Democratic Sentinel, Volume 5, Number 3, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 February 1881 — Curious Historical Relic. [ARTICLE]

Curious Historical Relic.

THE LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT OF THE MOTHER OF GEORGE WABHUGTOIRev. J. C. Cruikshank, th® Superintendent of Schools in Passaic county, New Jersey, recently paid a visit to his son in Kittrell, N. C., and there accidently made the acquaintance of a gieat nephew of George Washington, a gentleman named Charles A. Thornton. The latter is a prominent gentleman in Kittrell, and had in his possession many interesting relics connected with the history of the Father of His Country. Among others was the last will and testament of Mrs May Washington, the mother

General, au old document almost illegible with age and threatening to crumble to pieces by handling. Mr. Cruikshank requcited a eony of it aud Mr. Thornton furnished it, together with agenealogy of the family. The following is a copy of the will as furuisbed to Mr. Cruikshank by Mr. Thornton: THE WILL.

Iu the* name of God—Amen.—l May Washington, of Fredericksburg, in the C unty of Spottsylvania, being in good health but calling to mind the uncertainty of this Life, and willing to dispose of my Worldly Estate, do make and Publish this my last Will, recommending my Soul into the Hands of my Creator, hoping for the remission of all my Sins, through the Merits and Meditation of Jesus Christ the Saviour of Mankind. I dispose of all my Worldly Estate as follows: — Imprimis. —I give to my Son, General George Washington, all my Lauds on Aecokak Run, in the County of Stafford,*aud also my negro boy George, to him a®d his Heirs forever; also my best bed, bedstead and Virginia Cloth Curtains (the same that stand in my best Room,) my quilted blue and White Quilt, and my best dressing glass. Item.—l give and devise to my Son, (Diaries Washington, mv negro man Tom, to him and his Assigns for Ever. Item.—l give and devise o my Daughter, Betty Lewis, my Pha®t®n aud my bay horse. Item.—l give to my Daughter in Law, Hannah Washington, my purple Cloth Cloak lined with Shag, Item I give and devise to my Grad Son, Corbin Washington, my ne ro Wench Old Bet, my riding Chair, and two black horses, to him and his assigns for Ever. g|ltem. I give and devise to my srand Son Fielding Lewis, my negro man Frederick, to him and his As--B’gns for ever; also my Eight Silver table Spoons, half of my Crockery Ware, and the blew and Whir® Tea China, my Walnut book Case, ovel Table, one Bed. bedstead, one Pr. Sheets, one Pr. blankets, and White Cotton Counteipain, Two table Gloat hs, Six Red Leather Chairs, half of Pewter, and ®ne half of my Iron Kitchen Furniture. Item. —I give and devise to my grand Son, Lawrence Lewis, my negro Wench Lydia, to him and his Assigns for ever. Item.—l give and devis® to my grand daughter, Betty Carter, my negro Woman Little Bet, and her future increase, to her and her assigns for ever, also my largest looking glass, my Walnut Writing Desk, — with Drawers—and square dining table, one Bed. Bed Stead, bolster and pillows, one blanket, one Pr. Sheets, White Virginia Cloth Counterpain and purple curtains, niy Red and White China, tea spoon®, and the other half of my pewter, Croekerv Ware, and the remainder of my Iron Kitchen Furnitur®. Item.—l give to my grand son George Washington, my next best Dressing Glass, and Bed, Bed Stead, bolster, one pillow, on® blanket, one pair Sheets and Counterpain. Item. —I devise all my wearing apparel to be equally divid®d between .my grand Daughters, Betty Carter, Fanny Bail and Millie Washington, but should my daughterßetty Lewis, fancy any one, two or tnree articles, She is to have a division thereof. Lastly —I nominate and appoint j my said son General George Wash--1 ington, executor of this my Will—and as I owe few or no debts—l direct my exeoutor to give no security, nor to appiaise my estate, but desire the same muy be alloted to my devises wilh as little trouble and delay as may be, desiring their acceptance thereof as all the t®ken of my love I now. have to give them. Iu witness whereof I have hereunto set my hanfl seal this 20th, day of May 1780. xVlay Washington. Signed, sealed and published in the presence, and signed by us in the presence of the sd. May Washington, and at her desire. f John Fornee Hough, Witness ' James Meener, ( Joseph Walker. The Charles Washington, to whom “my negro man Tom” is devised in the first item, was the great grand father of Mr. Thornton, and the grand»on George Washington, referred to in the seventh item, was the grandfather of Mr. Tharnton. Kentland News; Our neighbor who pushes th® quill in the Rensselaer “Republican” office for th® edification of the people residing in the jack oak and cotton wood swamps of Jasper <ounty has been reliably informed that the coal fields in the northern part of Benton county have be®n “salted” and that weuns have been humbugged. It may be that our jealous neighbor derives some satisfaction from such unfounded rumors and if so we are glad. We always like to know that people are happy. In the meentime we learn that th» Hoss brothers will continue to go down after the coal. Remember that. We hope they will, and wish that they may find it in abundance. We are sorry, however, that Bro. Eastburn has permitted himself to become aggravated at the uncalled for expressions of your ‘neighbor who , pushes the quill in the Rensselaer j “Republican” office,’ and be led to 1 allude to Jasper county and her peo--1 pie in unbefitting terms. Out neighbor is anew hand at the bellows,due allowance should be made and, even though he may harbor the hallucination that he is a ”natural-born editor and journalist,” Bro. E. should not destroy his self-complacency by imputing to him ‘jealousy. Perish the thought! Monticello Herald: Abby Sage Richardsen is on the list of the Jeffersonian Club for the present lecture course.

Michigan City Enterprise: Thursday evening ®f last week while skating out ou the harbor, just below the draw bridge, Miss Eupha Miller youngest daughter of Chaplin Milkr, was precipitated Into the water, by the breaking es the lee. In trying to reseue her, W. L. Chase also fell io. Miss Eupha had the remarkable presence of mind to eling to the edge of the ice with the toe of her skate and her fingers, until her companion had regained the solid aud could reseue her from her hazardous position. Ir | was a narrow escape for both parties and should bo a warning to skaters who venture on the harbor ice.