Book 2, Pages 50-52
Filed and Proven: April 6, 1868

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Copy of Last Will and Testament … which is in figures following to wit:

I Mary Armstrong of sound mind and disposing memory and while in good health but considering the uncertainty of life and the certainty of death constitute and publish the following to be my last will and testament and by this revoking all others which I may have made.

In view of facts hereafter mentioned: that whereas under the last will of my husband William Armstrong, signed and witnessed on the 16th day of February 1860, certain specific ___ was left to me, and at my sole and utter disposal to wit: our negro girl (then a slave), Sidney, and her children and also the stock, horses, hogs, sheep and other cattle also the farming implements and the household and kitchen furniture of any kind and species and the said William Armstrong mentioning the sums of money given and paid or to be paid to his children Henry C. Armstrong and Mary E. Powel and other property principle slaves and disposing of his lands in accordance with his wishes and desires giving a part thereof to his son Alfred another part during my natural life to me Mary Armstrong then to William Armstrong and expressing in his said last will that it was his wish for William S. Armstrong to live with me to manage the family to wit:

The above mentioned last bequests to me first succeeding to him the said William S. Armstrong — also to supervise my hands on the said tract of land. He the said William S. receiving one half of all ___ hereon after paying necessary expenses until he liquidated and paid off the sum of two thousand five hundred dollars ___ and taxes on parcel of land going to him at my death to the executors of the estate of said William Armstrong my husband and the testator in the above mentioned will and testament by him made and signed to wit: on the 16th day of February 1860

and whereas great and marked changes have taken place since the publication of said last will and testament and since the death of said testator William Armstrong, slaves freed, great loss sustained in every other kind of property, horses, hogs, sheep, etc.

And knowing that nothing over and above a livelihood for the family and sundry incidental or necessary expenses was realized off the said tract of parcel of land given to me during my natural life, then to William S. Armstrong during the late Civil War.

Therefore I Mary Armstrong feel it my duty and herein incumbent upon me pursuant to said last will of my husband Armstrong, to wit:

It is my will and desire that Henry C. Armstrong have the sum of one dollar to be paid out of the effects of my estate, he having already having been amply provided for by his father as shown under his the said William Armstrong‘s last will.

2nd – It is also my wish and desire that the children and heirs at law of my son Alfred Armstrong, deceased, be paid the sum of one dollar out of my effects their father the said Alfred Armstrong having been amply provided for by the said William Armstrong‘s last will.

3rd – It is further my will and desire therefore I bequeath that Mary E. Powel my daughter have the sum of one dollar paid out of the effects of my estate, she having been provided for by her father the said William Armstrong‘s last will and testament.

4th All the rest and residue of my property of whatever species whether notes, ___ in action or other evidence of debt also the stock, horses, hogs, sheep and other cattle all the household and kitchen furniture all the farming utensils and all the grain that may be on hand at my death and the same is hereby declared to be the property of William S. Armstrong, my son, with whom I am now and have been living at the homestead since the death of my husband, his father.

5th – I also give and bequeath to him the said William S. Armstrong all the interest I have or may hereafter acquire in one half of the proceeds arriving from said farm on which we now live and of which he was to receive one half and I the other and it is my desire that he be not held responsible for any of said one half which have accrued or may hereafter accrue as my ___ of said proceeds – and I hereby relinquish to him and assigns forever ___ ___.

In testimony whereof I have set my hand and seal this 25th day of April One Thousand Eight Hundred and Sixty Seven.

Mary Armstrong (seal)

Signed in our presence this 25th day of April 1867

James Hoffman
W. H. Watterson

Transcribed by Betty Mize