Chambers County Alabama - Wills - John C. Towles 1876 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/al/alfiles.htm ************************************************ This file was contributed by: Don L. Clark July 2002 Note: The grave of John C. Towles is found at what is commonly called the Old Baptist Cemetery in LaFayette, located behind LaFayette Community House on First Street, SE, formerly Columbus Street. Hon. John C. Towles, June 20, 1813 - February 10, 1877 1860 Chambers County, AL Census HH693 John C. Towles 46M, Farmer, R$5,000 P$40,000 25 Slaves, Born SC Louisa A 41F, Born GA Louisa A. 20F, AL William W. 17M, School, AL George W. 15M, School, AL (?) 12F, School, AL Susan E. 10F, School, AL James G. 5M, AL ============================================================================================ Will of John C. Towles - 1876 Chambers County, AL Will Book 3, Pages 445 - 448 The State of Alabama Chambers County The last Will and Testament of John C. Towles, of the County and State aforesaid. I, John C. Towles, considering the uncertainty of this mortal life, and being of sound mind and memory, do make and publish this my last will and testament, in manner and form following (that is to say). First. I resign my soul into the hands of Almighty God, hoping and believing in a remission of my sins, by the merits and mediation of Jesus Christ; And my body I commit to the earth, to be buried at the discretion of my executrix hereinafter named; And my worldly estate I give and devise as follows: First. I give and bequeath unto my beloved wife Catharine W. Towles, all that tract or parcel of land, situated, lying and being in the County of Chambers and State of Alabama, known as the NE 1/4 of Section 15, Township 22, Range 26, containing 160 acres more or less, together with all and everything thereon situate or thereunto pertaining. I further give and devise to my said wife, 40 acres of land with all the appurtenances thereunto belonging in the NW corner of the East 1/2 of Section 10, Township 22, Range 26, to be laid off in a square, said land situated in the County of Chambers and State of Alabama. Second. I give and bequeath to my youngest son James Germany Towles, 170 acres of land, to wit: the West 1/2 of the West 1/2 of Section 11, containing 160 acres, and 10 acres to be laid off in a square in the SE corner of the East 1/2 of Section 10, all of said lands lying in Township 22, Range 26, situated in Chambers County, Alabama. Third. I give and bequeath to my youngest daughter Susan Emily Towles, the East 1/2 of the East 1/2 of Section 10, Township 22, Range 26, excepting the 10 acres already given to James G. Towles, containing 150 acres, situated in Chambers County, State of Alabama. Fourth. I give and bequeath to my daughter Louisa Ann Grimmett, the West 1/2 of the East 1/2 of Section 10, Township 22, Range 26, excepting the 40 acres given by this will elsewhere to my wife Catharine W. Towles, containing 120 acres more or less, situated in Chambers County, Alabama. Fifth. I give and bequeath to my son William Wallace Towles, the East 1/2 of the East 1/2 of the West 1/2 of Section 11, Township 22, Range 26, situated in Chambers County, State of Alabama, containing 80 acres more or less. Sixth. I give and bequeath to my son John Stokely Towles, the West 1/2 of the East 1/2 of the West 1/2 of Section 11, Township 22, Range 26, situated in Chambers County, Alabama, containing 80 acres more or less. Seventh. I give and bequeath to my son Oliver Darden Towles, the West 1/2 of the NE 1/4 of Section 17, Township 23, Range 24, also Fraction (C.) on Section 20, same township and range, all lying and being situated in the County of Tallapoosa, in the State of Alabama, supposed to contain 120 acres. Eighth. I give and bequeath to my daughters Elizabeth Frances Diamond, and Catharine Jane Wilkinson, the SE 1/4 of the NE 1/4 0f Section 18, Township 23, Range 24, also the NW 1/4 of the NW 1/4 of Section 20, Township 23, Range 24, all of said lands lying and being situated in the County of Tallapoosa and State of Alabama. Also, all my interest in certain gold lots in and around Goldville, Tallapoosa County, Alabama, held and owned jointly by the heirs at law of the late Britton Stamps of Butler County, Alabama, deceased (*Numbers and amount not known) and myself. I also further give and bequeath unto my said daughter Elizabeth Frances Diamond and Catharine Jane Wilkinson, my 1/4 interest, in and to a certain gold lot in the county of Harris and in the State of Georgia, known and distinguished as lot No. 312, in the 20th District and 3rd Section, containing 40 acres. *Note, The Will of the late Britton Stamps, deceased, sets forth the numbers and amount of acres of land. Ninth. I give and bequeath unto my youngest son James G. Towles, one black mare mule called Gin, one cow and calf, one feather bed and furniture, one bedstead and mattress, one sow and pigs, one set plow gear, one axe, one plow stock, single tree and clevis, and one four horse waggon, also 3 acres of land out of the NW corner of Section 14, Township 22, Range 26. Tenth. I give and bequeath unto my daughter Susan Emily Towles, my saddle pony Tom Thumb, one cow and calf, one feather bed and mattress, bedstead and furniture, one bureau, and one piano forte. Eleventh. I give and bequeath unto my daughter Louisa Ann Grimmett, one set silver castor and silver spoons-large and small, (9 teaspoons and 5 large ones) marked with the letters L.A.T. Twelfth. I give and bequeath to my son John Stokely Towles, my gold watch and fob chain (a gift from my Father) which I hope he will prize as a token of a Father's lvoe, and not to be parted with or allowed to depart out of the family, or be used as an article of merchandise, to raise money upon, to gratify some speculation fancy or otherwise. Thirteenth. I give and bequeath all the rest and residue of my personal estate whatsoever and wheresoever of what nature, kind, and quality soever, the same may be and not herein given and disposed of (after payment of all my just debts, and funeral expenses) to my good and beloved wife Catharine W. Towles; And I do hereby constitute and appoint my said wife Catharine W. Towles, sole Executrix of this my last Will and Testament, without being required to enter into bond as such Executrix, for the faithful execution of said trust. In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal, the fifteenth day of August, in the year of our Lord one thousand-eight hundred and seventy six (August 15, 1876). John C. Towles L.S. The above and forgoing instrument of six pages, was at the date thereof declared to us by the Testator John C. Towles, to be his last Will and Testament; and he then acknowledged to each of us, that he had subscribed the same, and we at his request, sign our names hereto as attesting witnesses. F. A. Trammell Jas. E. Scarbrough ================================================================================ The State of Alabama Chambers County I, Peter M. Rowland, Judge of Probate Court, in and for said county, do hereby certify that the foregoing instrument of writing was on the 26th day of March, 1877, in said Court and before me, as the Judge, thereof duly proven by the proper testimony, to be the genuine last Will and Testament of John C. Towles, deceased, and that said Will together with said proof thereof, has been this day recorded in my office in Book 3 of Wills, pages 445, 446, 447 & 448. Given under my hand this July 11, 1877. Peter M. Rowland Judge of Probate