About the will that is posted on my homepage--Varner

This is a portion of the last will and testament of Samuel Varner (1770-1840). This particular Samuel Varner is the father of Benjamin F. Varner who is the father of Hiram H. Varner, who is the father of Lillian Gertrude Varner who married Edward Wentz. They were the parents of my paternal grandmother. I believe this will is now housed at the Ohio Historical Society archives in Columbus but when I viewed it, it was at a University Library. It was falling to pieces but I was able to scan it in order to transcribe it. The transcription follows:

To all whom it may concern, be it known that I Samuel Varner of the County of Athens and State of Ohio, being sane in mind but feeble in health, and knowing that life is at all times uncertain do in the name of God Amen, make and publish this my last will and Testament in manner and form as follows (to wit) First I wish all my just debts and funeral expenses paid, then all my personal property and debts that are due me that may remain I wish retained on the farm subject to the control and management of my Executor in the same manner that I myself have done to sell, buy etc. and the proceeds to be applied to the common support of my family that may remain at home on the farm and for the special support & maintenance of my minor children and to pay the expense of their instruction in the branches of a common school education. Second the Farm on which I now live and all the real estate of which I may die seized or possessed I wish to remain under the control, management and direction of my Executor to be by him or his direction cultivated and the procedes applied to the best advantages in the common support of my family that may remain at home on the farm and for the support and instruction of my minor children as above mention, and for the comfortable support and maintenance of my beloved wife Margaret, and when my youngest child shall come of age I then wish an equal division made of all the personal property that is then remaining or that may have accumulated after defraying expences as above mentioned among all my children, shahre [share] and share alike and all my real estate I then wish sold to the best advantage after setting apart to the widow to my wife Margaret her legal thirds and the procedes, after paying my sons Jackson and George one hundred dollars each, I then wish divided among all my children shahr [share] and share alike.

I have some time since given to my daughters Mary and Susan a bead and Beading* each which I do not wish them charged with in the division above mentioned. I furthur give and bequeath to my son Hiram Varner and to my daughter Margatt [Margaret] each a good Bead and Beading*. lastly I do hereby nominate and appoint Hiram Varner (my son) Executor of this my last will and testament. I do also authorize him and empower him, if at any time it becomes necessary to carry into effect this my will, to sell, at private sale or in such manner and upon such terms of credit or otherwise any he may think proper, all or any part of my personal property, but for no other purpose, and to make acknowledge and deliver a deed in fee simple to the purchaser or purchasers when it becomes necessary to sell my real estate under the provisions of this my last will and testament.

I hereby revoke all former wills by me made. In testamony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this the 7th day of April 1839

Signed and acknowledged by said

Samuel Varner, as his last will and Samuel Varner {Seal}

Testament in our presences; and signed

by us in his presence,

David Jones

Isaac White

*  Probably should read “beds and bedding”

Notes: the property referred to is located in Vinton County Ohio, about 2 miles east of McArthur. The wife he refers to is Margaret Lake, his second wife. The children mentioned by name were Jackson, George, Mary, Susan, Hiram and Margaret. Hiram, who was named executor was the sixth of seven children from his first marriage (Susannah Uhl). [Andrew] Jackson, George [Washington], Mary, Susan[nah], and Margaret were from his second marriage (Margaret Lake).

I will post more on Samuel Varner and his immediate family in future posts.