Will of Frederick Smith leaving an enslaved girl named Betty to his wife

Frederick Smith, American · March 27, 1802

The handwritten will of Frederick Smith of Mongtomery County, Viriginia, dated March 27, 1802, in which he bequeaths to his wife Margaret an enslaved girl named Betty, along with a list of other possessions. The document consists of black ink on both sides of a single sheet of off-white paper. The will reads in part: "I give and bequeath to wife Margaret the plantation whereon I live and one negro girl named Betty which is to be hers enduring her natural life, and one horse beast to be her choice my stock and three cows and six sheep and all my hoggs [sic], and six pewter plates and three dishes and four basons [sic] Six earthen plates and one dish and two silver spoons and her choice of the beds with double furniture, all which is to be at her own disposal except the land and Negroe [sic] girl above mentioned which is to be sold at her decease and equally divided amongst all my children except my son Sawyer who is to have two shares." The document is signed with handwritten seal at bottom right of the verso: [Frederick Smyth] and at left is signed by four witnesses: [Sauol Gouder (?) / Penny Hans / Peter Coon/ George Monald].