Georgia, Coweta County, Last Will and Testament of John Dickson
17 February 1831

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John Dickson Will

Georgia
Coweta County

In the name of God amen. I John Dickson of the county and state 
aforesaid do make and declare this to be my last will and testament in 
the manner and form following.

First I assign my soul unto the hands of Almighty God and my body I 
commit to the earth to be buried at the discretion of my executrix and 
executors herein after named and my worldly estate I give and devise as 
follows.

First I desire that all of my just debts be paid by my executors and 
executrix out of my personal estate.
Second I give and devise to each of my children two hundred and fifty 
dollars to be paid in property of that value or in money immediately to 
each of them after their marriage or immediately after they shall 
individually leave their mother and settle themselves in a home of 
their own. Provided that this shall not be so considered as to entitle 
___ or any of my children to receive the said ____ until they shall be 
individually married or settle as aforesaid but each of them so soon as 
married are to receive the aforesaid sum of two hundred and fifty 
dollars and in case of their settling themselves in a home of their own 
before marriage ___ from my wife or that event each of them or each ___ 
parts of them as shall so settle themselves shall be entitled to 
receive it is my will that they do receive the said sum of two hundred 
and fifty dollars equally.

Third I give and devise the remainder and residue of all my estate both 
real and personally consisting of one ___ tract of land situate, lying, 
and being in the fifth district of said county known and distinguished 
as lot number fifty five in the plan of land district containing two 
hundred two and a half acres more or less, one Negro man slave named 
Sampson, one Negro name slave named Jerico one man slave named Andre 
one Negro slave man ___ Ben, one boy slave Negro Toney, one Negro boy 
slave named Dick, one Negro slave woman named Jenny, one slave Negro 
Mary and a girl, horses, cattle, stock farming utensils, furniture and 
all other of my property and effects not otherwise disposed of unto my 
wife Lydia Dickson to have and to hold the same for and during the time 
of her natural life without inproachment or wast and no longer provided 
__ conditions that she remained single and unmarried after my death and 
in case of her marriage after my death instead and in lieu of the above 
bequests she shall receive a child’s part of all my estate and effects 
and nothing more. I do further declare that the bequest herein made 
shall be in lieu and place of her dower.

Fourth I also hereby authorized and empower my executors and executrix 
to sell and dispose of the aforesaid lot of land and such parts of my 
stock as they _____ for the benefit and advantage of them, and ____ the 
proceeds of the sale thereof as ___ to all ____ as my be sold to be ___ 
to the benefit and profit of each and all of my children ___ provided 
the executrix and executor do all agree to the sale and disposal 
thereof.

Fifth I will and devise that upon the death of my wife Lydia Dickson 
all of my estate both real and personal be divided unto as many shares 
and parts as there are surviving children by these present to be ____by 
my executors and in case of the deaths of my surviving children for the 
purpose of my estate as was as the personal selected for that purpose 
can appoint the same having in view the value thereof and then each 
part to be drawn for one each child which I give and devise unto them 
forever.

I also will and devise that in case my present wife shall marry after 
my death that she receive a child’s part of m y real and personal 
estate as before mentioned in lieu of her dower, the whole of my estate 
in that event to be divided unto as many equal shares as these children 
then living and one over that number of shares that she may draw for a 
child’s part so soon as she is married which I give and devise to her 
forever and ___ devise that the division of my estate may be made in 
the manner before ____ out by the those suitable persons selected for 
that purpose as before mentioned.

I also will and devise that my sons Michael and Asa Dickson or one of 
them both the charge and management of my farms for the sole purpose of 
cultivation and improvements and for so doing they or either of them 
shall receive one share each of the crop which they or either of them 
shall make each and every year as a compensation for their service 
according to the number of hands employed each year.

And finally I do hereby appoint by wife Lydia and my two sons Asa and 
Michael Dickson my executrix and executors of this my last will and 
testament.

In witness whereof I have hereunto put my hand and affix my seal this 
seventeenth day of February in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred 
and thirty one.

John Dickson

Signed, sealed and published in the presence of us the day and date 
above written.
James Thompson
William Salisbury
Silas Reynolds