In the name of God Amen, I Edward Ware of Amhest County and the Parish of Lexington very sick and weak of body but in perfect mind and memory thanks to God the same, calling to mind the mortality of my body and knowing that it appointed for all once to dye, I do make and ordain this my last will and testament, that is to say principally and first of all I give and recommend my soul to Almighty God that gave it, and my body to the earth to be buried in a Christian like manner, at the discretion of my Executioners nothing doubting but at the general Resurrection I shall receive the same again by the Power of the Almighty God and touching such, worldly estate that has pleased God for to bless me with in this life I give and dismiss and dispose of  the same in the following like manner and form.  I give to Mark Ware five shillings sterling and to each Mark Wares children five shillings sterling.  Item I give James Powell four hundred Acres of land whereon he now live and negro Toby forever;  Item I give to William Powell two hundred and fourteen Acres whereon he now live and negro Gloucester forever;  Item I give  John Powell four hundred Acres of land he now lives on and negro Jeffery forever, one pounds;  Item I give to Edward Powell two hundred Acres of land I now live on and a survey Joyn it and three hundred and fifty one Acres over Pedlar on the Rich Mountain and negro Dina  one feather bed and furniture one horse saddle and bridle, one cow and calf forever;  Item I give Elizabeth Joplin two hundred acres of land joining W. Higginbotham and negro Frank and her increase forever, one feather bed & furniture;  Item I give Anne Campbell half  of that tract of joyning W. Goodman and negro Agg and her increase forever;  Item I give Sarah Ware half of that tract of land joyning W. Gordon and negro Doll and her increase forever and one horse and saddle one cow and calf and one feather bed and furniture;  Item I Lend  my Beloved wife Lettis Ware all my estate that that I have not disposed during my natural Life or widowhood then to be equally divided between James Powell, William Powell, John Powell, Edmund Powell, Elizabeth Jopling,  Anne Campbell, and Sarah Ware.  I also constitute make and ordain James Powell, William Powell, John Powell, Edward Powell the sole executor of this my last will and testament and I do hereby utterly  Disalow Revoke and Dismiss all and every other former will and testament Legacies and bequeathed Ratified and confirmed this and no other to be my last will and testament in witness whereof I have set my hand and seal this first day of June in the year of our Lord one thousand Seven hundred and Seventy Nine.

Signed  sealed and published pronounced and delivered by the said Edward Ware as his last will and testament in the presence of us.

Peter Carter

Elizabeth McCullock

Roderick MCCullock

At a Court held for Amherst County the third day of July 1786, this last will and testament of Edward Ware deceased was this day presented in court by James and William Ware alias Powell two of the executors thereon named and proved by the oath of Peter Carter and Roderick McCullock, witnesses thereto, whereupon the said executors with Thomas Lucas and John Crawford their suritys entered into and acknowledged their bond as the penalty of five thousand pounds and took the oath required by law the said will was ordered to be recorded.

Test:

Wm.  Loving Clk.

Source:  Will Book 3, Amherst County Circuit Court Clerk’s Office, Amherst Virginia