Thought all of you related to the line of Richard Ledbetter (b. Aug. 12, 1717 and d. 1749) married to Mary Walton (b. Oct. 23, 1711 and d. July 17, 1779) would like to see Mary's last will and testament: Will of Mary Walton, written Nov. 23, 25 and 28th, 1778 and recorded July 26, 1779 in Brunswick County, Virginia with son George and daughter Mary Bradley administrators per Will Book 5/57: "In the name of God Amen, I Mary Ledbetter of the County of Brunswick in the State of Virginia being sick and weak in body but of perfect sound sense and memory and calling to mind the mortality of my body knowing that is is appointed unto all men once to die I make and ordain this my last will and testament in manner and form following revoking and disannulling all other wills heretofore made by me. Item, I give and bequeath my soul into the hands of the Almighty God who gave it to me, and trusting his memory for a general pardon of all my sins through my blessed savior and Redeemer. Item, my will is that two hogshead of tobacco that I left in the hands of my son Isaac Ledbetter when I moved down to the place where I now live should be sold and a sufficiency of my estate to pay all my just and lawful debts. Item, I give and bequeath to my eldest son, Isaac Ledbetter one negro fellow named Thomas and five pounds good and lawful money of Virginia to him and his heirs or assigns forever. Item, I give and bequeath to my son George Ledbetter all the land belonging to me on the south side of the Creek called Little Creek up to the Nathan Harris land and also beginning at a line one hundred yards below a hill called Douglas Hill on the same side of the Creek as the hill is off the line to run a direct south-east course from the said place on Rattlesnake Creek to my line toward Jordan's Ford and all the land up from the said line to Nathan Harris's. I give to him or assign forever also a negro boy named Hercules. Item, my will and desire is that when as there is or is likely to be a contract between my daughter Mary, the late wife of John Bradley deceased and my son Richard Ledbetter his heirs or assigns a good and lawful right to a tract of land lying on Broad River in North Carolina. Where on John Bradley deceased formerly lived then I give my land and Plantation not here to fore given to my said daughter her heirs or assigns forever, but if my said daughter Mary should not make my son Richard her heir or assigns a good right to the said land on Broad River then I give my land and Plantation to my son Richard his heirs or assigns forever. I give and bequeath to my son Richard one negor girl named Ligg to him, his heirs or assigns forever. Item, I give and bequeath to my daughter Sarah Merick three hundred pounds to her heirs or assigns forever to be paid by my executors. I give and bequeath to my three daughters one deep dish and pewter basin, the eldest to take first choice and so on. Item, all my estate be it of what kind or quality my desire is that it should be sold to the highest bidder for ready money and the money from the sales to be equally divided among all of my children after all above mentioned in the will be paid. Item, I do appoint my son George Ledbetter and my daughter Mary Bradley to be my executor fo this my last will and testament, as witnessed my hand and seal this 25th day of November 1778. Signed, sealed and acknowledged in witness of mark Teste Mary W "X" Ledbetter (L.S. Gideon Harris Her At a court held in Brunswick County the 24 day Patience "X" Lane of July 1779 this will was proved according Catherine "X" Harris to law and the oaths of Gideon Harris and mark Catherine Harris Witnessed there to and ordered to be recorded ************************* Sincerely, Neil Smith