Deed of Gift from Cornelius Smart - Pike Co., AL http://files.usgwarchives.net/al/pike/deeds/csmart.txt ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- USGENWEB PROJECT ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb Project archivist with proof of this consent. ALGenWeb Archive File Manager - Carolyn Golowka February 1999 Deed of Gift from Cornelius Smart - Pike Co., AL The following is a copy of a "Deed of Gift" by Cornelius Smart to his children, dated 19 November 1863. This document is recorded in Deed Book M, Page 607 in Pike County Courthouse. "This indenture made on this the 29th day of November in the year of Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty three between Cornelius Smart of said state and county of the first part and Eliza M. Amoson wife of Wiley Amoson of Montgomery County and Francis M. Smart of said Montgomery County and Melicha A. Smart, Isabel J. Rainer, wife of Young N. Rainer, William Edward Smart, Henry P. Smart, Caroline T. Snider wife of Zachariah Snider and William Cain Rushing trustee of the infant minor heir of Charles R. Smart deceased, all of the county of Pike and State after said of the second part all of where being parties. Whereforth that the said party of the first part (Cornelius Smart) being destined to distribute and divide between said parties of the second party who are all my children and grandchildren a very large portion of my estate in my lifetime - and a furtherance of this object have determined herefore to sell among my children so as to keep them in my family these negroes with Ranci, Hetty, Mary and her child Selan, Bob, May Anne, Issac, Susan and where even I have sold these negroes to my said children and for them realize the sum of seven thousand five hundred and eighty one dollars in cash and the equivalent and for the purpose of dividing a large portion of my estate among my said children and heirs equitable and family that none of them may and just cause of complaint on hereafter charge me with. Among those whom I alike esteem as near and dear to me I do by writing make the following gifts and distribution of the proceeds of said slaves mentioned, now far as in consideration of the love and affection which I this party of the first part, have and ___ toward my son Francis M Smart I give him in cash the sum of eight hundred and seventy five dollars to my well beloved daughter Eliza M. Amoson wife of Wiley Amoson the sum of eight hundred and seventy five dollars, in cash I give to my other children who reside in this county to with; Isabel J. Rainer wife of Young Rainer, Henry P. Smart, William Edward Smart, Malechi Smart, Caroline T. Snider wife of Zachariah Snider, and to the minor heirs of Charles R. Smart to with Cornelious D. Smart, Francis M. Smart, and Joseph Smart and to William C. Rushing trustee for said minor children of my said son deceased. That is to say I make all my children equal in their receipt from me of the proceeds of sale of my said negroes. Gray hereby the slave which my son Charles R. Smart would have received n his lifetime to his orphan child herein named on to William C. Rushing as their trustee to have and to hold these several sums of money to the sale and separate use benefits - who of forever. In addition to the several gifts herein named, I give in my extreme old age a father's blessing to my dear children beseeching them to be content and satisfied with this my testament of my earthly goods, well knowing that as they all alike share my parental affection, they should likewise share in my bounty."