Mr. Wash I should fall therein, Mount Vernon, then less ington's Will. Devise of estate. extensive in dominion than at present, should become his property), I give and bequeath all that part thereof which is comprehended within the following limits, viz. beginning at the ford of Dogue Run, near my mill, and extending along the road, and bounded thereby, as it now goes, and ever has gone since my recollection of it, to the ford of Little Hunting-Creek, at the GumSpring, until it comes to a knowl opposite to an old road which formerly passed through the lower field of Muddyhole-Farm, at which, on the north side of the said road, are three red or Spanish oaks, marked as a corner, and a stone placed; thence by a line of trees to be marked rectangular to the back line or outer boundary of the tract between Thompson Mason and myself; thence with that line easterly (now double ditching with a post and rail fence thereon) to the run of Little Hunting-Creek; thence with that run, which is the boundary between the lands of the late Humphrey Peake and me, to the tidewater of the said creek; thence by that water to Potomac River; thence with the river to the mouth of Dogue-Creek; and thence with the said Dogue-Creek to the place of beginning at the aforesaid ford, containing upwards of four thousand acres, be the same more or less, together with the mansion-house, and all other buildings and improvements thereon. 2d. In consideration of the consanguinity between them and my wife, being as nearly related 10 to ington's Will. to her as to myself, as on account of the affection Mr. Wash I had for, and the obligation I was under to their father, when living, who, from his youth, had attached himself to my person, and followed my fortunes through the vicissitudes of the late revolution, afterwards devoting his time to the superintendence of my private concerns for many years, whilst my public employments rendered it impracticable to do it myself, thereby affording me essential services, and always performing them in a manner the most filial and respectful; for these reasons, I say, I give and bequeath to George Fayette Washington, and Lawrence Augustine Washington, and their heirs, my estate east of little Hunting-Creek, lying on the river Potomac, including the farm of three hundred and sixty acres leased to Tobias Lear, as noticed before, and containing in the whole, by deed, two thousand and twenty acres, be it more or less; which said estate it is my will and desire should be equitably and advantageously divided between them, according to quantity, quality, and other circumstances, when the youngest shall arrive at the age of twenty-one years, by three judicious and disinterested men; one to be chosen by each of the brothers, and the third by these two. In the mean time, if the termination of my wife's interest therein should have ceased, the profits arising therefrom are to be applied for their joint uses and benefit. 3d. And whereas it has always been my inten- Devise of tion, since my expectation of having issue has ceased, the residue of Mount Vernon estate. ington's Will. Mr. Wash ceased, to consider the grandchildren of my wife in the same light as I do my own relations, and to act a friendly part by them, more especially by the two whom we have raised from their earliest infancy, namely, Eleanor Park Custis, and George Washington Park Custis: And whereas the former of these hath lately intermarried with Lawrence Lewis, a son of my deceased sister, Betty Lewis, by which union the inducement to provide for them has been increased: wherefore I give and bequeath to the said Lawrence Lewis and Eleanor Park Lewis, his wife, and their heirs, the residue of my Mount Vernon estate not already devised to my nephew Bushrod Washington, comprehended within the following description, viz. All the lands north of the road leading from the ford of Dogue-Run to the Gum-Spring, and described in the devise of the other part of the tract to Bushrod Washington, until it comes to the stone and three red or Spanish oaks on the knowl; thence with the rectangular line to the back line (between Mr. Mason and me); thence with that line westerly along the new double ditch to Dogue-Run, by the tumbling dam of my mill; thence with the said run to the ford aforementioned; to which I add all the land I possess west of the said DogueRun and Dogue-Creek, bounded easterly and southerly thereby; together with the mill, distillery, and all other houses and improvements on the premises, making together about two thousand acres, be it more or less. 4th. Actuated ington's Will. Bequests to Ms. Wash ington's grandson; 4th. Actuated by the principle already men- Mr. Washtioned, I give and bequeath to George Washington Park Custis, the grandson of my wife, and my ward, and to his heirs, the tract I hold on Four-Mile Run, in the vicinity of Alexandria, containing one thousand two hundred acres, more or less, and my entire square, number twenty-one, in the city of Washington. 5th. All the rest and residue of my estate, real and personal, not disposed of in manner aforesaid, in whatsoever consisting, wheresoever lying, and whensoever found, a schedule of which, as far as is recollected, with a reasonable estimate of its value, is hereunto annexed, I desire may be sold by my executors at such times, in such manner, and on such credits (if an equal, valid, and satisfactory distribution of the specific property cannot be made without), as in their judgement shall be most conducive to the interest of the parties concerned, and the monies arising therefrom to be divided into twenty-three equal parts, and applied as follows, viz. To William Augustine Washington, Elizabeth Spotwood, Jane Thornton, and the heirs of Ann Ashton, son and daughters of my deceased brother Augustine Washington, I give and bequeath four parts, that is, one part to each of them; to Fielding Lewis, George Lewis, Robert Lewis, Howell Lewis, and Betty Carter, sons and daughter of my deceased sister Betty Lewis, I give and bequeath five other parts, one to each of them; to George Steptoe Washington, Lawrence Augustine Wash ington, and to his phews and own ne nieces. ington's Mr. Washington, Harriot Parks, and the heirs of Thornton Will. Washington, sons and daughters of my deceased brother, Samuel Washington, 1 give and bequeath the other four parts, one part to each of them; to Corbin Washington, and the heirs of Jane Washington, son and daughter of my deceased brother John Augustine Washington, I give and bequeath two parts, one part to each of them. To Samuel Washington, Frances Ball, and Mildred Hammond, son and daughters of my brother Charles Washington, I give and bequeath three parts, one part to each of them; and to George Fayette Washington, Charles Augustine Washington, and Maria Washington, sons and daughter of my deceased nephew George Augustine Washington, I give one other part, that is, to each a third of that part. To Elizabeth Park Law, Martha Park Peter, and Eleanor Park Lewis, I give and bequeath three other parts, that is, a part to each of them; and to my nephew, Bushrod Washington, and Lawrence Lewis, and to my Ward, the grandson of my wife, I give and bequeath one other part, that is, a third thereof to each of them. And if it should so happen that any of the persons, whose names are here enumerated, (unknown to me) should now be dead, or should die before me, that in either of these cases, the heirs of such deceased persons shall, notwithstanding, derive all the benefits of the bequest, in the same manner as if he or she was actually living at the time. And by way of advice, I recommend it to my executors, not |