Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1888-06-29
JET PERSONS WILL.

JEFF'ERSON'S WILL.
Emenc;pating His staves aud CITING Them
Each an Acre of Land.
Washington rost.I
Among the old records stored away
in the vault at the District building is
a copy of the will of Thomas Jefferson,
filed in the archives of the District
years ago, so long that no one con-
nectel with the District Government
to-day knows the purpose for which it
was placed on record there. The old
document is dated March 16, 1926. 1t
beqneathed to the grandson, Francis
Epi.es, lands at Poplar Forest, and
subjects all his property first to the
payment of the debts of the deceased.
In consideration of the insolvent state
Of the affairs Of his son-in-law, Thomas
Mann Randolph, he leaves the residue
Of his property in trust for his daugh-
ter, Martha Randolph, to become hers
absolutely at the death of Thomas
Mann Randolph. This course, the will
explains, is taken to secure the prop
erty against the claims of Mr.. Ran
dolph's creditors
A codicil attached on the following
day recommended to his daughter,
Martha Randolph, the maintenance and
care of his well-beloved sister, Annie
Scott Marks; gave to his friend, James
Madison, of Montpelier, his gold
mounted walking-stick of animal horn,
''as token of the cordial and affec-
tionate friendship which the nearly
now half century has united us in
the same principles and pursuits Of
what we have deemed for the greatest
good of our country" He gave to the
University of Virginia such books in
his library as the University had not
already copies of and the remainder to
his two grandsons-in-law, Nicholas P.
Trist and Joseph Coolidge. To his
grandson. Thomas Jefferson Randolph,
he gave his silver watch in preference
to his gold one, because Of its superior
excellence, and also all his literary
papers. He provided also for the pur-
chase of gold watch for each of his
grandsons.
II give," continues the will, "to my
good, affectionate, and faithful servant,
Burwell, his freedom and the sum of
$500 to buy necessaries to commence
his trade of painter and glazier, or to
use otherwise as he pleases I also
give to my good servants, John Hem
ming and Joe Fesset, their freedom at
the end of one year after my death,
and to each of them respectively all the
tools of their respective shops or call
ings, and it is my will that a comfort
able log house be built for each of the
three servants so emancipated on some
part of my lands convenient to them
with respect to the residence of thei1
wives and to Charlottesville and the
University, where they will be mostly
employed, and reasonably convenien
also to the interests of the proprietor
of the lands, of which houses give
the use of one, with curtilage of ar
acre to each during his life or personal
occupation thereof.
II give also to John Henning the
services of his two apprentices, Madi
son and Easton Henning, until thei1
respective ages of q years, at which
period respectively I give them thei,
freedom. And humbly and earnestly
request OF the Legislature of Virginia c
confirmation of the bequest of free
dom to these two servants, with per
mission to remain in this State
where their families and connections
are, as an additional instance OF the
favor of which have received so many
other manifestations in the course O.
my life and for which I now give then
nv last solemn and dutiful thanks"
The will bears certificate showing
that August z, 1926, it was proved il
the court of Albermarle County, Vir
ginia, and ordered to be recorded.