As promised, the will of Major Charles Ewell, from our last post. A visit from my grandchildren made this post a little late. I’m sure you understand. It was their first visit since April when they moved to Canada.

Will of Major Charles Ewell

McCracken County Will Book A, Pages 18-19

In the name of God, amen.  I, Charles Ewell, of the County of McCracken and State of Kentucky, being sick and weak in body but of sound mind and disposing memory (for which I thank God) and calling to mind the uncertainty of human life and being desirous to dispose of all such worldly estate as it has pleased God to bless me with, I, Charles Ewell, of the county and state aforesaid do hereby make my last will and testament in manner and form as follows, to wit.

First.  I desire and bequeath to my beloved wife, Maria Dorcas Ewell, two Negro slaves, to wit, Jerry and Fanny, during her natural life, and after her death to be divided according to the provisions of a deed of trust given by me and recorded in Prince William County, Virginia.

Secondly.  It is my wish and desire that the balances of the debts due me from James Craik of Virginia, be collected and appropriated to the use and benefit of my beloved and dutiful son, John Ewell, in providing for his education.

Thirdly.  I give and bequeath to my four grandchildren, (namely), Joseph Fry, Edwin Henry, Sarah Ann and Lucy Ewell, one thousand acres of land of my three-thousand-acre survey, agreeable to my promise to said children’s father, to be equally divided amongst my aforesaid grandchildren in manner and from, to wit.  Joseph Fry Ewell to have his part of said tract of land laid off in the north-west corner, Edwin Henry Ewell to have his part of said tract of land laid off in the south-west corner, Sarah Ann Ewell to have her part laid off in the south-east corner, and Lucy Ewell to have her part laid off in the north-east corner of said tract of land, to have and to hold, to them and their heirs forever.

Fourthly.  I give and bequeath to Thomas Taylor and Martha, his wife, fifty acres of land on which they now reside, bounded by my north line, to have and to hold, during their natural lives.

Fifthly and further, it is my wish and desire that my executrix hereafter to be appointed, either by herself, her agents or attorneys, is hereby fully authorized to sell and convey all my lands in Virginia to the best advantage.  Namely, my well-known tract of land called Milford, including the mill and appurtenances thereto belonging.  One small tract of land on the north side of said Milford farm, purchased of Mr. Brown.  One tract of land on Quantico Creek called Young’s tract and one other tract of land on Chopawamsic Creek, purchased of Jesse Ewell, our town lot in Dumfries, Virginia, on which there is a store house and our other back lot and garden adjoining thereto, all of which property I wish sold to the best advantage and all my debs due or that may become due I wish collected and after all my just debts are paid, the balance of the money arising from the sale of said property and the money in the hands of my said executrix from he collection of my debts shall be equally

divided between my two children, John and Maria Virginia Ewell, and my four grandchildren, Joseph Fry, Edwin Henry, Sarah Ann and Lucy Ewell.  And further it is my wish that the money which shall be due or to which my four grandchildren will be entitled upon a distribution shall be retained in the hands of my executrix, or shall be placed in the hands of some person that she may designate to be held in trust for said children, to be applied towards their education while in their infancy and the balance of their several shares, if any remaining to be paid to them when they become of age.

And lastly, I do hereby constitute and appoint Maria Dorcas Ewell, my loving and affectionate wife, executrix of this my last will and testament, hereby revoking all other or former wills or testaments heretofore made by me.  In witness whereof I have hereunto affixed my hand and seal this twenty-third day of March, eighteen hundred and thirty.

Charles Ewell

Signed, sealed, published and declared as and for the last will and testament of the above-named Charles Ewell in presence of us – A. W. Naylor, Lucy L. Taylor

State of Kentucky, McCracken County Court

I, Braxton Small, Clerk of the County Court for the county aforesaid, do hereby certify that at a court held for the county aforesaid at the courthouse in Wilmington on the 10^th day of May 1830, the within and foregoing last will and testament of Charles Ewell, deceased, was produced to the court by the executrix therein named and proven by the oaths of A. W. Naylor and Lucy L. Taylor (subscribing witnesses thereto) to be the true last will and testament of the said decedent and ordered to be recorded.  In testimony whereof, and that the same, together with this certificate, stands truly recorded in my office.  I have hereunto set my hand this 11th day of May 1830.  B. Small