I John Lorence of the County of Hardy and State of Virginia being of
sound mind do declare this to be my last will and testatment  that is
after my just debts & funeral Expenses are paid my will is that all my
Estate real & personal be disposed of in the following manner  First I
give & bequeath unto my beloved wife Mary all the Land whereon I now
live & my negro Girl Caty during her life and at her death the Land and
negro to be sold & the money to be devided among my nine children or
their legal representatives in the manner hereinafter directed.  I also
give unto my wife Mary one horse two Cows four Sheep & two hogs her
choice of all my stock should I die possessed of that amount  all the
money I have on hand and so much of all my household & Kitchen furniture
my farming utensils & tools as she may choose to keep.  The residue of
all my personal Estate to be sold & out of the money arising from the
sale my Executors to pay unto my Grandson John Gray Lorence One hundred
pounds & the residue to be put out on Interest untill the sale of Land
& negro then together with the amount of said sale to devided Equally
between my said children after deducting from each share the sum here
-tofore paid without Interest which said sums are as followeth to my
daughter Catharine & John Pankake her husband one hundred dollars to my
daughter Elizabeth Bonnett one hundred dollars to my daughter Mary One
hundred dollars to my son John Lorence Three hundred & thirty six dollars
and sixty four cents to my son Philip Lorence one hundred & fifty dollars
to my son Andrew Lorence two hundred dollars to son Isaac Lorence One
hundred & forty eight dollars & twenty six cents, to my son Abraham Lorence
Two hundred dollars to my son Daniel Lorence One hundred & twenty dollars
& for which several sums I have their bonds which is to be Given up at the
final division  Secondly my will is that my Executors is fully authorised
& requested to sell & convey my Lands in the following manner one third to
be paid down and the balance in two annual payments the purchaser Giving
sufficient security   Lastly my Will is that William Heath & Daniel Lorance
be Executors to this my Last will & testament  Signed & declared In the
presence of us this 14th day of June 1817.

Teste

Isaac Inskeep                            [Johannes Lorentz?]  (Seal)
Joseph Fry
Valentine Simmons

At a Court held for Hardy County the 8th day of July 1817.  This last
will & testament of John Lorence deceased was presented in Court by
Daniel Lorance & William Heath the Executors therein named and proved
by the oaths of the three witnesses thereto and ordered to be recorded
and on the motion of the said Executors a Certificate is Granted them
for obtaining a probate thereof in due form they having taken the oath
of Executors & together with security entered into & acknowledged a
bond conditioned as the law directs

                                        Teste

                                             Ed Williams

Added October 20, 1999