Jonathan Hickerson Barksdale, Sr.

Abbrev: Barksdale Book

Title: John Augustus Barksdale, <i>Barksdale family history and genealogy (wit h collateral lines)</i> (Richmond, Virginia: William Byrd Press, 1940) ines)</i> th collateral lines)</i>. Richmond, Virginia: William Byrd Press, 1940.

Page: p. 413 - 419

Text: Section XX

Jonathan Barksdale

of Albemarle County, Virginia

(56) Jonathan Barksdale

[William (2) William (1)]

Son of William Barksdale and his 1st wife, was b. Aug. 16, 1765; d. 185 2 in Albemarle Co., Va., where he is buried.

Jonathan Barksdale was a planter and slaveholder of Albemarle County. T he land records of the county contain many references to his transactio ns both in buying and selling lands, and show that his net lanownership a mounted to about 850 acres lying on the Rivfanna, or Mechum's River. He w rote his will in 1846, as follows:

Will of Jonathan Barksdale

In the name of God-and through the merits of a Blessed Redeemer, Amen, I J onathan Barksdale, of the County of Albemarle, in the State of Virginia , do make and constitute this my last will and testament, revoking all o thers heretofore made by me, my desire is that after my decease my body b e decently committed to my mother earth, and that my soul may ascend to h eavenly bliss.

I request that my executor hereafter named will in the first place proc eed to sell all my personal and wasteful property as much as will be su fficient to pay my funeral expenses, and all my just debts as speedily a nd punctually as they can possibly.

Second: I give and bequeath to my two daughters, Polly Goodman and Eliz a G. Wilson, $200.00 each to be paid to them out of the sales of my lan d, which I consider a full equivalent with the addition of what I have h eretofore done for them.

Thirdly: Having given to my two sons, William G. Barksdale and Jonathan B arksdale by my death their full proportion of my land and estate and to t he last named Jonathan at least $400.00 more than has proportionate par t and he having since died, leaving no child or children, I consider th at he has been fully provided for. The above named William G., I wish h im to come into an equal division of this balance of my estate with my o ther children, the land excepted.

Fourthly: I give to my son, Ralph Barksdale, who has not been heard fro m for several years past, if he should be now living, an equal proporti on with the balance of my children hereafter named to be held by my exe cutor in trust for his support and to be given as may be necessary and c onvenient, but in case he now exists and should have lawful heir or hei rs, I request that the amount be paid over to him. As to the rest of my c hildren, if he should not be heard from or appear in a reasonable time, I r equest that his part be equally divided between my last four named dist ributees.

Fifthly: I give and bequeath to my daughter, Ann R. Kinsolving, my son, N athan Barkdale's (deceased) children, my son Ralph Barksdale and my dau ghter Lucy Rothwell, all my land that I now possess, with the reservati on of $1,000.00 above divided, to be equally divided or sold and divide d, as may prove most convenient. Ralph's part to be held as above reque sted and in every case as to him.

Sixthly: I also give and bequeath to Ann R. Kinsolving, Nathan Barksdal e's (deceased) children, Ralph Barksdale, Lucy Rothwell and William G. B arksdale all my negro slaves, my property of every description, bonds a nd claims that I may possess at my decease to be sold and equally divid ed among them and to be held by them and their heirs forever. My partic ular desire is that the slaves should be sold as much in families as wo uld be practicable. And my old servants, vix: Simon and Malinda may be p ermitted to choose their masters and be sold to them on moderate terms, a nd Lucinda, my home woman and cook, to choose her master who will take h er and provide for her comfortable during her life. But in case my abov e wish cannot be accomplished, my executor will provide for them out of m y estate.

Seventhly: There remains a bond given by my son, Nathan Barksdale, and m yself, as security to Geo. W. Kinsolving for $100.00 loaned about twent y years ago, which must be paid with its full interest out of the share I d evised to his children.

Eighthly and Lastly: I nominate and appoint my son-in-law, Geo. W. Kins olving, and my son, William Barksdale, Executors of this my last will a nd testament.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal t his 16th day of January, 1846.

Jonatha n Barksdale L. S.

Witnesses: Wm. Graves, Wm. H. Brown and R. H. Harris. Proved Oct. 4, 18 52. [Albemarle Co., W. B. XXII, p. 243]