The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1888-04-27
Thomas JeffersOn's Will.


Among the old records stored away
in the vault at the District building is
copy of the will Of Thomas Jefferson,
filed in the archives of The District
years ago. so long that no one connect
ed with the District government to-day
knows the purpose for which il wss OF
record there. This old document is
dated March 16 1926. It bequeaths to
his grandson, Francis Eppes, land at
Poplar Forest, ard subjects all his 9TH
er 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 Ran
dolph, he leaves the residue of his prop
erty in trust for his daughter, Martha
Randolph, to become hers absolutely at
the death of Thomas Mann Randolph.
This course, the will explains, is taken
to secure the property against the
claims of Mr. Randolph's creditors.
A codiciI attached on the following
day recommended to his daughter,
Martha Randolph, the maintenance and
CdIc VI "cll OciONCu olblCls AhIlC
Scott Marks gave to his friend, James
Madison, of Montpelier, his gold
mounted walking stick of animal horn,
s'as token OF the cordial and affec-
tionate friendship which for nearly now
half century has united us in the
same principles and pursuits of what
we have deemed Cor the greatest good
of our country" He gave to the Uni
versity of Virginia such books in his
library as the university had not already
copies of. and the remainder to his two
grandsous iD-law, Nicholas p. Trist
and Joseph Coolidge. To his grand
son, Thomas Jefferson Randolph, he
gave his silver watch in preference to
| his good one because of its superior ex-
cellence. and also sll his literary papers.
He provided also for the purchase of a
gold watch for each of his grandsons.
II give" continues the will Ito my
| good, affectionate and faithful servant,
Burwell, his freedom and the SUM %
| $500 to buy necessaries to commence his
trade of painter and glazing or to use
otherwise as he pleases. I also give to
my good servants, John Henning and
Joe Fessct, 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 callings and it is my
will that comfortable log house be
built for each of the three servants so
emancipated on some part of my lands
| convenient 10 them with respect TO the
residence of their wives and to Char
lottesville and the university, where
they will be mostly employed, and reas-
onably convenient also 20 the interests
of the proprietor of the lands, o: which
houses give the use ot ont. with a cur
tilage of an acre to each during his life
or personal occupation thereof 1 give
also to John Henning the services of
his two apprentices, Madison and Eston
Hennings, until their respective ages of
twenty-one years, at which period re-
speclively give them their freedom.
And / humbly and earnestly request of
the Legislature of Virginia a confirIna-
tior of the bequest of freedom to these
two servants, with permission to re-
main in this State, where their fami-
lies and connections are, as an addi-
tional instance of the favor of which l
have received so many other manifesto
lions in the course of my life and for
which now give them my last solemn
and dutiful thanks.''
The will bears q certificate, showing
that August Z. 1926, it was proved in
the Court of Albemarle county, Va,
and ordered to be recorded.