Probate Will of A. M. Caston, Alachua Co., Florida File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Cindy Nettles, C4NETT@aol.com USGENWEB 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 cannot be reproduced in any format for profit or other presentation. This file may not be removed from this server or altered in any way for placement on another server without the consent of the State and USGenWeb Project coordinators and the contributor. *********************************************************************** Alachua County, Florida Probate Wills, Vol. B, p. 25 State of Florida § personaly appeared before me Alachua County § Andrew Robb Judge of Probate in and for said state and county Stephen Fagan Esq who being duly sworn says that he was present when AM. Caston late of said county deceased signed his last will and testament, which last will and testament is dated Nov. 6, 1862 -- and that he saw David A. Friar L.M. Scarborough and Wm. C. Caston sign the said will as witnesses S. Fagan Sworn to and subscribed before me this 24th day of November AD 1862 Andrew Robb Judge of Probate Recorded this 24th day of Nov. 1862 Andrew Robb Judge of Probate State of Florida § in the name of God Amen I Alachua County § Asia Minor Caston citizen of the county and state aforesaid being sensible of my enfeeb- led condition and knowing the uncertainty of life and being of a sound mind and diposing memory do make and constitute this my last will and testament. 1st - I will and bequeath to my beloved wife Milly Caston my bay mare and buggy my rocking chair, the large mattress that I bought at Bradfords Isle all the property now at her place in New River County which I have a right or claim to all my corn at the Frank Kennedy place excepting five bushels which I have sold there being in all about forty bushels the same being in the smoke house in a heap to itself (the corn which I have sold to John Bryant is measured out in the crib over 26 A M Caston Will continued if he refuses to take it, I desire the same to be sold by my Executor, or Executors provided my wife relinquish her dower in the place I sold to W Wash Scott and delivered to my Executor J. J. Bernard's receipt for D.A. Friar's note and two other notes on D.A. Friar one for twenty one dollars principal and the other seventeen dollars and some cents which were to be paid in ______ing and Wade H Bryant's note for ten dollars 2nd - I authorize my Executor to execute titles to W. Wash Scott for the land which I sold him, to be in all respects as valid as though I had executed the same in my proper writing. The said Scott was to pay me one hundred and twenty five dollors for the above mentioned land ____ ____ ____ ___ 3rd - I will and bequeath to my two sons, Samuel Napoleon Caston and Alson Bolivar Caston my two Negroes Lewis and Sine(?), if they wish to take one a piece they can appoint commissioners, who may appraise the said Negro hand, and the one who takes the most valuable can pay to the other the excess of value so as to equalize the bequest between them my said two sons, my two feather beds and mattresses, bedst -ead and wheatever other household furniture I have with me all my books and my clothing I may have provided they execute titles to W. Wash Scott for the lot in the town of Newnan- sville upon which I formerly lived, for which he the said Scott was to pay to me one hundred dollars _________________________ 4th - I desire all the property which I possess in Alachua County not disposed of above to be to be sold, my negroes to be hired out and the proceeds applied to the payment of over Will continued 27 my debts until all my just debts are paid, except that I wish my wife Milly Caston to have fourty dollars annualy for five years out of the hire of my Negroes, provided that she complies with the ______- ition in the first clause of this my last will and Testament. I do not wish my Negroes to be hired out of this county. Now if my above named sons Samuel Napoleon and Alston Bolivar Caston are able to pay off and do settle my debts and also pay to my wife Milly caston the above instalments of fourty dollars for five years, then and in that case they may take full possession of my said two Negroes Lewis and Sine and all the property I have bequeathed to them ____ ___ ______________ 5th - I appoint and constitute Stephen Fagan my Executor to this my last will and testament. I desire him to take charge of the property I have bequ -eathed to my sons immediately after my decease and to take care of the same until my said sons come to this place, if they desire to sell the articles bequeathed to them above in order to apply the proceeds to the payment of my debts they are at liberty to dispose of the same for that purpose, by authorizing my Executor to sell the same for the judgment of my debts. ---- This November 6th 1862 witness David A Friar A.M. Caston L.M. Scarborough Wm C. Caston Recorded this 13th day of December AD 1862 Andrew Robb Judge of Probate -transcribed by Cindy Nettles, 14 Feb 2000