"In the name of God Amen. The sixth day of September in the year of our Lord one Thousand eight hundred and forty five. I James Gardner Sr of the County of Carroll and Commonwealth of Virginia, Gentlemen being through the blessings of God in a sound state of mind and memory, but calling to mind the frail time of this life, and that it is appointed to all men once to die, do make and ordain this my last will and testament, That is to say. I give bequeath and dispose of it in the manner and proportion here following.

 

First I give and bequeath to my beloved wife Tabbitha all of my personal property except the following one brown horse five years old which I give to my son Mathew, one brown horse three years old, and saddle, 5 head of cattle, one __, and one rifle gun and broad axe, which I give to my son Andrew Washington to have and to hold to his own proper use, the remaining for my wife during the term of her natural life time and after her decease I give the same to my five daughters herein after mentioned.

 

Second, I give to my daughter Sarah two cows and calves, one __, one table, one chest, one bed and furniture thereto belonging, one pot and lid, one skillet and lid one own oven one smoothing iron, two sets of plates, two sets of cups and saucers, one set of knives and forks, two sets of spoons, two dishes, one large cotten wheel and one flax wheel and one large pot.

 

3rd I give to my four daughters, Mary, Jane, Nancy & Elizabeth, all my personal property not above named to be equally divided amongst them to them and their heirs.

 

Fourthly I give the tract of land upon which I now reside to my five sons Mathew, James, Andrew Washington, Alexander & William according to the lot division made by Lewis __ dividing the land into five tracts as follows.

 

First I give to my son Mathew on hundred acres more or less bounded by the lands of James Worrell and the land known by the name of the Baldwin place, and new lines made in the division above named to him and his heirs forever.

 

Secondly I give to my son Andrew Washington one hundred of land more or less including the buildings where I now live according to the above named division bounded by Mathews part and the land of Lankford Hall and my forty five acre lot and a new line made in the above division to him forever.

 

Thirdly I give to my son James one hundred acres more or less bounded by the lands of Nancy ___ and Fielden Hale and new lines made in the above named division to him and his heirs forever.

 

Fourthly I give to my son William one hundred acres of land more or less being the land upon which he resides bound by James part and Fielden L. Hale and the lands of James Dehaven and ___ off in the town of Hillsville and a new line made in the above named division to him and his heirs forever.

 

Fifthly I give to my son Alexander one hundred acres more or less bounded by the lands of Fielden L. Hale John Tipton & James Worrell and new lines made in the above named division to him and his heirs forever.

 

Sixthly I give to my daughter Sarah my tract of land lying in little reed island creek known by the name of the Ogle place to her and her heirs forever.

 

Seventhly I give to my son Andrew Washington my survey of forty-five acres adjoining the lands known by the name of the Baldin place & the land of Lankford Hall it being the last and all the land which own to him and his heirs forever.

 

Lastly I give to my son John the sum of five dollars to him and his heirs forever.

 

I do hereby revoke all other or former will or testaments by me heretofore made for  where of I have hereunto set my hand and affirm my seal this 6th day of September 1845

 

James Gardner (his mark) - seal