When
I blogged last, I discussed my 3rd Great Grandfather Henry Harman’s
plea to the Confederate President Jefferson Davis to let his sons John and
George return home to help the Augusta County, Virginia farmers. Grandfather
Henry, John, and George were coopers, and
the farmers needed them to produce barrels for their flour in August of 1861.
See Bookmarked: The Papers of Jefferson Davis, 1861.
Henry
Harman suffered from liver disease and
died July 24, 1865, twenty-six days after the War ended between the North and
South.
Grandfather
must have known his death was near as he composed a will July 2, 1865. He
willed his house and lot to wife Eliza Jane as well as another lot bought from
James T. Clarke. Four single Harman daughters, Elizabeth, Margaret Rachel,
Susan Catherine, and Radie Maria, would be provided for in their mother’s home.
Son
George Harman inherited Henry’s shop, a lot,
and coopering tools. A mountain lot Grandfather purchased from John Craun went
to George too.
Once
3rd Great Grandmother Eliza Jane passed, Henry wanted his property
sold and divided equally among his living children or their heirs. A daughter,
Mary Jane, and son, John Irvine Harman,
predeceased their father.
Ten
days later on July 12, 1865, Grandfather Henry altered his will and prepared a
codicil stating he wished his wife and four unmarried daughters to benefit from
one-half of the Craun tract. Before the codicil, George would have received the
entire mountain lot. His father’s change of mind instructed George to buy the
Harman women’s share.
Although
not mentioned, married daughter Sarah Ann (Harman) Oder was living when her father wrote his will. (Sarah Ann married
Dr. George B. Oder before the Civil War.)
Augusta
County, VA Will Book 40, pages 277-278
Transcription
Know all men
by these presents, that I Henry Harman of the County of Augusta and state of
Virginia, being mindful of my mortality, of sound mind and disposing memory,
and desirous of making some disposition of my worldly effects do this 2nd
day of July one thousand eight hundred and sixty five make this my last will
and testament in the following manner following to wit: I desire that my executor herein after named
shall pay all my just debts and funeral expenses as soon after my decease as
convenient. I desire and bequeath unto my wife Eliza Jane Harman
during her lifetime the house and lot where I reside including the lot bought
of James T. Clarke as Trustee & c
and all the appertenances thereto belonging including the personal
property that may remain on the premises at
my decease. I provide also that my four single daughters shall remain with their mother during their single life & receive
with her their support. For the support and comfort of my wife and said
daughters I desire that my Executor shall pay over to my wife from time to time
(while there remains anything in his hands) whatever may be necessary for their
comfortable support. At the death of my wife
I desire said property to be sold & together with any other effects that
may remain, and be divided equally among my surviving children or their heirs
or representatives. I further will & desire that my executor pay together with my other debts the balances due Dr. C. R. Harris, and the estate of John
Craun dec’d on property bought of them & get deeds for same. To my son
George Harman I will & bequeath my
shop and shop lot, together with all my coopering tools, and my mountain land
bought of John Craun dec’d And I nominate
and appoint D. A. Van Lear as my Executor.
In Witness whereof
I hereunto subscribed my name and affixed my seal the day and year afore
written
Henry
Harman
We
the undersigned witnessed the above signature
of
the testator ~ This 2nd day July 1865
Waller Oder
Abraham Andrew
I Henry Harman
yet of sound mind and disposing memory do desire to make this codicil to my
will this twelfth day July 1865 (Wednesday) to wit, I wish that the family
consisting of my wife and four unmarried daughters to have the benefit of half
of the Craun tract of land, to be theirs in fee simple, and that the other half
shall be paid for by George and the conveyance be made to him for the same – I
also wish Dr. C. R. Harris to make the conveyance for the shop lot to my son
George
Witness
my hand and seal
Henry
Harman
Witnessed by us this 12 of July 1865
J. M. McCue
Absalom Michael
In
the County Court of Augusta September the 25th 1865
This
last will and testament of Henry Harman dec’d with a codicil thereto annexed was presented in Court and said will proved by the oaths of Waller Oder and Abraham
Andrew the subscribing witnesses thereto
and said will to be recorded without the
codicil. And on the motion of D. Newton Van Lear
the Executor therein named, who made oath according to law and together with
Joseph D. Craig his security (who justified as to his sufficiency) entered into
bond the sum of Two thousand dollars payable and with condition as required by
law which bond was acknowledged in Open Court by the obligor thereto was
ordered to be recorded Certificate is
granted the said D. Newton Van Lear for obtaining a probate of said will in due
form.
Teste
William
A. Burnett Clk
In
the County of Augusta November the 27th
1865
This
last will and testament of Henry Harman dec’d with a codicil [sheets affixed] was again
presented in Court and said Codicil proved by the oaths of J. M. McCue and
Absalom Michael the subscribing witnesses thereto
and ordered to be recorded.
Teste
William
A. Burnett Clk
Augusta County, VA
Will Book 40, page 277
Augusta County, VA
Will Book 40, page 278
(see 1st
paragraph)
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