Madison-Jackson-Marshall County AlArchives Wills.....Holmes, Richard September 1818 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/al/alfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Mark Mitchell markjay@burgoyne.com October 5, 2005, 2:29 pm Source: Orphans Court, Madison Co., Al Written: September 1818 Recorded: December 1818 There was an oral tradition that Richard Holmes McCravey was raised by his grandparents and that 2 of his grandparents' names were Richard and Elizabeth Holmes. Recently a cousin sent to me the transcript of the Bible of Richard Holmes McCravey where his parents are listed as John McCravey and Mary Holmes. Richard Holmes McCravey lived in the Huntsville and Madison County areas of Alabama before moving to Mississippi. Here is a probate listing extracted from a photocopy for Richard Holmes, December Term 1818, Madison County, AL. Words in square brackets [mine] are my inference and are not part of the original will. I have found posting on the internet of people who say that they are descended from Richard and Elizabeth Holmes, but who have only listed one of their children. This will should help round out the rest of the family’s children and some of the grandchildren. I had wondered if Benj. F. McCravey was brother to Richard Holmes McCravey because they both named sons ‘Leroy’. Here in the will, if A. B F. McCravey is Benjamin F. McCravey, then Leroy here mentioned would probably be the older brother of both men. What’s unusual about the will is that Richard Holmes wrote it himself instead of using a scribe. Then the will was given to the court clerk after Richard’s death to enter into the county book. I’ve tried to maintain the clerk’s punctuation and spelling. Mark Mitchell markjay@burgoyne.com [page 126] Richard Holmes Will In the name of God amen I Richard Holmes of the Alabama Territory and County Madison Being in the due exercise of my reason do this twenty first day of September in the year of Lord one thousand eight hundred eighteen make this my last Will & testament in the manner as follows that is to say after my debts paid I give & bequath [sp] to my son James G Homes one half of my quarter Section No 11 Range first fourth Township the East half running with the crop fence North & South also the rest half of same quart [sp] to my son John & he shall not bargan nor sell said land before mentioned in his mothers life time she is to live on it with him & the crop that is now growing is to go to pay for the said land also I do give to my wife Elizabeth during her life time the propperty [sp] (Viz) Lewcut [?] Lege & will my bay mare & farming utentials [sp] cows & hogs & other furniture & at her death to be equally divided between my two sons & four daughters [I assume he means the surviving children because he also listed his grandchildren of what appears to be 2 of his deceased children.] [page 127] (to Viz) Jane & Easter, Nancy & Eliza Also I do give to my son James G. Holmes eight hundred acres of my Land on for [?] Radur River [sp? Raclur? – please, anyone who knows a river by this name in Tennessee, let me know] in the State of Tennessee he to have first choice Also I give to my son John eight hundred acres of said Land second choice also I Give to my daughter Jane three hundred acres said Track before mntioned also I give to my daughter Easter three hundred acres & to my daughter Nancy three hundred acres of said Land & to my daughter Eliza three hundred acres of sd [said] Land also I give to my four grand children (to Vs) LeRoy Mcluery [McCravey} A. B F. McCrarry [McCravey?] and July McCrarry [McCravey?] and Richard H. McCravey two hundred acres to be equally devided [sp] if Hugh Ready claim holds good my six children sheares [shares] equal in the Fifteen hundred acres that is left and pay equal charges for running said land agreeable to thare [sp] portion also I do give to my gran [sp] children to wit Marrah Christian & Nancy Ch[ristian] & George Chrs[tian] Millenda Christian fifty cents in current money also [page 128] I do give to my daughter Eliza my gray horse Quicksilver and I hereby do nominate my wife Elizabeth & my son James G. Holmes Executors of this my last Will & testament In Witness whereof I the said Richard Holmes have to this my last will & testament set my hand & seal the day & date above Ritten and sealed by Richard Homes the Father as his last Will & Testament in the presents [sp] of us who was [sp] present at the time of signing & sealing Thereof Richard Holmes {seal} Elizabeth Rice Samuel Miller Sen [Jr?] Orphans Court December Term 1818 The last Will & Testament of Richard Holmes was produced here in the court & Samuel Miller one of the subscribing witnessess thereto being duly swon deposeth & saith that said Richard Holmes acknowledged the same to be his his [double] last Will in presence of him the said Samuel Miller and that he subscribed his name thereto in presence of said Richard Holmes & that he believes said Richard Holmes was then of sound [page 129] Mind & memory whereupon said Will is order to be record (See minutes O. C. pages 6, 7 & 8) File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/al/madison/wills/holmes121gwl.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/alfiles/ File size: 5.5 Kb