MASON-L Archives

From: "Kathleen Bowen" <>
Subject: [MASON Surnames] Will of Wm. H. Mason, Culpeper Co., VA, 1849
Date: Thu, 29 Mar 2001 17:36:44 -0500

Hi,
I am transcribng this will exactly as it is written. It was recently
photocopied at the Culpeper County Courthouse and sent to me. Wm. Mason
refers to persons with the surname Spilman as brothers and also as
isters - could they be half-brothers/half-sisters all sharing the same
mother? Any assistance is welcome! I am not sure how the Bowen persons in
the document fit with my other Culpeper Bowen line....

I William H. Mason of the County of Culpeper and the State of Virginia being
of sound and disposing mind, but in a very precarious state of health, do
hereby make this my last will & testament --

1st After all my just debts and funeral expenses have been paid, I give
and bequeath to John a. Spilman in trust, five hundred dollars for the
benefit of Sophia Ann Fishback another children.

2nd I give to each of my brothers John a. Spilman, Fayette F. Spilman,
Edward M. Spilman & Luther R. Spilman twenty dollars, with part or all of
which I wish them to purchase some Keepsake.

3rd I give to William Henry Spilman fifty dollars to be Kept at interest
until he shall be eighteen years old & then expended in a watch with my name
engraved on it.

4th I give to Charles Thornton Burnley (or Bumley? or Brimley? It seems to
be Burnley, but the handwriting is hard to decipher. This surname appears
again, so I will use Burnley...) fifty dollars to be at interest held until
he shall be eighteen years old, and then expended in a watch with my names
engraved on it.

5th I desire that my sister Mary E. Burnley shall take charge of my watch
until Emily Mason Burnley shall be old enough to wear it and then give it to
her.

6th I desire that six breastpins of the value of ten dollars each, having
enclosed in each a lock of my hair, be purchased & presented severally to
Lucy Ann Bowen, Judith E. Bowen, Georgianna Ward, Sally Sowers, Susan Ida
Sowers & Susan E. Ward.

7th The balance of my estate both real and personal, I desire to be
divided between my sisters Lucy E. Burnley and Mary C. Spilman, giving to
Mary C. Spilman one fourth more than Lucy E. Burnley, that portion which may
be allotted to Mary C. Spilman I give and bequeath to John A. Spilman as
trustee for her and her heirs., but if the said Mary C. Spilman should
marry, the said John A. Spilman may. in his discretion, relinquish his
trusteeship and surrender the property to the control of her husband. The
portion that be allotted to Lucy E. Burnley, I give and bequeath to Caleb
Burnley as trustee for her and ehr heirs. The said Caleb Burnley trustee
aforesaid, shall if he chooses, take all my land, at fifteen dollars per
acre.

8th I give my Portonica colt to Mary C. Spilman.

9th I hereby appoint Edward M. Spilman executor of this my last will and
testament.

10th I desire that my executor in the collection of debts from persons in
embarrassed circumstances shall exercise as much leniency as possible and I
authorize him & John A. Spilman and Caleb Burnley in cases of that sort to
make any deduction they may think proper.

In testimony of which I hereby set my hand and seal this 24th day of July
one thousand eight hundred and forty nine.
Test. Wm. H. Mason (seal)
Conway Spilman
Alex. Harris

Culpeper County court August 20th 1849
This last will & testament of William H. Mason dec'd, was produced to the
court and proved by the oaths of Conway Spilman & Alexander Harris, the
subscribing witnesses thereto and ordered to be recorded. And on the motion
of Edward M. Spilman the executor therein named, who made oath thereto, and
entered into bond with security according to law, certificate is granted him
to obtain probate thereof in due form. The security justified.
Teste F.? Mauzy C.C.

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• [MASON Surnames] Will of Wm. H. Mason, Culpeper Co., VA, 1849 by "Kathleen Bowen" <>