I Alexander Lee of the County of Russell and State of Virginia, being of sound mind and memory, do hereby make, publish and declare this to be my last will and testament, hereby revoking and making void all former wills by me at anytime heretofore made.
First, I desire by body buried in a plain manner and all burial and funeral expenses paid, and all my just debts paid off and discharged as soon after my death as practicable.
Second, I give and bequeath unto my dearly beloved wife Eliza T. Lee, after my just debts are paid off and discharged, all the lands I possess and all the land that may becoming to me, in any way whatever, hereafter, and all my personal property of whatever description, and all the money I may have at ther time of my death, and all my debts owing to me by note or otherwise, to have and to use and control as she may see proper during her natural life, or widowhood.
Third, At the death or marriage of my wife Eliza T. Lee, I desire and direct that all I have give and bequeathed to her, be divided between my children in manner and way hereinafter named.
Forth, I desire and direct that three discreet men of good judgement shall be selected by the children, whose duty it shall be to make assignments in the division of the lands herein before named, and give to each child his or her portion by assignment and not by the drawing of lots, or tickets.
Fifth, I give and bequeath unto Nancy Isabel Hash, wife of M.T. Hash and daughter of my wife Eliza T. Lee, one full share in all my lands, at the death or marriage of my wife Eliza T. Lee, to be assigned to her as herein before named, unto her and her children forever.
Sixth, I give and bequeath untomy daughter Virginia B. Lee, one full share of all my lands at the death or marriage of my wife Eliza T. Lee, to be assigned to her as herein before named, but to be adjoining the part assigned to Wm Alexander Sturat Lee & John S. Lee, unto her alone forever, free from the claimes of all persons whomsoever.
Seventh, I give and bequeath unto my daughter Alice Gose, wife of Wm. H. Gose, one full share in all my lands at the death or marriage of my wife Eliza T. Lee to be assigned to her as herein before made unto her and her children forever.
Eighth, I give and bequeath unto my cripple son John S. Lee one full share in all my lands at the death or marriage of my wife Eliza T. Lee, to be assigned to him as herein before named, but adjoining the part assigned unto Wm. Alexander Stuart Lee.
Ninth, I give and bequeath unto my daughter Frances S. Lee one full share in all my lands at the death or marriage of my wife Eliza T. Lee to be assigned to her as herein before named, unto her and her alone forever.
Tenth, I give and bequeath unto my son William Alexander Stuart Lee, one full share of all my lands and the death or marriage of my wife Eliza T. Lee to be assigned the house, stands, including the spring, and these buildings and sp___ is not to be put in valuation, but the land valued in proportion with the other shares, as though there was no buildings, and improvements on it.
Eleventh, I desire and direct that my crippled son John S. Lee make his home with his brother Wm. Alexander Stuart Lee, and if he, John S. Lee dies unmarried and without children, which is reasonable to believe he will owing to his cripple condition, then what I have herein bequested to him, is to go to his brother Wm. Alexander Sturart Lee, but if John S. Lee should not wish to make his home with Wm. Alexander Stuart Lee, then he shall select any one of his sisters he wishes to live with, and if they will take him, and care for him & treat him kindly, then at his death what I have give him, shall go to the one who has him in charge or care, and not go to Wm. Alexander Stuart Lee, as above directed.
Twelfth, I give and bequeath unto my daughter Virginia B. Lee, in addition to the land hereinbefore bequeathed, fifty dollars to be paid to her by my Executors out of the funds arrising from the sale of my personal property, as hereinafter directed, I also give and bequeath unto her, one horse, one milk cowm and one bedstead, and sufficint covers and blankets for same, to be selected by her.
Thirteenth, I give and bequeath unto my daughter Frances S. Lee, addition to the land hereinbefore bequeathed, one horse, one bridle and saddle, one milk cow, one bed and bedstead, and sufficient covers and blankets for same.
Fourteenth, I give and bequeath unto my son John S. Lee, one horse, bridle and saddle, one bed, bedstead, and sufficient covers and blankets for same., one milk cow.
Fifteenth, I give and bequeath to my son Wm. Alexander Stuart Lee in addtion to the land hereinbefore bequeathed, two horses, or mules, one two horse wagon and harnesses, one milk cow, one bed, bedstead, and sufficient covers and blankets for same, one big plow, one shovel plow, two hoes, one axe, one log chain, one iron wedge, one singletree, one doubletree, one pitchfork, one hand saw, one froe, six of his choice hogs, five head of his choice sheep, two heads of his choice calves, sufficient amount of corn, fodder haye, and oats to supply him through one winter.
Sixteeth, I desire and direct that all my personal estate not hereinbefore disposed off in part, or in whole, to be sold by my Executor, at public sale to the highest bidder on a credit of twelve months with good security and the money arrising from the sale to be collected promptly when due, by my Executor and paid out and distributed equally( except to Virginia B. Lee, and she should be paid fifty dollars more than anyone of the distributees) between before the named children, to wit, Nancy Isabell Hash, wife of M.T. Hash, Virginia B. Lee, Alice Gose, wife of Wm. H. Gose, John S. Lee, Frances S. Lee, and William Alexander Stuart Lee.
Lastly, I hereby constitute and appoint my friend H.H. Dickenson, Executor of this my last will and testament, In witness whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name, and fixed my seal this 16th day of September in the year 1886.
Alexander M. Lee (Seal)
The above foregoing instrument was at the date thereof signed, sealed, published, and declared by Alexander M. Lee, as, and for his last will and testament, in presence of us who at his request and in his presence, and in the presence of each other have subscribed our names as witnesses.
John Gilmer Russell County Virginia
Walter Dickenson Russell County Virginia
At a County Court begun and held for Russell County, at the Court house thereof on Tuesday the 6th day of February 1894. The last will and testament of A.M. Lee deceased was this day produced in court and proven by the oaths of R. Walter Dickenson and John T. Dickenson the two subscribing witnesses thereto who testified that they witnessed said will, at the request of the testator and in his presence and in the presence of each othe the subscribing witnesses thereto, and thereupon said will was admitted to probate and ordered to be recorded.
Teste: L.L. Bays C.C.