Last Will and Testament of James Hambleton, dated 17 November 1726 (above), and Grace Hambleton, dated 11 February 1727 (below). Both wills were probated on 29 March 1727 in Westmoreland County Court, and are recorded consecutively in the Deeds and Wills of Westmoreland County. James bequeaths in his will "to my Son James Hambleton one hundred akers of Land" and "if he doe die without an heir to fall to my son John Hambleton." James states rather movingly: "I give my Soul into the hands of my gracious God, and my body to the Earth from whence it was taken." He also leaves "to my wife, Grace Hambleton, a Negroe Garle," who is not named in Grace's will. It appears that James, a former slave, became a slave owner himself. Grace leaves "two Gold Rings, a Silver bodikin, a Warming pan and all my Wairing Cloughs to my Daughter Ann & to John Hambleton a Bell mettel Skillit" and "to my son James Hambleton a new Bed Ticken & feathers with Bolster, Pillows, Rugg, Sheets;" and she left her three children "under the Cair of Phillip Baugust for to be maintained and Eduecation till they Com of Aige at Law to Inherritt there Estate." A published transcription of the wills is shown beneath the actual court records.
