Will of James Lowe
Submitted by Tracie Crawford

Know all by these presents that I, James W. Lowe of the County of Tazewell and State of Virginia being of sound mind and in the proper possession of all my mental faculties do hereby by these presents make this my last will and testament which is as follows to wit:

1st - I hereby these presents will bequeath and devise to my grandchildren, Cosby Jane Lowe, Louita (?) Lowe, David B. Lowe, Peter H. Lowe, George Lowe, and Pearl Lowe, being the children of my son, William C. Lowe, thirty acres of land off of the northeast corner of my farm including the house built by William C. Lowe to have and to hold by the named children of W.C. Lowe their heirs and assigns forever with all of the appurtenances belonging thereunto.

2nd - I hereby will bequeath and devise to my son W.C. Lowe Four Hundred dollars due and owing to me by the said W.C. Lowe, for cash loaned by me to the said W.C. Lowe in the year 1885.

3rd - I hereby will bequeath and devise to my three sons, Fernandis Lowe, James M. Lowe, and *David C. Lowe all the residence of my farm after deducting the thirty acres heretofore devised by me in this will, to be divided by the above three sons according to value and in such manner as will give Fernandis Lowe the home and improvements where he now lives and will give David C. Lowe the home and improvements where I now live.

4th - I hereby will, bequeath and devise to my daughter, Susan Reed, three hundred dollars to be paid to the said Susan Reed as she may need it, by my three sons, Fernandis Lowe, James M. Lowe and David C. Lowe, each paying one hundred dollars.

5th - I hereby will bequeath and devise to my wife Louemma (?) J. Lowe the sum of Fifty Dollars ($50) for annum each year during the term of the natural life of the said Louemma (?) J. Lowe, should she demand it. The said Fifty Dollars per year to be paid by my three sons, Fernandis Lowe, James M. Lowe, and David C. Lowe, each paying an equal part.

6th - I hereby will, bequeath and devise that at my decease, all my personal property of every description whatever shall be sold by my sons, Fernandis Lowe, James M. Lowe, and David C. Lowe, and the proceeds thereof applied to the discharge of my just debts and if the proceeds of the sale of said personal property shall not be enough to discharge all my jyst debts, doctor bills, and burial expenses then the residue of said debts, doctor bills and burial expense shall be paid by my three sons, Fernandis Lowe, James M. Lowe and David C. Lowe each paying an equal part.

7th - I hereby will devise and bequeath to my wife Louemma J. Lowe one iron gray filly and one red three year old heifer.

Given under my hand this the 22nd day of March A.D. 1897.

Signed:James W. (X) Lowe - his mark

Witnesses: S.H. Laird
           Geo. C. Bailey

We S.H. Laird and George C. Bailey of the County of Tazewell and State of Virginia do hereby certify that we are personally and intimately acquainted with James W. Lowe whose name is signed to the foregoing will on testament, bearing date on the 22nd March 1897 and that we have witnessed his signature to the same and that he is of sound mind and in the proper possession of all his mental faculties.

Given under our hand this the 22nd day of march, A.D. 1897.

Signed: S.H. Laird
            Geo. C. Bailey

Virginia: At a County Court for Tazewell County begun and held at the Court House thereof on
Tuesday, June 22, 1897.

Hon. J.H. Stuart presiding.

The last will and testament of J.W. Lowe was this day produced in Court, proved by the oath
of Geo. C. Bailey, one of the subscribing witnesses thereto and ordered to be record.

A Copy Test'
T.E. George, Clerk


*Corrected from original copy of will 12/10/19-

NOTES:
James W. Lowe/Hurst was married to 1)Ruth Christian (daugther of Mastin and Jane Christian) and married
2) to Louvenia Ratliffe on Oct. 23, 1890 --name is hard to read in will could be Louvenia and not
Louemma. It is unknown at this time who his parents were.

Fernandis Lowe was married to Serepta Ann Reed, daughter of Jackson and Charlotte Reed.
James M. Lowe was married to Mollie Ruth Hankins, daughter of William Hankins and Elizabeth Brewster Hankins.
David C.(Christian) Lowe was married to Mary Melissa Lambert, daughter of Thomas Morgan Lambert
and Rebecca Hinkle.
William C. Lowe was married to Rebecca D. Ratliffe, Daughter of Peter Ratliffe.