Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1908-10-17
MANY OLD AND
INTERESTING RECORDS
AMONG THEM WILL or GENERAL
CHARLES Lee.
Grooms Were Required to Give $3.50
Bond Before They Could Secure
License to Marry.

With the removal OF the old records
that have been stored away in the
county court house, many strange
things have been brought to light,
old records OF wills and marriage IL
lenses that have been stored away
for years have been unearthed.
Among the many things OF interest
Is the will of Major General Charles
Lee, famous Revolutionary officer.
who lived and died in this county.
The wording of his will shows that
his beliefs we're decidedly worldly, he
did not believe in one man having
mon money than he could spend
while his neighbor starved. For In
stance. In one clause of his will he
writes:
II give and bequeath to Charles M.
Thurs. on. esq, fifty guineas, In con
sideration of his good qualities and
the friendship he has manifested for
me; and to Buckner Thurston, his
son. I leave all my books as i know
he will make good use of them. To
my friend John Mercer. In Marlbor-
ough. in Virginia, I give and bequeath
the choice of two brood mares, Of all
my swords and pistols and ten
guineas to buy a ring. | would give
him more, but as he has good estate
and better genius, he has sufficient
Ii he knows how to make good use
os them. | give and beQueathi to any
former side-de-camp. Otway Bird, the
choice of another brood mare and ten
guineas for the same purpose or a re-
membrance ring. | give and bequeacll
to my worthy friend, Colonel William
Grayson, of IDENTIFIES, the second
choice OF two colts, and to my excel
lent friend William Steptoe OF vir-
ginia 7 would leave q great deal, but
as he Is so rich, ID would be no less
than robbing my other friends who
are poor I therefore entreat that he
will accept of five guineas which be-
queath TO him to buy a ring OF affec'
ton
The will continues to a great length
but very few receive any large
amount. Everything from his money
down to his wearing apparel Is men
toned, i~nterspersed here and there
with small amounts left to friends
! with which he desired them TO buy
remembrance rings.
The will was written in the slave
day and he bequeaths all of his slaves
to Giuseppe Minghgini and Dunn,
mentioned in his will aus two faithful
friends.
He adds at the end OF his will:
Il desire most earnestly that rnay
not be buried in any church or church
yard or within a mile Of any Presby-
terian or Baptist meeting house. For
since | have resided In this country |
have kept so much bad company when
living that | do not care to continue
when dead. I recommend my soul to
| Creator of all worlds, and OF all
creatures who must from his visible
| attributes be indifferent to their
modes of Worship or creeds, whether
Christian, Mohammedans or Jews;
whether instilled by education or
taken up by reflection; whether more
! or less absurd, as a weak mortal can
no more be answerable for his per-
! suasions or notions or even skeptic-
ism In religion that for the color of
his skin"
Another thing hat was much differ
ent In the times when this will was
made was the form of marriage and
the laws pertaining thereto. The coun-
ty made themselves secure by de-
handing that In order for any person
to obtain a marriage license it would
be necessary to FURNISH a bond OF
$4,000 to be forfeited in case that
the wife was thrown upon the mercy
OF the public.
There are many interesting things
to be learned by going through the
old records which date back much
farther than the date shown OF the
above mentioned will. which was in
the year 1882, would take UP too much
space to relate.
It will be but a short time before
business will be carried on at No. 215
West King street. The place Is large
and roomy and some OF the public en-
ployes stated when interviewed that
they would hardly be satisfied to re-
turn to the old building when T. has
been r~eenodeled. but perhaps they will
think Inherent when within the COM