Georgia: Columbia County: Joseph S. Morriss Will, 7 February 1852 ==================================================================== 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 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 Archives to store this file permanently for free access. This file was contributed by: Pattie Causey pacausey@mindspring.com ==================================================================== This is not from the loose wills, but from Will Book J. JOSEPH S. MORRISS "Will of Joseph S. Morriss Recorded 7 February 1852 Georgia Columbia County In the name of God Amen!!! I Joseph S. Morris of the county & state aforesaid being weak in body, but possessed of a sound and disposing mind and memory do make ordain & appoint this instrument in writing to my last will & testament in the following words hereby revoking all former wills heretofore made by me Item First It is my will & desire that all my just debts shall be paid out of my estate at the discretion of my executors hereinafter named Item Second I give and bequeath unto my two sons Joseph P. Morriss & Levi R. Morriss each one bed bedstead & furniture Item Third I give and bequeath unto my beloved wife Ann Harris Morriss the one Sixth part of my estate both real & personal consisting of whatsoever nature or kind after paying all my just debts court fees commissions & other contingent expenses to her & her heirs forever also in addition one bed bedstead & furniture Item Fourth I give & bequeath unto my son in law John C. Smith in trust for the sole & separate use of my daughter Martha Ann Smith & wife of said John C. Smith & children? born & may hereafter be born one ? woman slave by the name of Emmer & her boy child by the name of Henry together with the future increase of said ? woman slave by the name of Emmer & her boy child in the name of Henry shall be taken & rated by my Executors hereinafter named to my son in law the said John C. Smith trustee as aforesaid at the price or sum of Nine Hundred dollars & the said negro slave Emmer & her child Henry & future increase if any shall not be subject to the debts of the said John C. Smith the present husband of the said Martha Ann Smith or to the debts of any future husband that the said Martha Ann Smith may have. Item Fifth It is my will and desire that the whole of the balance of my estate both real and personal shall be sold by my executors hereafter named & after paying all of my just debts court fees commissions & other contingent expenses my said executors hereafter to be named shall pay over to my beloved wife Ann Harris Morriss the one sixth part thereof including the value of the negro woman & child heretofore given to John C. Smith in trust for the sole & separate use of my daughter Martha Ann Smith & her children now born & may be born to be paid over to my wife agreeable to the third item of my will Item Sixth It is my will & desire that the balance of any estate or real? proceed of the sale thereof shall be equally divided between my children and grand child Eliza Ann Frances Shields share and share alike with the exception of my daughter Martha Ann Smith who shall not receive any more of my estate until the rest of my children & grand child Eliza Ann Francis Shields shall receive that is to say son James I. Morriss shall receive nine hundred dollars my daughter Harriot L. Shields wife of James Shields shall receive nine hundred dollars my son Jesse W. Morriss shall receive nine hundred dollars my son William A. Morriss shall receive nine hundred dollars my son Obadiah P. Morriss shall receive nine hundred dollars my son Joseph B. Morriss shall receive nine hundred dollars my son Freeman W. Morriss shall receive nine hundred dollars my son Levi R. Morriss shall receive nine hundred dollars and my grand daughter Eliza Ann Francis Shields shall receive nine hundred ! dollars and the balance if any shall be equally divided between my children & grand child share & share alike that is to say between my sons James I Morriss my daughter Harriot L. Shields wife of James Shields, my son Jesse W. Morriss my son William A. Morriss my son Obadiah P. Morriss my son in law John C. Smith in trust for my daughter Martha Ann Smith & her children now born & may be hereafter to born my son Joseph B. Morriss my son Freeman W. Morriss my son Levi B. Morriss and my grand daughter Eliza Ann Frances Shields share & share alike Item Seventh I do hereby nominate constitute & appoint my beloved wife Ann Harris Morriss my executrix my son James I. Morriss my friend Thomas E. Beall my executors to carry into effect this my last will & testament & hereby revoking all former wills made by me and do hereby further appoint my son in law James Shields also as one of my executors to carry into effect this my last will & testament In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal this the 30th day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred & fifty one Signed Sealed & acknowledged in the presence of us & we subscribed the same at the request of the testator Mark J. Langston Stephen Drane Elam (his mark) Finch (on right side) Joseph S. Morriss (seal) (probate info below - probate February term Court of Ordinary, 1852)