Will of John Jacob Moorer, Lowndes, Alabama http://files.usgwarchives.net/al/lowndes/wills/willbookc/jjmoorer.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 http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00012.html#0002972 ================================================================================ August 1999 Will of John Jacob Moorer Lowndes County, Alabama Will Book C, page 79 John Jacob Moorer was born on September 6, 1784 and died August 19, 1851. These are the dates on his tombstone in the Snow Cemetery in Lowndes Co., AL. John was the son of Frederick Peter Moorer. This will was found first in Will book B, pages 253 - 255 and again in Will book C, page 79. It was typed out in book C, but hand written in book B. The typewritten copy had errors when comparing to the written, earlier copy. This is a copy of the typewritten will in Book C. State of Alabama, Lowndes County I, John J. Moorer of the State and County aforesaid, being of sound mind though weak in body, do make and declare this instrument to be my last will and testament. First: I do appoint and constitute my two sons, Stephen Decatur Moorer and Oliver H. P. Moorer, to be my legal Executors, empowering them to act in all things according to their best judgement in the settlement and distributions of my Estate in such manner as I shall hereinafter direct. to my son, Stephen Decatur Moorer, I have given and do now give to him and to his heirs forever, the following Negroes, to-wit: Carey, Federic, Anthony, Isba, Fener and Rosey together with all and singular in their increase. To my son, Oliver H. Perry Moorer, I give and bequeath to him and his heirs forever the following Negroes, to-wit: Loney, Aulsey, Anthony, Viney, Adeline, together with and singular their increase. To my daughter, Elvira, the wife of Thomas H. Snow, I have given and I do now bequeath for her special use and benefit and to the heirs of her body for their use and behoof the following Negroes, to-wit: Catherine, Emeline, Gray, Simon, LaFayette and Martha; but should my daughter die without having at the time a child or children living, then these Negroes together with all such others as may fall to her lot upon the division of my Estate shall revert to such other of my Heirs of to their children who in either case may be living. To my daughter, Orinda, the wife of Elijah H. Snow, I have given and do now bequeath for her special use and benefit and to the Heirs of her body for their use and behoof the following Negroes, to-wit: Manassar, Mary Ann, Montgomery, Ephriam, and Nora, but should my said daughter die without having at the time of her demise a child or children living, then these Negroes together with all such others as may fall to her lot upon the division of my Estate, shall revert to such others of my Heirs or to their children who in either case may be living. That my unnamed children may be equally provided for unless the same may be provided for during my life. It is my will that y said Executors shall set apart two lots of six Negroes each, either of which two lots shall be equal in value to any one of the lots I have given and designated to either of my other heirs at the time that I gave them. To my daughter, Sarah Ann Moorer, I give and bequeath that she have one of these said lots together with the sum of One thousand dollars for her special use and benefit, and to the heirs of her body should she ever have any for their use and behoof forever; but should my said daughter die childless or without having a child or children living at the time of her death, then the said lot of Negroes together with all other that may fall to her share upon the division of my Estate, shall revert to such other of my Heirs or to their children who in either case may be living. To my youngest daughter, Olivia R. Moorer, I give and bequeath the other of these said lots together with the sum of one thousand dollars for her special use and benefit and to the heirs of her body should she have any for their use and behoof forever: but should my said daughter die childless or without having a child or children living at the time of her death, then the said lot of Negroes together with all such others that may fall to her share upon the division of my Estate shall revert to such other of my Heirs or to their children who in either case may be living. And now, should I have any debts at my demise, I desire my Executors promptly to pay them as soon as legally proved. I desire that all of my property of every description to be equally divided among all my heirs after my Executors shall have obeyed my behests as above stated. I wish every thing to be divided that in the judgement of my Executors can be fairly done without a sale. What can not be so done, let it be sold and a division effected. But I leave all these things to the discretion of my Executors. This is my last will and testament made this 30th day of June, AD, 1851. John J. Moorer (SEAL) Signed and sealed in the presence of C. G. Rives David W. Ruple Jacob H. Crum The State of Alabama, Lowndes County. Personally appeared in open court the above C. G. Rives, David W. Ruple and Jacob H. Crum, whose names appear as witnesses to the foregoing instrument of writing, who being duly sworn on the Holy Evangelist of Almighty God, deposeth and saith, that they saw John J. Moorer in his life time sign and seal and publish and declare the said instrument of writing to be his last will and testament, and that the said deponents at his request and in his presence and in the presence of each other subscribed their names as witnesses thereto on the day the same bears date therein written, and deponents further say that at the time of signing said writing, as his last will and testament, said John J. Moorer was of sound and deposing mind and memory. Sworn to in open Court this 29th day of September, AD, 1857 E. H. Cook, J. P. L. C. The foregoing is a true copy of the original will of John J. Moorer, deceased, and admitted to probate and recorded on the 29th day of September, 1857, recorded this 1st of Mar., 1867. James W. Graham