Men Naming Guns

When James Vermillion died, he left an interesting Will (dated June 19,1834) to be probated (December 24, 1834) in Lawrence County. He left the standard provision that his wife Katherine should have the piece of land where he lived, together with all the household and kitchen furniture and all his stock of horses, cattle, sheep and hogs provided she did not marry again. Then he gave other land to his daughters, Sabre, Mary Ann, Alsey and Gena/Gera. To his son, Samuel C. Vermillion, he left his rifle gun called Proctor.

Then James added this clause:

“6th: In as much as I was before this married to a certain Sarah Daughherly (spelling is hard to read) in Virginia and she having several children, viz James and John, the others as to names I know nothing of, I will and bequeath to them the following sums, viz: To the said Sarah twelve and a half cents and to each of her said children the sum of ten cents each, believing as I certainty do believe and certainly know that none of the said children are mine.”

Editor's Note: I don't even know how to respond to this. Good luck genealogists figuring this out....and what's with men naming their guns? Abraham Cairns was ill when he wrote his will on December 10, 1823. Abraham gave his sorrel horse called Ball and the rifle gun called Williams to his son William when he turned 21.