Loudoun County, Virginia

Will Book B, pp. 348-349

In the name of God, Amen.  I, Jacob Coutzman, of County of Loudoun and State of Virginia, being weak and low in body but of sound and perfect memory, do make this my last Will and Testament in the manner and form following.

Imprimis.  I give and bequeath unto my beloved wife Catherine one feather bed and its furniture, one cow of her own choosing, a third part of the household furniture (not including the beds and their furniture nor the furniture of my shop).  I give her also my shirts.  It is my will that my said wife have the sole use of the lot I purchased of Sebastian Houpt so long as she chooses to dwell thereon and it is my desire that my executors do have the house thereon repaired for her reception as soon as convenient and that on her death or absenting from the said lot, it be appropriated for the use of my children.  I give her my gold sleeve buttons, also five barrels of corn, 200 pounds of pork and seven loads of wood yearly so long as my estate continues to raise these articles and she residing convenient to receive them.  And I also give her five hundred pounds to be paid her by my executors as soon as possible.

Secondly I give and devise unto my children (after the payment of my just debts), to wit, Hannah, Louisa, Jacob, Clarissa and Catherine, all the residue of my estate both real and personal (except as hereafter excepted) that is to say a Negro boy named Tom, together with my silver shoe, knee and stock buckles, also my gold broach which I give unto my son Jacob so soon as he is of age above the dividend with the rest of my children to be divided equally among them, share and share alike, and the child my wife now appears to be enceinte of, when born shall be taken care of at the expense of my estate and the mother shall be at liberty to keep it provided she will keep on the same terms that another person will undertake it.  And should this child arrive to full age it shall be entitled to a share of my estate equal to my other children.

Thirdly, my will is that my executors, as soon as any of my children is married or becomes of age, that they make sale of my estate in order for a division among my children unless my executors can make satisfaction to the child so married or become of age without sale being made should such sale appear to them injurious to the younger children, that if any of the children die before they are of age, the estate shall be divided among the surviving children.

Fourthly, it is my will that my executors may sell what part of my estate they may find necessary for the payment of my debts and education of my children or their support otherwise.

Lastly, reposing special confidence in my worthy friends, Mr. James Kirk, Samuel Murray, John Reigor and Patrick Cavans, I hereby nominate them guardians for my children and executors of this my last Will and Testament, revoking all others.  In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 22nd day of June 1780.                             Jacob Coutzman

In the presence of us, William Taylor, George Rine and John Harris

At a Court held for Loudoun County July the 10th, 1780

This will was proved by the oath of William Taylor, a witness thereto and at another court continued and held for the said county, to wit, the 14th day of August in the year aforesaid, was fully proved by George Rine, another witness thereto and ordered to be recorded.  And on the motion of Patrick Cavans, one of the executors therein named who made oath according to law (the other executors having refused to qualify) certificate is granted him for obtaining a probate thereof in due form, he giving security.  Whereupon the said Patrick, with Henry McCabe and William Smith, his securities, entered into and acknowledged their bond in the penalty of two hundred thousand pounds conditioned as the law directs.