Dated 9 February 1871
Updated November 24, 2022
I, Bettie M. GILLIAM, formerly Bettie M. Taylor being in sound mind, give the following property left me by my mother, Mrs. Catherine [Randolph] Taylor, and now held in the hands of my father, Mr. Geo. Taylor, to persons named hereafter in this my only and last will.
If my child should live, I leave to my husband, Mr. John GILLIAM, the use of all I die possessed of for his support and the support and education of my child until the child arrives at the age of twelve years, being the year 1883. This to my husband, Mr. John GILLIAM, the use of half my property I die possessed of for his own benefit during his life at his death to go to my child. The other half to my child from the age of twenty-one for its sole use and benefit as I wish and require it to have every advantage of education.
If my child is a boy he is to receive at the age of twenty-one sole possession of the principal of half I die possessed of, if a girl I give the interest to her from the age of twelve years for her sole use and benefit of half I die possessed of the principal settled on her and her children for their lives. If she has no children to be willed by her to any person she chooses. I also settle upon her and her children for their sole use and benefit the property she receives at the death of her father to be willed by her if she has no child living to any person she chooses.
I leave my sister, Mrs. Lucie P. Lee, the money I advanced her on the two thousand dollars left her by our mother and still held by my father for which her husband and herself gave me a bond which bond so mentioned in my marriage settlement and which I require my trustee to collect and hand to my sister, Mrs. Lucie P. Lee.
To my sister, Mrs. N. R. Whittle, I give any money she owes me, also the bond of her late husband I held for money loaned him and the interest thereon.
To my brother, Mr. John P. Taylor, all money I loaned him with the interest thereon not meaning to include the two thousand dollars ($2000) bond of which my father is security.
If my child should die before it arrives to the age of twenty-one I give on its death at once to my husband, Mr. John GILLIAM, in fee simply the sum of ten thousand dollars ($10,000) and the rest of my property I die possessed of to be equally divided between by two nieces Kate R. Whittle and Catherine R. Lee to be settled on them and their children for their sole use and benefit. If they are without children they can will it to any person they may select. I hope my other nieces and my nephews will not think I love them less than my two nieces named, for I do not, but so little divided between so many would do no one much good, so I thought it best to give it to the two named after the person from which the property came.
My brother, Mr. John P. Taylor, as trustee in my marriage settlement as thought by some persons to have allowed me to spend certain sums of money for my use and benefit for which he held my receipts from me otherwise than as the marriage settlement requires, I as it is thought he may be held responsible hereafter, I here give him all such sums if he should ever be called upon by anyone to repay them or should ever be sued by any legatee of mine for such sums I revoke the legacy to the legatee so suing and give the legacy to my brother Mr. John P. Taylor, my trustee.
If my child lives, I leave it all silver I die possessed of, and if a girl, all silver and jewelry except my watch and chain and pin belonging to the watch which I leave my niece Kate R. Whittle, and my pearl earrings and pin, with my sister, Mrs. Lucie P. Lee, pearls which I give my niece Catherine R. Lee.
If my child dies, I give my silver cup to C. Carter Lee, my god-child, and the silver castors to Kate R. Whittle and the silver tankard to Kate R. Whittle, if the two latter are not claimed by my father. My other silver given me when I was married, I wish my husband to use as long as he wishes, and if my child dies, then to divide it between my three nieces Nannie C., and Mary J. Whittle and Mildred Lee, except the box of silver given me by Kate Mayo which I hope she will use for my sake, and these two little pickle forks given me by Eddie and [space] Mayo which I give them with my love. If my child dies I wish my jewelry divided between Nannie C. and Mary D. Whittle and Mildred Lee except the mourning pin with my mother’s and my uncle’s hair in it which I give to Catherine Lee.
In giving the property to my two nieces, Kate R. Whittle and Catherine R. Lee, in case of my child’s death before it arrives at the age of twenty-one, I do not mean to include the sums given above to my two sisters and my brother. I wish my husband to keep the furniture in our chamber for his own use and any other he may wish for his use or the use of our child. The rest, I would like him to divide between my nieces Nannie C. and Mary D. Whittle and Mildred Lee.
I leave my husband, John GILLIAM, and my brother, John P. Taylor, executors of my estate and require no security to be given by them.
I do most solemnly swear this will be written entirely by me the contents not being known to any other human being not having been seen by any one and I also swear it to be my only and last will, written this ninth day of February Eighteen hundred and seventy-one and signed by me.
Sig: Bettie M. GILLIAM
Powhatan County, Thursday 9th February 1871
In Powhatan County court June 3rd 1872,a writing purporting to be the last will and testament of Bettie M. Gilliam decd was presented in court and John C. Lawton, and Will’m U. Kennon being first duly sworn depose and say that they are and acquainted with the handwriting of the said Bettie M. Gilliam decd and that they said writing the signature as well as the body thereof is as they verily believe wholly in the handwriting of the said Bettie M. Gilliam dec’d. Whereupon it is ordered that the said writing be recorded as the true last will and testament of Bettie M. Gilliam decd and on motion of John P. Taylor one of the executors in the will named who took the oath of executor entered into and acknowledged a bond in the penalty of $50000.00 conditioned as the law directs. The said will directing that no security should be required of him a certificate is granted him for obtaining probate f said Will in due form, liberty being reserved to John Gilliam the other executor of said will named to join in the probate when he shall think fit. At a court held for the said County on the 1st day of July 1872. On the motion of John Gilliam the other executor in said will named, he entered into and acknowledged a bond in the like penalty of $50000.00 conditioned as the law directs certificate is granted him to be joined in the probate of said Will.
Teste
Wm Flanagan, CC
Know all men by these presents that I John P. Taylor am held and firmly bound to the Commonwealth of Va in the just and full sum of $50,000 to the payment whereof ___ and ___ to be made to the said Commonwealth I bind myself and heirs, executors and administrators firmly to these presents. Sealed with my seal and dated this 3rd day of June in the year one thousand eight hundred and seventy-two and on the 96th of the Commonwealth.
The condition of the above obligation is such that the above bound Jno P. Taylor, Executor of Bettie M. Gilliam decd shall faithfully discharge the duties of his said office or trust then the above obligation is to be void or sled to remain in full force and virtue.
Sig: Jno P. Taylor
In Powhatan County Court, June 3, 1872
This bond was executed and acknowledged in open Court by the obligor to the same and ordered to be recorded $15.00 in United States Internal Revenue stamps being attached cancelled
Teste
A Mayo, CC
Powhatan County, VA, Will Book 17, Page 236
Sources
- Powhatan County, VA, Will Book 17, Page 236