Georgia: Elbert County: Last Will and Testament of Joseph Bell 19 February 1818 ==================================================================== 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: Dawn Brasfield d.brasfield@worldnet.att.net ==================================================================== From Microfilm #3103 Washington Memorial Library, Macon, Ga., page 155: Will of Joseph Bell Sr. 1818 In the name of God Amen, I, Joseph Bell of the County of Elbert and State of Geoogia, being in a low State of health but in my proper mind Thanks be to God for it, and Calling to mind the mortality of man and that it is appointed for men once to Die Do make this my last will and testament in manner and form following (viz) I Desire first of all that all my Just Debts be Discharged Item, I lend unto my beloved wife Elizabeth Bell the following property (viz) the plantation whereon I now live with all my household and kitchen furniture also, two Negros by the name of Jack and Hall and two horses choice out of Four - three Sorrels and a bay, the Waggon and a Sufficency of Working tools, also my Stock of hogs, cows and geese During her natural life, the balance of horses and tools to be sold to the highest Bider and Mat, Brit, Fanny, Dave, Simion and Mark to be hired to home they choose at private hireing, and if Jacks wife is Carried out of his Reach he may be sold is he chooses and the money ariseing from the Sale to be put to the use of my Wife During her life, out of which I wish my Wife to make Good the legacies Following, out of the hire of those negros by the name of Mat, Brit, Fanny, Dave, Simon and Mariah - and school and rase my Children; Item, I Give and bequeath unto my loving Son Thomas Bell ten dollars in addition to what he has allready had to him his heirs and assigns forever Item, I Give and bequeath unto my Loving Daughter Anna Bullard one Dollar in addition to what she has allready had, also one hundred Dollars, after the death of her Mother, and no more for ever Item, I Give and bequeath unto my loving daughter Mary Bell one Dollar in addition to what She hath allready had Item, I Give and bequeath unto my loving Dauter Rebecah Gunter two Hundred and Fifty five Dollars when Collected in addition to what she hath allready had to her her heirs and assigns, forever, and to stay on the place where she is now living untill my Son Joseph Bell becomes of age Item, I Give and bequeath unto my loving Son Joseph Bell, all that parcil or tract of land adjoining James Gunter, James Nash and Other, Containing two Hundred and thirty acres be the Same more or less also one horse bridle and Saddle one bed and furniture & cow and calf to him his heirs and assigns forever Item, give and bequeath unto my loving Daughter Elizabeth Bell three Hundred and Thirty Dollars one bed and furniture one cow and calf, when collected to her, her heirs and assigns for ever Item, I give and bequeath unto my loving Daughter Eleanor Bell three hundred and thirty Dollars one bed and furniture and one cow and Calf, when Collected to her, her heirs and assigns forever Item, I Give to my loving Daughter Milly Bell three Hundred and thirty Dollars when collected, one bed and furniture, one cow and calf to her, her heirs and assigns forever I Further will at the Death of my wife, Elizabeth Bell all the property should be Equally Divided between my Daughters, Mary Bell, Rebecah Gunter, Elizabeth Bell, Eleanor Bell and Milly L. Bell This I acknowledge to be my last Will and testement and Do Disannul Reverse all Former Wills, Legacies, Gifts (?) and do Rattify and Confirm this and this only and I do hereby Constitute Ordain and Appoint, Joseph Bell Esqr. & Thomas Bell my Son Executors to this my last will and testament in Witness Whereof I have heareto Set my hand and Seal this ninteen of Febuary Anno, 1818 Joseph Bell (Seal) Test: N.T. Goode James Nash Benjamin Hudson Georgia Elbert County Court of Ordinary May Term 1818, Personally appeared in Open Court Nicholas Good and James Nash and after being duly Sworn Saith that they saw Joseph Bell Senr. Sign Seal and Acknowledge the Within Instrument, to be his last Will and Testament and that he the Said testator, was of Sound Mind and Memory at the time of his Executing the Same, and that they Subscribed their names as Witnesses, to the Same and in the presence of the Said testator and at his Request, and these deponants further say that they saw Benjamin Hudson Subscribe his name as a Witness to the Same and at the Request of the Said Testator Sworn in Court this 4th of May 1818 Test: Job Weston C.C.O. Nicholas Good And ordered to be Recorded James Nash Recorded the 9th May 1818, Job Weston C.C.O.