. Featherston for sole and separate use for her
life free from the debts or control of any husband she may marry and at her death to her
children living at her death and the issue of such as may have died leaving issue living
at her death of such issue to take such part as the deceased parent or parents would have
taken if alive at her death of my said daughter Mary E. Featherston.
4. I have heretofore given to my son William B. Featherston in
various forms more than the shares of his brothers and sisters under the will; I therefore
give him one dollar to show that he is not pretermitted and no more.
5. I appoint my son Edward A. Featherston and Everard M.
Featherston executors of this will having full confidence in their integrity request
that no security may be required of them or their qualifications as executors. In
testimony I have here subscribed my name the fourth day of November in the year 1860.
Signed and acknowledged by Charles H. Featherston in our presence we have in his
presence and in the presence of all others subscribed our names as witnesses to this will
at his request. Pleasant Wilkinson, Charles
F. Williams
This will was entered for probate at August Court 1865 in Amelia County (Will Bk. 19, p.
64)
Edward A. Featherston sold off all the land on Genitoe Road and Horsepen Branch
after which his brothers seem to have left the county. As late as 2 May 1883, he
sold 50 acres of the said tract to Isham Clements for the sum of $300 adjoining
Mt. Tabor Church, Dr. Ben Bennis and the old Genitoe Road, said E. A.
Featherston. (Deeds #56, p. 341)
Edward A. Featherston made his will 3 February 1888:
1st All debts to be paid.
2nd. All estate to be kept together for 2 or 3 years except that I
desire there shall be an appraisement and sale of my
personal effects except as herein
provided and worked under L. J. Featherston’s direction.
3rd. After payments of just debts $3,000 shall be held by W. E.
Coleman as trustee the interest only of which shall to the maintenance and support of
E. M. Featherston and Annie Featherston as long as they live or remain
single, the principle of the said sum never to be touched and the surpls of interest if
any to go to as increase of the principal.
4th. I give $3,000 to be equally divided between my 4 daughters at
the death of E. M. Featherston and Annie
Featherston, her interest to
cease and at her marriage and the whole sum to E. M. Featherston.
5th. Any residue left I will my son Charles is to have
$150.
6th. To L. H. Featherston a bed, bedstead, necessary
convering for the same, say the one he sleeps on, also 1/2 the
corn, oats, fodder and shucks made in the
year 1888 in the year I die; also wheat sown by him.
7th. Sallie Archer my gold spectacles and a Bible.
8th. To E. M. Featherston my wearing apparel.
9th. To my granddaughter Lucy Bendall a colt named Strange
to be kept on the farm until 3 years of age free of
charge.
10th. To L. H. Bendall 1 cow to be selected by himself.
11th. After paying all bequests I give to my sons L. H.
and R. E. Featherston the sum of $500 each.
12th. The residue of estate after paying above bequests shall be
divided among all my children.
13th. W. E. Coleman executor and request the court not to
require any security of him.Witnesses: John A. Gills, M. J. Oliver. The
inventory and appraisement returned 19 July 1888 by M. J. Oliver, J. A. Gills
and J. A. Wills.
(Will Bk.22, p.622)
William
Featherston of Prince George & Amelia