[In the left margin] Hood's Will In the name of God I William D Hood hereby make this my last will and testament revoking all others previous to this text. 1. After the payment of all my just debts which I wish to be done out of such of the perishable part of my estate as can be most easily with and such of my negros as the appraiser with my executor may think can be most conveniently and to advantage be spared. I extend to my wife Edna during her widowhood the remainder of my estate chattel and personal. She extending unto my children such affection as they may necessarily require. And also that the education of my son Robert Asher and my daughter Laura be attended to and so soon as Robert Asher shall be prepared to put him at some business that will enable him to acquire a living. 2. I lend to my wife during her life the land So. of Brown's road and at her death it be sold and out of the proceeds of the sale I give to my grandson Walter E Pond one hundred dollars if then living if dead the sum be divided equally among my living children. 3. I wish the landline No. of Brown's road to be sold in as soon as practicable and for the proceeds to be equally divided among my living children. 4. At the death of my wife I wish such of my negros as may be then living to be divided or sold as may be best suit among my children in such a way as to allot to my daughter Laura three hundred dollars more then to my other children. 5. The gold watch which my daughter Elizabeth wears, I lend to her during her Single life. Should she marry, I will it to my son William. 6. William A Bell is requested to act as executor of this my last will and testament, made, signed, and sealed this 15th day of October 1857. Wm D Hood (Seal) At a court held for the County of Southampton the 21st day of June 1852. This writing purporting to be the last will and testament of William D Hood decd was this day presented to the court and there being no subscribing witness thereto John Cobb and Arthur A Drewry were sworn and severally deposed and say that they are well acquainted with the hand writing of said William D Hood decd and that they verily believe that the said writing and the name thereto are wholly in the proper handwriting of the said William D Hood decd and thereupon the said writing is ordered to be recorded as the true last will and testament of the said William D Hood decd. And on the motion of Wm A Bell the executor therein named made oath and together with John M Gurley and Samuel B Kello his securities (who justified on oath as to their sufficiency) entered into and acknowledged bond in the penalty of fourteen thousand dollars condition as the law directs. Certificate is granted the said Wm A Bell for obtaining a probate for the said will due form. Teste, L. R. Edwards, CC ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ [In the left margin] Reese's account Estate of Sampson C Reese In account with Mark T Peete, executor ========================================================================================== Account follows