I Zachariah Lewis considering the uncertainty of life and the duty of being prepared for death, do make and ordain this to be my last will and Testament, hereby revoking all former wills by me by every time made

I I give and devise to my son John O Lewis all my land lying on the north side of the old Staunton and James River Turnpike Road as it originally ran  to him and his heirs forever.

II I give and bequeath to my Granddaughter Isaetta Banksdale five thousand Dollars.

III I give and bequeath to my son Zacheriah R Lewis four thousand Dollars in trust for the sole and Exclusive use and benefit of my Grandaughter Betty May wife of N E May for and during her natural life and at her death to be equally divided among her children The said Trustee is hereby empowered to invest the said four thousand Dollars in any kind of property or in any way he may think proper for the benefit of the said Betty May, but her husband shall not have power to dispose of the same

IV I give and bequeath to my Grandson Zacheriah Lee Gilmer four thousand Dollars to be paid to him when he arrives at the age of Twenty one Years by my Executors.

V I give and bequeath to my Grandson George Walker Gilmer four thousand five hundred Dollars, to be paid to him when he arrives at the age of 21 Years by my Executors. The legacies herein given to my Grandchildren Bettie May, Zacheriah Lee Gilmer & George Walker Gilmer to be on Interest from the time of my death; and should either of my said sons Zachariah Lee Gilmer and George Walker Gilmer die without issue, then I direct what is herein given them or him so dying without issue shall go to the survivor of them

VI I give to my Grandson Howell Lewis son of Zacheriah R Lewis my watch.

VII I have heretofore given to my Grandson Zacheriah Lee Gilmer a negro Girl named Julia, which has been sold by his father George C Gilmer – my wish is that the said father should be held accountable to the said Zacheriah Lee for the value of the said Girl – I have also heretofore given to my Grand daughter Betty May five hundred dollars which she is not to be accountable to my Estate.

VIII – All the rest and residue of my Estate, real & personal not heretofore disposed of whatever description, whether in possesion, reversion, expectancy or action, I give and devise to my two sons John O Lewis and Zacheriah R Lewis and their heirs forever to be equally divided between them, subject to the payment of my debts.

IX This my last will shall not relate to or effect any division or advancement heretofore made by me, that is to say, it is my wish that whatever my children or Grand children may heretofore have received from me, shall be held absolutely, by them, without being required to account for the source.

X I hereby appoint my sons Jno O Lewis & Zacheriah R Lewis Executors of this my last will and Testament and request that they shall not be required to give security in their qualification. In testimony whereof I have hereunto to this my last will and Testament set my hand & Seal this 17 day of February 1858 . Zacheriah Lewis {seal}

Signed Sealed, published & declared by the Testator &tc &tc &tc in the presence of the following witnesses  J. W. Mason Reuben Lindsay Wm M Wade

Codicil

I the above named Zacheriah Lewis do make this present Codicil to my foregoing will, which I hereby declare shall be taken as a part thereof. I do hereby revoke the bequest contained in the 3d clause thereof to Zacheriah R Lewis as trustee for my Grand daughter Betty May wife of M E May for and during her natural Life to be free from the debts and control of her husband ^& in lieu thereof, I give & bequeath to the said Z R Lewis $3300.00 in trust & he the sole ??? ose & benefit of my said Grandaughter Betty May and at her death to be equally divided among her children The said trustee is hereby empowered to invest the said Three thousand three hundred and fifty Dollars in any kind of property or in any way he may think proper for the benefit of the said Bettie May, but her husband, shall not have power to dispose of the same. In witness where of I have to this codicil to my will set my hand & Seal this 4th day of September in the Year 1858. Zach Lewis {seal}

Witness Wm M Wade. J W Mason

At a Court held for the County of Albemarle 4 Mar ’61. An Instrument of writing purporting to be the last Will and Testament of Zacheriah Lewis dec’d was this day produced unto Court and being proved by the oaths of Wm M Wade and James W Mason witnesses thereto, was ordered to be Recorded. Teste. Ira Garrett cc

Virginia, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1652-1900, Albemarle, Will Books, Vol 26-27, 1859-1867, image 103

https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/62347/images/007643856_00103?pId=1606044

Transcribed 3 Sep 2026 by Nancy Maliwesky