Greene County GaArchives Wills.....Gresham, Sterling H. R. August 22 1848 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Ken Doggett kendoggett2000@yahoo.com October 30, 2004, 3:21 pm Source: Will Book, Greensboro Probate Court Written: August 22 1848 Recorded: September 4 1849 STERLING H. R. GRESHAM WILL State of Georgia I Sterling H.R.Gresham of the State and Greene County county aforesaid, do make and ordain this my will & testament in the words following, to wit: 1st. I will that all my just debts be paid out of my Estate by my Executor herein after named, and that no division of my estate, of the negroes or any part thereof shall be made, until all my debts are paid, the negroes to be kept on the plantation under an overseer, and with the proceeds of the crop, to pay my debts & other current expenses, and after my debts are paid, my Estate to be divided in the following manner. Viz= 2nd. It is my will, that my wife Catherine E. Gresham, have the use & occupancy of my house and a sufficient quantity of land adjoining the same whereon I now live to cultivate for her support, together with one tenth* part of my stock, and a sufficiency of farming utensils, Household and kitchen furniture, & shall be allowed her choice of four negroes to work for and support her during her natural life or widowhood, and should she marry again, or at her death, to be divided amongst my children in the manner hereinafter pointed out. 3d. It is my will, that all my negroes, after my wife has her choice of four, as stated in the second section, be put up in nine equal lots in valuation & drawn for, & distributed in the following manner Viz - To my daughters Anna E. Gresham Mary A Gresham, Georgiana F. Gresham, Laura V. Rea, Marceline A. Gresham, Marion B. Gresham, & my sons Sterling A. Gresham Young F. Gresham, & Albert G. Gresham, each, one equal share or ninth part of said property when so divided -- And it is further my will, that, in making up my negro property into lots for valuation, that, that part which may have heretofore been given to any one of my children above named with its increase, be a part of their share, that they may all have, all and each of them, an equal distributive share including the property already given them with its increase. 4th. It is my will, that the plantation whereon I now live together with all my lands adjoining the same, & also my Millet lands, on the waters of Town Creek, together with my land in the State of Arkansas, be divided into three equal parts, & valued by three disinterested men chosen for that purpose, having regard to quantity and quality, which when so divided give & bequeath to my three sons, Sterling A Gresham, Young F. Gresham, & Albert G. Gresham, and their heirs forever, (with the provision) that the said Sterling A Gresham Young F. Gresham & Albert G. Gresham pay to each of my daughters herein named, the sum of six hundred dollars, as an equivalent to their proportional share of my lands and mill otherwise disposed of. 5th. It is my will, that all my waggons (sic), carts, ploughs & farming utensils of every description, together with all my horses, hogs, sheep and stock of every description, after my wife has her tenth* part as stated in section second, be put up in nine equal lots in valuation & drawn for & distributed, to my daughters, Anna E. Gresham, Mary A. Gresham, Georgiana F. Gresham, Laura V. Rea, Marceline A. Gresham, Marion Burt Gresham, and my sons Sterling A Gresham Young F. Gresham & Albert G. Gresham, each, one equal share or ninth part of said property when so divided. 6th. It is my will and I wish it expressly understood, that all that part or portion of negroes given to my daughters herein named, is given them and their children, and should they die without children, then and in that case all that part or portion of negroes given them shall revert back to my estate & be equally divided amongst my surviving children before named, or their children. 7th. It is my will & I also wish it expressly understood that all that part or portion either of land or negroes loaned* to my daughter Frances A. Veazey, shall revert back to my Estate & be divided equally amongst my surviving children herein named. 8th. I will to Sterling A. Gresham & his heirs forever, my house & land in the Town of Greensboro Georgia, (with this provision) that the said Sterling A Gresham pays to my daughters Anna E. Gresham, Mary A. Gresham, Georgiana F. Gresham, Laura V. Rea, Marceline A Gresham Marion B. Gresham, my sons Young F. Gresham & Albert G Gresham each of them the sum of (two hundred dollars) as an equivalent to their proportional share of my house & lot, in the town of Greensboro otherwise disposed of. 9th. It is my desire also & I hereby expressly direct, that no part of my property be offered to public sale, but be taken at this valuation of three men, chosen for that purpose, if not otherwise agreed on. 10th. And lastly I do hereby nominate, constitute, & appoint my wife Catherine E. Gresham Executrix, & my son Sterling A Gresham Executor of this my last will & Testament, hereby notifying & confirming this, and this only as my will & Testament. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed my seal, this 22 day of August 1848. Acknowledged & signed in presence of Sterling H. R. Gresham J. R. Hall James B. Nickelson Jas W. Graslin Georgia Greene County. Court of Ordinary Sept. Three 1849. Personally appeared in open court, Isaac R. Hall, James B. Nickelson & James W. Graslin, the subscribing witnesses to the fore going last will & testament of Sterling H. R. Gresham dec. who upon oath say, that they saw him sign seal & heard him declare the same to be his true last will & testament, and that they each believed him to be of perfect sound mind & memory at the time of his signing the same, and that they signed their names in the presence of the Testator and in the presence of each other Sworn to in open court J. R. Hall 3 day September 1849. James B. Nickelson W. L. Strain Clk. Co Jas W. Graslin Recorded 4th day September 1849. W. L. Strain Clk. Additional Comments: *Underlined File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ga/greene/wills/wl515gresham.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.poppet.org/gafiles/ File size: 6.8 Kb