Georgia:  Elbert County:  Will of Stephen Chatham, 
8 Apr 1826, Franklin Co., GA

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This file was contributed by:
Chandler Eavenson
http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00030.html#0007294

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Will of Stephen Chatham, 8 Apr 1826, Franklin Co., GA

"Georgia, Franklin County: In the name of God Amen, I Stephen
Chatham of the county and state aforesaid being weak in body 
but of perfect mind and memory calling unto mind the mortality
of my body and knowing that it is appointed for all men once to
die do make and ordain this my last Will and Testament that is 
to say principally and first off all I give and recommend my 
soul unto the hands of Almighty God that gave it and my body
to the earth be buried in decent christian burial at the 
discretion of my executors nothing doubting but at the general
resurrection I shall receive the same again by the mighty power
of God and as touching such worldly estate wherewith it both
pleased God to bless me in this life I give and dispose of the 
same in the following manner, To Wit;

First - My will is that all my just debts be paid out of my 
estate. 

Second - I give and bequeath to my beloved daughter
Hephziba Chatham to be received at her marriage a good horse
saddle and bridle bed and furniture one cow and calf and sow
and pigs. 

Thirdly - I give and bequeath to my beloved daughter
Benicy Green Chatham to be received at her marriage a good 
horse saddle and bridle feather bed furniture one cow and calf
and sow and pigs. 

Fourthly - I give and bequeath to my beloved 
son Japheth Chatham to be received when he arrives at the age 
of twenty one years a good horse saddle and bridle feather bed
and furniture one cow and calf and sow and pigs. 

Fifthly - I
give and bequeath to my beloved daughter Sarah Johnston Chatham
to be received at her marriage a good horse bridle and saddle
feather bed furniture cow and calf and sow and pigs. 

Sixthly - 
I give and bequeath to my beloved son Elijah Jackson Chatham to
be received at his arriving at the age of Twenty one years a 
good horse saddle and bridle cow and calf sow and pigs feather
bed and furniture. 

Seventhly - I give and bequeath to my beloved
son Elisha Monroe Chatham when he arrives at the age of twenty
one years a good horse saddle and bridle feather bed and 
furniture one cow and calf sow and pigs. 

Eighthly - I give and 
bequeath to my beloved son Levi Chatham to be received at his 
arriving at the age of twenty one years old a good horse saddle 
and bridle feather bed and furniture one cow and calf and sow
and pigs. 

Ninthly - My will and desire is that my negro property
be kept together on the place until my youngest son arrives at
age then and in that case I wish an equal division among all my
children of what may then remain of my property both real and 
personal. 

Tenthly - my wish and desire is should seen expedient
that my executors sell my land and buy another tract at their 
own option (?) so that the estate may be benefited thereby. 

Eleventhly - I do hereby nominate and appoint my three brothers
Chafin Chatham, William Chatham and James Chatham my whole and 
sole executors of this my last Will and Testament hereby 
ratifying and confirming this and no other to be my last Will
and Testament In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and
seal this eighth day of April Eighteen hundred in presence ---
                         Signed: Stephen Chatham    seal
Maxfield H. Payne
Thomas Payne             [Last sentence of Will was incomplete
Groves Yarborough         and believed should have said 1826]
Esaias Harbour"

"Georgia, Franklin County: Court of ordinary July term 1826
personally came into open court Thos Payne and Graves Yarborough
who being duly sworn say that they were subscribing witnesses
to the within Will and that they also saw Maxfield H. Payne and 
Esaias Harbour assign their names as witnesses at the same and
all at the request of the deceased Sworn and subscribed to in
open court this the third day of July 1826. 
                        Signed: Thos Payne
                                Groves Yarborough
William Beall, Clerk, po tem
The Honorable the Court of Ordinary has met accdy & adgts
Sept 9th 1826"

[Submitter's notes: Stephen Chatham married Clarysa Higginbotham
on 5 Apr 1810 in Elbert Co., GA, he being the son of Epps Chatham
and Sarah Chafin of Franklin Co. and she being the daughter of
Samuel Higginbotham and Jane Satterwhite of Elbert Co. Clarysa
was apparently deceased as of the date of Stephen's Will in 1826
as she was not mentioned in the Will. Child Benicy (Bernicy)
married Johnson Monroe Hooper in 1828 in Franklin Co., moved
to Leake Co., MS, had 17 children. Elijah married 1841 in 
Lauderdale Co., MS to Susannah Rodgers and had 13 children. 
Sarah married 1832 in Franklin Co. to Pleasant Bellamy and had
11 children. In 1860 Levi Chatham was living in Milam Co., TX
with wife Elizabeth and had 9 known children. The city of 
Chatham, LA was named after a grandson of Stephen Chatham.]

Submitted by: Chandler Eavenson