Fairfax County Superior Court Willbook No. 1, pp. 1-3.
"In the name of God Amen I John Moss of the County of Fairfax and
State of Virginia do hereby make and Ordain this my last will and
testament in manner and form following to wit I give to my son John
Moss the plantation whereon he now lives which was leased by me of the
late Rev^d Bryan Fairfax and the service of my Negro man Nat until the
period arrives when he is to go out free agreeable to a Deed of
Manumition Recorded in Fairfax County Court upon his paying his sister
Frances Middleton Fifty Dollars which with what I have heretofore
given him I consider as his full part of my estate. Item having
already given my daughter Frances Middleton a lease I held under the
said Bryan Fairfax Deceased known as Buck Spring and a negro woman by
the name of Maria as long as she has to serve under the before
mentioned Deed of Manumition I now give and bequeath unto her as her
full part of my estate the sum of Fifty Dollars to be paid her by her
brother John Moss in twelve months after my Decease provided the said
negro man Nat given him shall survive me and come to the actual
possession of my son John Moss. Item I give and bequeath unto my son
Robert Moss and his heirs forever the plantation whereon he now lives
so as to include one third part of the lands I purchased of Daniel
Summers and Baldwin Dade agreeable to the deed I have made him also
two acres on the south side of the Turnpike to be laid off along the
line of West and to join the land I have before given him. In order to
afford an outlet to the Turnpike Road, and as the word (also) may be
understood to imply my Intention is to give him those two acres more
than his third part before-mentioned I declare it is not but that they
are to be included in the same. Item I give and bequeath unto my
grandson Gideon Moss and my grand Daughter Elizabeth K. Moss two
hundred Dollars each to be paid them or their heirs in eighteen months
after my Decease which with what I gave their father in his lifetime I
consider and hereby declare to be their full part of my Estate. Item I
give to wife Ann Moss during her natural life the use of all the rest
and residue of my Estate real, personal and mixed for the support of
her and such of my daughters as may be at the time of my Death
unmarried and after her decease I give and bequeath unto my Sons
William Moss and Thomas Moss and their heirs forever the residue of
the lands purchased by me of the aforementioned Summers and Dade to be
divided between them as follows: Beginning on the Turnpike road
adjoining the two acres given my son Robert Moss for an Outlet thence
down the said road opposite to my gate thence a southerly course to a
small Drain about fifteen poles from the Turnpike road by the name of
Crumps Branch thence down the said Branch and bending therewith to the
intersection of the Dividing line of the lands purchased by me of the
before-mentioned Summers and Dade thence with the said line eastwardly
to where it crosses the Turkey Branch thence up the said branch with
the Several Courses of my deed from the said Summers to the
Intersection of West's line thence with the line to the beginning
which several courses include that part of my land I wish my son
Thomas to enjoy all but the houses where John Powell now lives with
four acres adjoining it I add to the lands I intended for my daughters
Patsy, Mary and Anne and in case it should exceed one third part of my
purchase from the said Summers and Dade then I direct that my son
Thomas Moss do pay to his brother William Moss at the rate of Twenty
five Dollars for every acre that may be included in his said lott over
and above one third part of the said two purchases of Summers and
Dade. Item I give and bequeath to my three daughters Patty Moss, Mary
Moss and Anne Moss and their heirs forever after my wife's Decease the
whole of the lands I purchased of William H. Terrett to be equally
divided including the homes and four acres adjoining (as mentioned
before) between them and two thirds parts of the whole of my personal
estate be divided between them and their heirs forever. Item the rest
and residue or the One third part of my personal estate after my
wife's decease I give and bequeath unto my three sons Robert Moss,
William Moss and Thomas Moss to be equally Divided between them and
their heirs & lastly I appoint my wife Ann Moss executrix and my sons
Robert Moss, William Moss and Thomas Moss executors of my last will
and testament hereby revoking all other and former wills by me
heretofore made In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and
affixed my seal this fourteenth day of November Anno 1808 Present