Chambers Co. AL - Will of Theophilus Stevens - 1857

USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE:  These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced 
in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or
persons.  Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must
obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative
of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of
this consent.

The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the
file permanently for free access.

Submitted by:  Steve Renouf  usina@juno.com
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
                      Will of Theophilus Stevens, 1857
                                      
     Theophilus Stevens Will
     
     State of Alabama }
     Chambers County }
     In view of my approaching dissolution, and
     being satisfied of the rectitude of my intentions,
     and desiring to have my Will on record;
     In the first place: I will and bequeath, my soul to God who gave
     it,
     nextly: I bequeath to my son John D. Stevens one negro boy Green,
     which was heretofore delivered to him, at the price of nine hundred
     dol-
     lars; and eighty three dollars, in an account; Also one negro woman
     by the name of Mary, at the price of four hundred dollars; (now
     given.)
     
     I bequeath to my son James R. Stevens one negro boy by the name of
     Sam, at the price of four hundred dollars; and one horse at one
     hundred dollars; heretofore delivered; And one negro woman by the
     name
     of Flora, at the price of five hundred dollars, (now given.)
     
     I bequeath to Ann J. McCulloh, one negro woman by the name
     of Tamer, at the price of nine hundred and fifty dollars, hereto-
     fore delivered; one negro girl by the name of Harriet, at the price
     of three hundred and fifty dollars, (now given.)
     
     I bequeath to Elizabeth Darden, one negro woman, by the name
     of Fanny at the price of nine hundred dollars, which was heretofore
     delivered; one negro girl by the name of Evaline, at the price of
     five hundred dollars, (now given.)
     
     I bequeath to Hardy Stevens, one negro boy, by the name of Lewis,
     at the price of one thousand dollars; which was heretofore
     delivered; one
     negro girl, Caroline, at the price of three hundred and fifty
     dollars,
     (now given.)
     
     I bequeath to Flete C. Stevens, one tract of land,
     one hundred acres, more or less, lying in Harris County, Georgia,
     at
     the price of five hundred dollars, heretofore given; one negro boy
     Jesse,
     at the price of seven hundred dollars, (now given.)
     
     I bequeath to Thomas J. Stevens, one negro boy, John, at
     the price of nine hundred and fifty dollars, (heretofore
     delivered;) one
     negro boy, Seaborn, at the price of five hundred & fifty dollars,
     (now
     given.)
     
     I bequeath to Martha Meadows, one negro woman, by the
     name of Nancy, at one thousand dollars, (heretofore delivered,);
     one negro boy Frank, at the price of five hundred dollars, (now
     given.)
     
     I bequeath to Calvin Stevens, one negro boy by the name of
     Anderson, at the price of five hundred dollars, (heretofore
     delivered);
     one negro boy Orrin, at the price of five hundred and fifty
     dollars,
     (now given.)
     
     I bequeath to Hubbard W. Stevens, one negro boy, Ben, at
     the price of six hundred dollars, (heretofore given;) one negro boy
     by the name of Henry, at the price of seven hundred dollars,
     (now given.)
     
     I bequeath to my wife Celia Stevens; one negro man by
     the name of Cape; one negro man by the name of Dick, one negro
     girl by the name of Ann; to hold said negro property during
     her life time; and at the death of said Celia Stevens, said
     three herein named Negroes, to be sold by the Executors of this
     Will, or the heirs jointly, at law; and the proceeds divided among
     my children or their heirs equally; also, one buggy and horse,
     all my house hold furniture in fee simple, to my wife.
     
     I bequeath my lands and stock, to be sold, and the pro-
     ceeds applied to all debts and liabilities, that I may be non
     accountable for or may hereafter accrue; and should there be
     a surplus after liquidating all just demands against me, or my
     estate, then, that surplus to be divided equally among my law-
     ful heirs.
     
     I further require, that my children in making the property
     equal in the negroes, land, horses &c., given them, that they pay
     and receive from each other, sums of money or obligations to
     make each ones legacy equal, before the property now willed
     be delivered by my executors; unless said Executors is satisfied
     with
     the obligations offered.
     
     It is my will and desire, and I hereby appoint my beloved
     wife Celia Stevens and my son-in-law Isham Meadows, Executrix,
     and Executor of this my last will and testament; with full power,
     and authority to carry the same into effect, agreeable to the
     provisions thereof.
     
     Theophilus Stevens.
     
     Signed and published, as
     and for the last will and
     testament of Theophilus Stevens;
     in our presence; and by us
     witnessed, in his presence and at
     his request; this 16th day of
     June 1857.
     
     Test:
     Isaac Howell
     Richard Thurman
     William Sharman
     
     The State of Alabama }
     Chambers County. }
     
     Regular Court of Probate,
     September 14, 1857.
     
     Personally appeared in Open Court, Isaac Howell, Rich-
     ard Thurman, and William C. Sharman, the three subscribing
     witnesses
     to the foregoing Will; who being duly sworn, depose each and
     say on oath, that they saw Theophilus Stevens, the testator,
     sign, seal and publish the same, as and for his last Will
     and Testament on the day the same bears date; that they
     each believed the said Theophilus Stevens, to be of sound and
     disposing mind and memory, at the time of signing the same
     that they, deponents, each signed the same, at the request and
     the presence of the said Theophilus Stevens; and that they all
     signed the same in the presence of each other.
     
     Sworn to & Subscribed, before }
     me, this 14th day of }
     September 1857. }
     
     Isaac Howell
     W.C. Sharman
     Richard Thurman
     
     Wm. L. Crayton
     Judge of Probate.
     
     Be it remembered, that on the 14th day of September 1857, the
     foregoing Will was duly probated in the Probate Court of Chambers
     County, Ala.; on the affidavit of Isaac Howell, Richard Thurman,
     and William C. Sharman, the three subscribing witnesses to the
     same;
     and recorded, in Vol. 3, Pages 15, 16, & 17.
     
     Wm. L. Crayton,
     Judge of Probate