Will of John U. Reeves
Prince William County, Virginia
Will Book R, p. 198-199
5 Apr 1860
Transcription
I, John U. Reeves of the County of Prince William do make and ordain this to be my last Will and Testament, In manner and form as follows. Item the 1st, I give to Mary Elizabeth Savage the daughter of Mary Savage Deceased the lot and house where I now live (which I have purchased of Joseph T. Janney &c) together with all of the furniture that may be in my house at my Death, and I also give to the said Mary Elizabeth Savage above mentioned the sum of three hundred dollars to be paid to her by Executor. Item 2nd, I lend to John Savage son of Mary Savage Deceased the plantation where he now lives which I purchased of William Turner on the following conditions that he is to hold the said plantation during his life and If his present wife should die and he should mary again and have children at his death the said plantation is to be sold and the procedes (sic) of the sale to be Equally divided between all of the children, that he the said John Savage may so have, and In the Event of his not bearing any children as above specified the sale or procedes (sic) of the sale of the said land is to be Equally divided between his Brothers Thomas I. Savage and his sister Susan V. Rankin and Mary E. Savage. Item 3rd, I give to Thomas I. Savage son of Mary Savage, Deceased the sum of two hundred dollars to be held Seven years for him If he does not demand the money at the end of Seven years then It is to be divided between John Savage, Susan V. Rankin and Mary Elizabeth Savage; and In the event that the said Thomas I. Savage should die before the end of seven years without claiming the two hundred dollars on the satisfactory proof of his death then the money and Interest is to be devided as above directed. Item the 4th, I give to Hatty Ellen Rankins child of Susan V. Rankin the sum of one hundred dollars to be paid by my Executor. Item the 5th having bought in partnership with my Brother Thomas I. Reeves of Joseph T. Janney &C a lot on the Warf my Executor is to carry out and comply with my part of said purchase and when the said lot shall be paid for or my portion paid It is to be sold and the money arising from the sale to be equally divided between John Savage, Susan V. Rankins, Thomas I. Savage and Mary E. Savage. Item 6th All of the Remainder of my Estate after paying of my just debts, I leave to be equally divided between John Savage, Susan V. Rankin, Thomas I. Savage and Mary E. Savage to Shear (sic) and shear (sic) alike. Item 7th The two hundred dollars that I have given to Thomas I. Savage is to be paid to him at any time that he may demand it before the end of seven years together with the Interest that may have accrued. Item the 8th I nominate and appoint William G.Brawner my Executor to this my last Will and Testament. Item the 9th I direct that the several amounts that I have given to Susan V. Rankin is not under any Event to be paid to her Husband David Rankin but to be paid to her in her own hands and If my Executor is not justified in paying of the same to her under this clause then the County Court of Prince William County is to appoint a person that shall Receive the same and pay it over to the said Susan V. Rankin or her orders as she may require, I publish this as my last will this fifth day of April Eighteen hundred and sixty. In presents of.W. H. Smoot John U. Reeves (seal)
J. H. Hammill
Edward Hammill
At a Court held for Prince William County July 2nd 1861.
This writing bearing date the 5th of April 1860 purporting to be the last will and testament of John U. Reeves deceased was produced in Court by William G. Brawner the executor therein named and there upon John Mullen by his attorney appeared and opposed the proof of the said writing and it is ordered that the said will be contested at the next term of this Court.
At a Court of Quarterly Sessions held for Prince William County on the 8th August 1861
This same writing was this day again presented to the Court by Wm. G. Brawner the executor therein named and upon the examination of William H. Smoot and Edward Hammill subscribing witnesses to the said will it is the opinion of this Court that the said writing be recorded as the last will and testament of John U. Reeves deceased.
At a Court of Quarterly sessions continued and held the 9th August 1860 (sic 1861) On motion of William G. Brawner the executor named in the last Will and testament of John U. Reeves who made oath thereto and together with R. F. Brawner his security who justified as to his sufficiency entered into and acknowledged the bond in the penalty of Five thousand dollars conditioned as the law directs, Certificate is granted him for obtaining a probate thereof in due form
Teste
M. B. Sinclair Clerk.
Commentery
There is no explanation for the fact that the legatees in the will of John U. Reeves do not include his wife Winifred or any of his children who are documented in land and deed records of Prince William County. There is also nothing to identify what his connection was to the named legatees.As noted in the recording of this will, it was contested presumably by members of his immediate family, but based upon the oaths of the witnesses to the will it was admitted to probate.