Early CO. GA Will of Frederick PORTER Submitted by Sarah R. Brooks ************************************************************************ USGENWEB 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 archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.net/ *********************************************************************** Will of Frederick PORTER, taken from Will Book A, page 7, Early County, Georgia, 1822-1839 GEORGIA, Early County In the name of God, amen. I, Frederick PORTER of the County and State aforesaid, being sick and weak in body but of perfect mind and memory, thanks be to God for the same, and knowing that it is ordained for all men once to die, I do make, ordain and constitute this my LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT, and first of all I recommend my soul to Almighty God who gave it and my body to the earth to be buried in a decent manner at the discretion of my family, and as to such worldly effects as The Lord has been pleased to bless me with I give and bequeath in the following manner, viz: Item 1st. I give and bequeath to my dearly beloved wife, Elizabeth PORTER, one negro woman named NANCY, and one negro man named AMERICA or MIKE, and one boy named LEWIS, four cows and calves, one gray horse, one bed and furniture, one sow and pigs, two ewes and lambs to be at her control during her life in widowhood, and at her disposition the above property and the increase thereof to be equally divided amongst my children or their heirs as will be herein after named. I also will that my wife, Elizabeth, shall have, possess, and peaceably enjoy quiet possession of the house and premises whereon I now live during her life as above, free and clear from any incumberance whatever. Item 2. I give and bequeath to my three youngest sons, John, Frederick and Joel, the tract of land on which I live, being No. 407 in the 26th Dis. Early, with the addition of fifty acres taken off side of No. 406 on the line forming said No. 407. This tract of land, No. 407, together with the said addition of fifty acres part of No. 408, I wish to be equally divided in point of valuation amongst my three sons above mentioned, that is to say my son John to have his dividend taken off the upper part of the land by a line running at right angles with the back line to the river. Frederick to have his dividend in the middle joining that of John with a line running so as to include the sawmill on his part, and the sawmill and the profits thereof to be and remain equally between John and Frederick, the lower division of said land to be the part of Joel which includes the grist mill and ferry, together with my building and improvement which remain under the absolute control of my wife during her life as above mentioned. Item 3. The balance remaining of No. 406 I give and bequeath to my two elder sons, William and Shadrach, to be equally divided in point of valuation. Item 4. I give and bequeath to my son William PORTER one negro man named PETER. Item 5. I give and bequeath to my son Shadrach PORTER one negro boy named DICK. Item 6. I give and bequeath to my son John PORTER one negro boy named ISAAC. Item 7. I give and bequeath to my son, Frederick PORTER, one negro boy named WYLIE. Item 8. I give and bequeath to my son, Joel PORTER, one negro boy named SAMUEL. Item 9. I give and bequeath to my daughter, Patience OXFORD, one negro woman named LEWIS. Item 10. I give and bequeath to the children of my daughter Elizabeth MINTER one negro named MARY. Item 11. I give and bequeath to my daughter, Lesley PORTER, two negro girls named ELIZA and EADY. Item 12. I will that my son Shadrach have one featherbed or the value thereof and that the filly which I got from son William be returned to him. Item 13. I will and order that somuch of my stock shall be sold as will be sufficient to pay my debts, and the balance of my stock, household furniture, except such as is herein disposed of, be equally divided amongst my children in the order before stated, only that out of the stock or profits thereof there shall be a horse purchased for my son Joel and one for my daughter, Lesley. LASTLY, I constitute, ordain and appoint my two sons, William PORTER and John PORTER to be my true and lawful Executors of this MY LAST WILL AND TESTATMENT. In testimony whereof I herunto set my hand and affix my seal this Second day of May in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty-three. N.B. The item which bequeaths the sawmill to John and Frederick PORTER does not mean or intend for the line of division to include the mill in their part but reserve the use and profit thereof to Frederick and John should the land fall in Joel's part. Signed, sealed, published and declared in the presense of Samuel C. B. Jackson FREDERICK PORTER (L.S.) John H. McDonald Nevin McBryde