Will of Arabella McDonald, Lowndes, Alabama http://files.usgwarchives.net/al/lowndes/wills/willbookb/amcdonald.txt ================================================================================ USGENWEB NOTICE: All documents placed in the USGenWeb Archives remain the property of the contributors, who retain publication rights in accordance with US Copyright Laws and Regulations. In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, these documents may be used by anyone for their personal research. They may be used by non-commercial entities so long as all notices and submitter information is included. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit. Any other use, including copying files to other sites, requires permission from the contributors PRIOR to uploading to the other sites. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. This file was contributed and copyrighted by: Carolyn Golowka ================================================================================ November 2002 Will of Arabella McDonald Lowndes County, Alabama Will Book B, pages 306 – 307 The State of Alabama } I, Arabella McDonald, of the county Lowndes County } and state aforesaid, being of sound Disposing mind, do make and publish this, my last will and testaments. I1. I desire that all my just debts be paid by my Executors. I2. I give and bequeath to my daughter, Eliza A. C. Martin, the wife of James Martin, Epsey, a Negro girl about eighteen years old and her future increase. This slave and the property, money, and slaves bequeathed to her in section fore, five and six of this will to be held for her sole and separate use. The said Eliza A. C. Martin to have the power to dispose of said Negro girl, and the property, money and slaves bequeathed to her in sections four, five and six by will the same as though she was a ____ sole. At the death of my said daughter, should she die without disposing of the property given to her by this will, the said Negro Epsey and her increase, and the property, money and slaves and the increase of the slaves bequeathed her in sections four, five & six of this will to be divided among the children of my said daughter living at the time of her death, and her grandchildren should any child of hers have died leaving a child or children; such child or children to take the part of his/her or their deceased parent. I3. I give and bequeath to my daughter, Caroline M. Barnes, Winney, a Negro girl about fifteen years old and her future increase. This slave and the property, money and slaves bequeathed to her in sections four, five and six of this will are to be held for her sole and separate use free from the debts and control (except as Trustee) of any future husband should she marry again. She is to have power to dispose of the property bequeathed by this will by her last will and testament should she fail to do so, at her death, said Negro girl Winney and her increase, and the property, money and slaves bequeathed to her in sections four, five and six of this will shall be divided among the children of my said daughter, Caroline M., who may be living at the time of her death, and among her grandchildren should any child or hers have died leaving a child or children; such child or children to take the part of his or her deceased parent. I4. I give and bequeath all my household and kitchen furniture whenever it may be to my said daughters, Eliza A. C. Martin and Caroline M. Barnes, to be equally divided between them. I5. I desire that all the land which I may own at the time of my death and all the stock, which I may own sold and the proceeds equally divided between my said daughters, Eliza A. C. Martina and Caroline M. Barnes, and my son, Duncan L. McDonald, and my grandchildren, the children of my son John McDonald, dec'd, viz. Eliza, Duncan, Edmund, Mary, Ben, Sally, and John, said children of my son John, to receive one fourth of the proceeds of the sale of said land and stock. I desire my son Duncan L. McDonald to hold the same as Trustee for them, and also to hold as Trustee for them the slaves bequeathed in section six of this will. I6. I give and bequeath the following slaves and their future increase to my said daughters, Eliza A. C. Martin and Caroline M. Barnes, my son Duncan L. McDonald, and the children of my son John McDonald, named above, to be divided as follows: My two daughters and my son Duncan L. each go have one fourth and the children of my son John McDonald the remaining fourth, said slaves are seventeen in number and are named as follows, viz. Less, Celia, Judy, Binah, Ann, Bet and her child Rose, Dinah, Frank, Cary, Fanny, Boyd, Mary and her child Pad, John, Avaline and Peg. These slaves and the two bequeathed in sections two and three are the same, which are given to me by my mother, Lucy Hunly. I7. I here nominate and appoint Duncan L. McDonald my executor to carry out the provisions of this my last will and testament. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 4th day of September A.D. 1850 and revoke all former wills. Arabella McDonald Signed, sealed and published in the presence Of the testator and in the presence of each Other Sept. 4th 1850 J. M. Boling M. J. Saffold R. W. Saffold The State of Alabama } Probate Court, Dec. 14th, 1853 Lowndes County } Personally appeared in open court, Reuben W. Saffold, one of the subscribing witnesses to the foregoing paper purporting to be the last will of Mrs. Arabella McDonald, dec'd, who, being sworn, stated that said Arabella McDonald voluntarily executed the same in his presence and in the presence of the other subscribing witnesses on the day the same bears date; that at the time she was of sound disposing mind and memory; that he, this deponent, together with J. M. Boling and M. J. Saffold subscribed their names as witnesses thereto in the presence of said Arabella, and in the presence of each other on the day and date therein written. Sworn to and subscribed in open court this 14th Dec. 1853. E. H. Cook, PJLCC R. W. Saffold The foregoing is a true copy of the original will as written to and recorded the _____ of Dec 1853. E. H. Cook, PJLCC