Will of Henry Bedinger
Henry Bedinger was especially noted for his energy, integrity, and fidelity to duty, all his life, and during his tenure in Mecklenburg was one of the town’s leading business men.[i] The will of Henry Bedinger is given below to reveal a measure of the extent of his property and his industrious character during the ten years he and his family lived in Mecklenburg.
Henry Bedinger died in January of 1772 and as set forth in his will, his son Henry Bedinger, not yet nineteen years of age, performed the role of Executor of his estate. That father must have had entire confidence in his uprightness and good judgment; else he would not have made him his sole executor.
Will of Henry Bedinger
In the name of God, Amen.
I, Henry Bedinger of Frederick County in the Colony of Virginia, being weak in body but of sound and
perfect memory—blessed be God for His mercy—do constitute this my last Will and Testament revoking all other Wills by word of mouth or writing and this only for my last Will and Testament. Imprimis, I leave my soul to the Almighty God that gave it to me and my body to be buried in a Christian manner at the discretion of my executors hereafter named and as to my worldly estate I order that my funeral charges and just debts are paid and discharged first.
Item—I will and bequeath to my son Henry two hundred acres of land part of that tract I bought of Anthony Worley to him and his heirs and assigns forever.
Item—I will and bequeath the remainder of that three hundred and ninety acres I Bought of Worley to my son Daniel be it more or less to him and his heirs and assigns forever.
Item—I will and bequeath to my son Jacob fifty six acres of land I bought of Thomas Foster lying in Maryland be it more or less to him and his heirs and assigns forever.
Item—I will and bequeath to my son Michael ten acres of land I bought of John Newland and ninety three acres of land I bought of Simon Linder be it more or less, etc., etc.
Item—I will and bequeath to my son Solomon one hundred acres of land I bought of William Neely and three out lots containing fifty acres, etc., etc.
Item—I will and bequeath my daughter Elizabeth the house and lot I bought of Swearingen containing one-half acre more or less, etc.
Item—I will and bequeath to my daughter Mary, the house and lot I bought of Peter Bedinger containing half an acre more or less.
Item—I will and bequeath to my daughter Sarah the house and lot I now dwell in containing half an acre, etc., etc.
Item—I will and bequeath to my loving wife Magdalen that half acre lot that Philip Sheetz now lives on during her life, and after her decease I leave the said lot to Henry and Jacob to them and their heirs and assigns forever.
Item—I likewise leave my wife Magdalen a negro wench called Sina to her and her assigns.
Item—I also leave to my wife Magdalen the rents of all my lands and lots during the time she remains my widow and no longer.
I likewise leave ten acres of land I bought of William Morgan to my wife during her life, and after her decease to be sold and equally divided between my eight children before-mentioned.
Item—I do appoint my son Henry my whole and sole Executor of this my last Will and Testament. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this eighteenth day of December, in the year of our Lord one thousand, seven hundred, and seventy one.
Henry Bedinger (Seal)
Signed, Sealed, and Published in the presence of
William Morgan
Philip Sheetz
Continued: Mary Magdalena von Schlegel
[i] Mecklenburg was in Berkeley County, Virginia. Jefferson County was formed from part of Berkeley County in 1801. In 1863 Berkeley and Jefferson Counties became counties in West Virginia. Henry Bedinger (1) and most of his family lived in Shepherdstown, Berkeley Co., Virginia which in 1801 became a part of Jefferson Co., Virginia. In about 1801, Henry Bedinger (4) purchased “Protumna”, where he lived and raised his family. Protumna, a few miles south of Martinsburg, remained in Berkeley Co. In 1863, Berkeley and Jefferson Counties became counties of West Virginia. In the genealogical tables, I have, in some cases noted changes in city, county and state designations. Where the changes are not noted, the locations given refer to the location at the time of the event.
Henry Bedinger died in January of 1772 and as set forth in his will, his son Henry Bedinger, not yet nineteen years of age, performed the role of Executor of his estate. That father must have had entire confidence in his uprightness and good judgment; else he would not have made him his sole executor.
Will of Henry Bedinger
In the name of God, Amen.
I, Henry Bedinger of Frederick County in the Colony of Virginia, being weak in body but of sound and
perfect memory—blessed be God for His mercy—do constitute this my last Will and Testament revoking all other Wills by word of mouth or writing and this only for my last Will and Testament. Imprimis, I leave my soul to the Almighty God that gave it to me and my body to be buried in a Christian manner at the discretion of my executors hereafter named and as to my worldly estate I order that my funeral charges and just debts are paid and discharged first.
Item—I will and bequeath to my son Henry two hundred acres of land part of that tract I bought of Anthony Worley to him and his heirs and assigns forever.
Item—I will and bequeath the remainder of that three hundred and ninety acres I Bought of Worley to my son Daniel be it more or less to him and his heirs and assigns forever.
Item—I will and bequeath to my son Jacob fifty six acres of land I bought of Thomas Foster lying in Maryland be it more or less to him and his heirs and assigns forever.
Item—I will and bequeath to my son Michael ten acres of land I bought of John Newland and ninety three acres of land I bought of Simon Linder be it more or less, etc., etc.
Item—I will and bequeath to my son Solomon one hundred acres of land I bought of William Neely and three out lots containing fifty acres, etc., etc.
Item—I will and bequeath my daughter Elizabeth the house and lot I bought of Swearingen containing one-half acre more or less, etc.
Item—I will and bequeath to my daughter Mary, the house and lot I bought of Peter Bedinger containing half an acre more or less.
Item—I will and bequeath to my daughter Sarah the house and lot I now dwell in containing half an acre, etc., etc.
Item—I will and bequeath to my loving wife Magdalen that half acre lot that Philip Sheetz now lives on during her life, and after her decease I leave the said lot to Henry and Jacob to them and their heirs and assigns forever.
Item—I likewise leave my wife Magdalen a negro wench called Sina to her and her assigns.
Item—I also leave to my wife Magdalen the rents of all my lands and lots during the time she remains my widow and no longer.
I likewise leave ten acres of land I bought of William Morgan to my wife during her life, and after her decease to be sold and equally divided between my eight children before-mentioned.
Item—I do appoint my son Henry my whole and sole Executor of this my last Will and Testament. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this eighteenth day of December, in the year of our Lord one thousand, seven hundred, and seventy one.
Henry Bedinger (Seal)
Signed, Sealed, and Published in the presence of
William Morgan
Philip Sheetz
Continued: Mary Magdalena von Schlegel
[i] Mecklenburg was in Berkeley County, Virginia. Jefferson County was formed from part of Berkeley County in 1801. In 1863 Berkeley and Jefferson Counties became counties in West Virginia. Henry Bedinger (1) and most of his family lived in Shepherdstown, Berkeley Co., Virginia which in 1801 became a part of Jefferson Co., Virginia. In about 1801, Henry Bedinger (4) purchased “Protumna”, where he lived and raised his family. Protumna, a few miles south of Martinsburg, remained in Berkeley Co. In 1863, Berkeley and Jefferson Counties became counties of West Virginia. In the genealogical tables, I have, in some cases noted changes in city, county and state designations. Where the changes are not noted, the locations given refer to the location at the time of the event.