Will of Charles Tait, Monroe, Alabama http://files.usgwarchives.net/al/monroe/wills/ctait.txt ==================================================================== USGENWEB PROJECT NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Project Archives to store this file permanently for free access. This file is copyrighted and contributed by: Ruth Newlan ==================================================================== March 2003 In the name of God. Amen. I Charles Tait of the State of Alabama & County of Monroe, make this my last Will & Testament revoking all others heretofore made- 1st The property which I have in possession in consequence of marriage, having been disposed of by a marriage settlement, it is unnecessary to make any provision concerning it by Will- 2. I give unto my beloved wife, Sarah, my houses & Lots in the town of Claiborne, together with all the furniture thereunto appertaining and also two wood lots of forty acres each in the vicinity of said town for & during her natural like, at her death, I give the said property to my grandson Charles W. Tait, to her & his heirs forever~ I give to my wife, absolutely, my carriage & horses and all the ready money I may have on hand at my decease, provided the same does not amount to more than Five Hundred Dollars~ 3. I give unto my son James A. Tait all my property both real & personal, lying & being in the county of Wilcox or elsewhere, not before disposed of to him & his heirs forever, subject, however, to the provisions hereinafter made. That is to say- I give unto my wife, Sarah, an annuity of five hundred Dollars, to be paid annually on the 1st day of May out of the proceeds of the crops of my plantation. 4. I give unto Miss Mary I. Thweatt, as a memento of my regard & affection, Tive hundred Dollars and the works of Scott and Miss Edgeworth now in my library. 5. I bequeath unto my coloured men, Harford & Howard, their freedom, this benefit to accrue to the first Harford, at my decease and to Howard at the decease of my wife Sarah. And I enjoin it as a sacred duty on my Executors to procure for them or either of them an Act of emancipation as soon as possible, after this my will shall take effect. But until such act can be procured or in default of such act securing unto them or either of them freedom. I leave them, in trust, to my som James A. Tait for the purpose of securing to them or either of them the benefit & enjoyment of their own Labors - that is, to be free by esuiticy. 6. I give & bequeath unto my son J.A. Tait & his heirs forever, in trust the two acres of land conveyed to me by John Davis in Wilcox county and on which I have built a chapel or meeting house to be held by him and his heirs in trust as aforesaid for the use & benafit of the Methodist, Episcopal Church, having built this chapel or meeting House, mainly for the accomodation of my black people and those of the neighborhood, my earnest request is that regular preaching may be had in the said chapel or meeting house on Sundays or sabbaths, in order that the black & coloured people in the vicinity may have the opportunity of religious instruction. 7. As a momento, merely of my affection, I give to my grandson Charles W. Tait my Gold watch - to Felix my cloak & cane- to Robert my sett of Blackstones commentaries, which I have had in my possession more than forty years and with which I commenced the study of Law- and to my grandson James, my Library at the decrease of my wife, And to each of my dear granddaughters, I give one hundred Dollars, to buy a ring & other articles of mourning on my decease.- 8th. I hereby appoint my dearly beloved wife, Sarah, and my son James A. Tait, Executors of this my Last Will & Testament. In testimony of the above I have hereunto set my hand & seal this 23rd day of March in the year of our Lord 1835- Signed, Seal & acknowledged C. Tait in presence of R. F. Porter Nathan Jenkins Daniel McCollum