Will of Martha Elizabeth Ethridge/Etheridge, Monroe, Alabama http://files.usgwarchives.net/al/monroe/wills/meethridge.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 Filed Dec 11, 1865 In the name of God Amen. This the thirteenth day of November in the year ofour Lord one thousand eight hundred & sixtyfive I Martha Elizabeth Ethridge of thecounty of Monroe State of Alabama Being in beeble health though of sound mind &disposing memory and convinced of the uncertainties of life and the certainty of deathdo make & ordain this my last will & testament in the words following to wit: Firstly after my death I desire to be decently buried Secondly I desire all of my just debts to be paid out of my estate Thirdly I will & bequeath to Josephine Henrietta Lambert all of my clothin with the exception of one new Black Silk dress one marino dress and one cloth cloak which I will & bequeath to the following named persons to wit, my new black silk dress I give to Martha M. Graves, My marino dress I give Mary J. Graves my cloth cloak I give to Georgia L. Lambert I also will & bequeath to said Josephine H. Lambert my featherbed, one carpet, one new set of knives & forks and one half of any furniture. I further and now desire that all my bed clothing should be divided into three equal parts, to wit, Josphine H. Lambert, Martha M. Graves and Mary J. Graves. Finally I give & bequeath unto my much beloved niece Martha M. Graves & to my cousin Mary J. Graves all my lands houses & Property of every name & description and name whatever I desire that said property lands & Houses shall be equally divided between them Martha M. Graves and Mary J. Graves with the above exceptions made in favor of Josephine H. Lambert and Georgia C. Lambert. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal this the day and the year first above mentioned or written. Signed read and acknowledged in our M. E. Ethridge presence the day & date above written J.W. Shomo J.L. Ridley S. A. Rodgers State of Alabama Monroe County } Before me M. McCorvey, Judge of Probate for said county personally appeared J. W. Shomo who upon oath says, that he subscribed his name as witness to the attached instrument of writing purporting to be the last will of Martha E. Ethridge decd - that said Martha Ethridge signed the same in his presence & in the presence of the other subscribing witness on the day the same bears date & that she declared the same to be her last will & testament that she was of full age & of sound & disposing mind & memory. Sworn to & subscribed J. W. Shomo January 8th 1865 MMCorvey, Judge **************************************************************************** Martha E. Etheridge, decd} Estate of } This day, cam U.B. Philips, the same having been appointed for hearing his application for the probate of an instrument of writing purporting to be the last will & testament of said Martha E. Etheridge decd, and the notice required by a previous order of Court having been given to all parties interested as the law directs- also, came Thos. J. Duke, Esq., as gdn ad litem for all the minors interested in this proceeding - And, it appearing to the satisfaction of the Court, from the testimony of S.W. Shomo, one of the subscribing witnesses to said instrument, purporting to be the last will of Martha E. Etheridge decd, that he subscribed his name as a witness thereto, in the presence of said testarix & in the presence of the other subscribing witnesses, that the said Martha E. Etheridge signed her name thereto, in the presence of this offical & of the other witnesses, on the day the same bears date, & that she declared the same to be her last will & testament, that she was of full age, & of sound & disposing mind & memory. It is therefore, ordered, adjudged & decreed by the Court that said will of said Martha E. Etheridge decd be received & the same is hereby declared to be duly proven as the last will & testament of said decedent & as such admitted to probate & ordered to be recorded~ **************************************************************************** Martha E. Etheridge decd} Estate of } This day, came U.B. Philips, and filed for Probate in this court, and Instrument of Writing purporting to be the last will of said decedent. It is therefore ordered, that the second monday of June next be appointed a day for hearing testimony as to the validity of said will- It is further ordered, that J.W. Shomo, J.L. Ridley, S.A. Rodgers, who appear to be witnesses to said will be subpeonaed to appear on siad day of hearing in the court to testify as to its validity- And, that notice of this proceding be given to A.J. Lambert, Josephine Lambertt, U.B.Philips and Mary J. Philips by citation to be personally served on them.