The Pettit Correspondent, Vol. 1, No. 1, page 4 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Will of James Pettit of Ohio County, Virginia - 1823 The following is recorded in Perry Co., OH. It may well be that the William Pettit mentioned in this record is the same that died in Perry County on December 18, 1881. This man was known to have been born in VA (1789) and to have come to Ohio from Wheeling, Ohio County, VA sometime after 1824 (the birth of son William H.). According to an article written by James L. Pettit (Perry County History, page 188) William's family had gone west to Virginia from Harrisburg, PA. James Pettit and his brother Alexander, also mentioned below, are found on the Ohio County, VA federal census records for the years 1810 and 1820. ---------------------- In the name of God amen I James Pettit of the County of Ohio in the state of Virginia do make this my last will and testament. First I give to my son William my household furniture. 2nd I give to my grand son James Pettit son of William Pettit all my stock of hogs and Cattle for the use and support of my said grand son his brothers and sisters. 3rd I do will and desire that my executors herein after named at such time and upon such (terms?) as they deem most for the interest of the Children of my son William and his wife Elizabeth sell and convey my trust of land whereon + now live and out of the proceed of such sale to pay my daughter Sidney Thomson one hundred Dollars that my executors retain fifty Dollars to be by them (safely?) loaned on interest and to be by them (----ed) to pay for the tuition of my son Williams children and the balance of the money arising from such sale of my lands aforesaid to be vested by my said executors in (Congress?) lands or if my executors shall deem it more for the advantage of those (--) of my grand Children interested they may vest it in good lands within a small improvement the title of the lands so purchased to be held by my said executors in trust for the use of the children of my said son William by his wife Elizabeth. 4th I do desire that my son continue to ocupy [sic] the cabin he now ocupys until after the farm is sold by my executors. 5thly it is my will that my said executors do rent my plantation receive all rents that may fall due after my death until my said trust of land is sold by them and apply the rents to the support of my said son Williams children. (6thly it is?) my will that my son William and his wife Elizabeth do select one hundred acres of the land herein before directed to be purchased by my said executors for the use of my grand Children and that my said son and his wife use occupy and enjoy the said one hundred acres during their natural lives upon condition that they shall neither directly nor indirectly sell or part with the said life estate in the said one hundred acres of land and if they should so sell or transfer their said interest in the estate the said one hundred acres shall be (-est?) and continue in my said Children sons and daughters of my son William by his wife Elizabeth in the same manner it would have been had not this bequest been made. 7thly I do appoint my well beloved brother Alexander Pettit and my friend and neighbor Benjamin (Kelly?) Executor of this my last will and testament. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this 16th day of May 1823. James Pettit -seal- signed sealed and acknowledged in the presence of us. Sam Sprigg James Nicoll I do certify that the above is a true copy of the last will and testament of James Pettit which was proven in Court at the November Term 1823 by the oath of Samuel Sprigg and James Nicoll the subscribing witnesses thereto and ordered to [be] recorded. Test Wm (-------?) (--) (---) A Copy Test Jno (McCall---) ---------------------- The following is found written onto the bottom of the record: 1846 Nov. 1823 - 506 ----- ----- 23 3.00 3 ----- 69- 50 ----- 119