This is a actual will as is recorded on official county records.. This will was uncovered by a family member who is assisting me in researching our relatives who fought as Confederates. Based upon this will, it is apparent that some Confederates would not and could not forgive the acts committed by Federal soldiers upon their persons and their property and they wanted to guide their descendants down the same path. Wonder if any of the posters on this board can claim kin with this D. G. Brown?

LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT OF D.G. BROWN, 1866

I have made several wills heretofore, when I had considerable property to give to my wife and children, but since the Yankees have stolen all negroes and robbed me of a great deal of my personal property, pillaging my houses, breaking open all the doors and stealing all the clothing they wanted, I have very little to will. They stole a gold watch from me, worth about three hundred dollars, which was a bridal present to me from my wife when we were married nearly half a century ago. They threatened to shoot me if I did not deliver my watch to them and burn down my dwelling house, presenting their pistols at me frequently. I am an old man of seventy six that was too weak and feeble to defend myself. I therefore make this my last will and testament in manner and form following viz:

1ST: I give and bequeath to my children and grandchildren and their decendants throughout all generations, the bitter hatred and everlasting malignity of my heart and soul against the Yankees, including all the people North of the Mason Dixon line, and I do hereby exhort and entreat my children and grandchildren if they have any love or veneration for me, to instill into the hearts of their children, this bitter hatred and these malignant feelings against the foresaid people and their decendants throughout all future time and generations.

Signed and sealed by me and written wholly with my own hand this 22nd day of November, in the year, one thousand Eight hundred Sixty-six.

D. G. Brown

This will was recorded and witnessed to on June 25th 1867

R. O. Doswell, Clerk, Hanover County Courthouse