WILL OF BAZIL RIGGS 

Bazil Riggs lived north of St. Marys in what is now Pleasants
County WV. Note that he was a slave holder. 

Will Book 1, pg. 127 Tyler Co. WV 

Copied by M. Grace Nett, March 2005 from copy obtained by Gerald Bills. 

Bazil Riggs Last Will and Testament 

In the name of God Amen, I Bazil Riggs of the county of Tyler and state
of Virginia, being sick and weak in body but of a sound mind and memory,
Considering the certainty of death and the uncertainty of the time thereof
being desirous to settle my worldly affairs and thereby be the better
prepared to leave this world when it shall please God to call me home, do
therefore publish this my last will and testament in manner and form
following that is to say. First and principally, I commint my soul into
the hands of Almighty God and my body to the earth to be decently buried
and after the expenses of my last sickness and burial and debts are paid
I devise and bequeath as follows:
     Towit: First I give to my daughter Harriet all my household and kitchen
furniture and I further will and devise to her three fourths of all my
home farm containing one hundred and seventy four acres. Excepting thirty
acres lying back of the farm owned by William Hammond and to be divided so
that my daughter Harriet’s share will lay at the (corner) and to have
during her natural life and should she marry and have children the same
to belong to her heirs; otherwise to impart to my natural and legitimate
heirs.
 
Secondly to my dear son Bazil W. Riggs and Deborah his wife I give and
bequeath during their natural life a certain lot of land known as lot N6
of the land formerly belonging Abraham Larues and at their death to belong
to their legitimate children. 

Thirdly, It is my wish that the remaining one fourth of my home farm and
the thirty acres lying back of the Hammond farm together with all my
personalty estate not otherwise divided shall be sold and after paying my
debts to be divided as follows;
     Towit:First I give to my dear son Isaac fifty dollars including twenty
five dollars which he is indebted to me. To my dear son Greenbury twenty five
dollars, to my dear son William twenty five dollars. To my dear daughter
Susan twenty five dollars and secondly the residue to be divided equally
among et all my children. 

Fourthly, I give to my son James the two hundred dollars which he has
received. To my son Hezekiah I give the two hundred dollars which he has
in his own hands. To my son Squire I give one hundred and fifty six dollars
which sum he is indebted to me. And to my son Edmond who owes me one hundred
and forty dollars, I give forty dollars and I give him two years to pay the
one hundred to be divided amongst my heirs equally. 

Fifthly, It is my desire that my black boy Jack shall at the expiration of
six years be free and that should he be a faithful and good servant until his
28 years of age, then shall be give him a good horse saddle and bridle from
that farm. It is also my desire that my black woman Sally remain in the family
her life time and it is further my desire that the small black girl Joan shall
belong to my dear daughter Harriet her heirs or assigns. 

Sixthly, It is my request and will that my daughter Harriet shall raise and
take care of my grandson Porter Riggs and I leave it to her discretion to give
him anything, and in case of her death my administrators must take care of him. 

Seventhly, I do hereby appoint my son Hezekiah of Washington County, Ohio, and
my son Greenbury of Tyler County Virginia to be the administrators of this my
last will and testament revoking all others and ratifying and confirming this.
 
In testimony where of I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 19th day of
October in the year of our Lord 1844

Bazil Riggs (seal) 
signed, sealed and published and declared by Bazil Riggs as and for his last will
and testament in the presence of us who at his request and in his presence have
subscribed our names as witnesses thereto

Joseph Taylor
James L. Bailey
Edmund Riggs 

Tyler County Court December ----1850 This last will and testament of Bazel
Riggs deceased was presented in court and proven by the oaths of Joseph Taylor
and James L. Bailey subscribing witnesses to the same and ordered to be recorded. 

-----D. Hickman Clerk