Hart Thomas, Will p144 In the name of God amen. Be it remembered that I Thomas Hart of Jefferson county in the state of Virginia, Being weak in body but sound in mind and memory calling to mind that it is appointed unto all men once to die and after death to come to Judgement do therefore commit my soul unto the hands of my mercyfull creator hopeing for salvation and acceptance through the merrits of my dear redeemer and commit my body into the hands of my executors to be burried in the earth in a christian like and decent manner and after my lawfull debts and funeral charges is paid I first give and bequeth unto my beloved wife Nancy Hart my ___ or tenament of land I am now living on with all the rest of my personal property. Excepting my house and lot in Shepherds town and my negro or black woman Rachel by name to be in her possession and for her use as she may think proper during the time she remaineth my widow but in case of her marrying again to be restricted to her third part as the law directs. And it ismy request and positive command that the above named black woman Rachel shall within two months after my death to be well clothed with one long gown and one short gown, one petticoat, two shifts, one pare of shoes, a pare of stockens, one hat and one Hankerchief, all to be new and good over and above what she may have at my death and to have her freedom given her, no longer to be kept in a state of Bondage or servitude and the house and lot above mentioned it is my will that it be sold and the money be given five shillings to my daughter Ester and ten pounds to her oldest daughter and the remainder equally divided between her two oldest sons and I give and bequeth to my grandson Thomas Hart ninety pounds and I give and bequeth to my granddaughter Hetty Hart twenty five pounds and I give and bequeth to my granddaughter Sarah Hart twenty five pounds and I give and bequeth to my granddaughter Elizabeth H?? give pounds and I give and bequeth to my granddaughter Nancy Augustas ten pounds. I give and bequeth to my deceased daughter Marah's two oldest daughters twenty five pounds to each of them I give and bequeth to my daughter Sarah Bennet my house clock over and above her equal or childs share I leave my black man Cua (?) to and at the disposal of my beloved wife as she may think proper with this one restriction only, that said Cua shall have one day in every week besides the sabbath for himself. And I give to my beloved wife ten pounds for the trouble of raising the youngest black child and at her death all the black childred to be (ap)praised and my children hereafter named to have liberty if they see fitt and the black children be willing to go with them to take them at the sums they shall be (ap)praised at if not to be disposed of with the rest of of the property. And it is my will that after the death of my beloved wife that my ____ or tenement of land with the apertanances thereof and all the residue and remainder of my personal estate goods and chattles of what kind and nature soever be by my executors sold and after paying or giving to the afore named legatees the sums or legacies appointed them and affixed to their names, the rest that remains to be equally divided between my children, John Hart, Josiah Hart, Ruth Vanmater and Sarah Bennet, to them their heirs and assigns forever. And I hereby nominate and appoint my trust friends Mason Bennet and Joseph Sweringen executors of this my last will and testament hereby revoking all former will by me made in witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 28th day of August one thousand eight hundred and four, sealed published and delcared by me Thomas Hart (seal) to be my last will and testament in the presence of us John Abell John Miller Cavalier Martin At a court held for Jefferson county the 11th day of December 1804 This last will and testament of Thomas Hart deceased was proved by the oaths of John Abell, John Miller and Cavalair Martin witnesses thereto and ordered to be recorded. And on the motion of Mason Bennet one of the Executors therein named who made oath thereto according to law certificate is granted him for obtaining a probate thereof in due form giving security. Whereupon he together with security entered into and acknowledged bond conditioned as the law directs. By the court Test Geo Hite C H