Georgia: Coweta County: Last Will & Testament of Thomas H. Park 8 September 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: Jeanie Smith Zadach DaisyZ@aol.com ==================================================================== FHC Microfilm # 0470379 Page 68 State of Georgia Coweta County September 8, 1852/December 6, 1852 In the name of God Amen. I Thomas H. Park of the State and County aforesaid being indisposed in body in feeble heath but of sound and disposing mind in view of the uncertainty of life do make and order this to be my last will and testament in manner and form following to wit Item 1 I give and bequeath unto my beloved son John Ira Parks one Negro woman Becky & her child Henry one Negro boy Burwell one Negro boy Robin and one Negro girl Mahala and also the sum of two hundred and sixty four dollars in money out of my estate to him and his heirs forever in fee simple in his full proportional share out of my estate either real or personal provided always that the appraised value of the above named Negroes & money shall amount to one equal share of the appraised value of my whole estate at my decease and in the event that said appraised valuation of said Negroes & money shall fall short of being and equal distribution share with the rest of my six children then in that case it is my desire that my executors hereinafter named do pay over to him the said John Ira Parks out of my estate such further amount of money as shall make together with the Negroes & money already devised to him in equal share is one seventh of my whole estate. Item 2nd I give and bequeath unto my beloved wife Clara Ann Parks the following property to wit: One Negro woman Matilda, one Negro boy Erasmus and one Negro girl Margaret to have and to hold said Negroes and each of them to her own proper use benefit and behoof during her natural life and after her decease said Negroes together with their natural increase to return to my estate to be equally divided between my children Thos Bird Park, Martha Bland Parks, Joseph Woodson Parks, Emily Jane Park, Wm Henry Parks & my infant son not yet named ~ Item 3rd It is my desire that out of my remaining estate especially my crop of cotton and such surplus stock and provisions as may not be needed for the support of my family and to keep up the plantation that my executors (hereinafter named) do pay my funeral expenses and all my just debts and in the event that the asset from these sources are insufficient to discharge my debts it is my desire that they sell Negro woman Milly and her youngest child and Negro woman Melissa for that purpose ~ Item 4th It is my will & desire that all the remainder of my property of every description as well real as personal be kept together and that the farm kept up for the benefit of my beloved wife Clara A. Parks during her widowhood and her children and that before named children Thos B., Martha B., Joseph W., Emily J, William H & infant who is not yet named shall have as they arrive at the age of Twenty one years or marry one equal portion of all my estate not devised in items 1st, 2nd, & 3rd assigned to them by my executors hereinafter named as their full distributive share of my estate, to him or her and their heirs forever in fee simple. Item 5th It is my desire that each of my minor children last above named such education and support out of my estate as my wife & my executors hereinafter named may think best. Item 6th It is my will and desire that my dwelling house now commissioned & also the well be completed at reasonable cost & that all needful out buildings and fixture be added ~ Item 7th It is my will & desire that my lot of land in Gilmer County in this State be sold by executors hereinafter named for the purpose of providing funds to carry into execution Item 3rd of this my last will and testament. Item 8th It is my will and desire that after my decease my widow may remain in possession of the dwelling house and necessary out houses, household & kitchen furniture and be decently supported out of my estate during her widowhood and in short that nothing be sold which my executors may deem needful to the comfort or convenience of her and her children while they may remain together at the family dwelling and during her widowhood. Item 9th It is special will and desire that the property devised in Item 2 of this my last will and testament to my beloved wife Clara A. Parks shall not in any event be taken away from her by legal process or otherwise during her natural life ~ Item 10th I do hereby constitute and appoint John P. Atkinson of Brunswick County and State of Virginia and John C. Perkins and Bird Park of Coweta County and State of Georgia executors of all and singular of this my last will and testament. And in testimony of all and singular the forgoing as my last will & testament I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my private seal this 8th day of September in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred and fifty two and of the Independence of the United States of America the Seventy Seventh ~ Witness Thos. H. Parks {Seal} John M. Lundie J .P. Hunnicut J. H. Graham Proved December 6, 1852/Recorded February 8th 1853