Henry Co. Ga Will of Jesse Bentley Submitted by Allan L. Bentley ************************************************************************ 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/ *********************************************************************** This is the Will of Jesse Bentley who came to Henry County, Georgia from North Carolina. He lived in Wilkes and Oglethorpe Counties before moving to Henry County. I found his will at the Henry County court house. Jesse Bentley apparently wrote the will in Walton County, Georgia, but it was probated in Henry County. Jesse is buried in Henry County, Georgia. Will of Jesse Bentley Walton County Georgia Signed September 5, 1829 I, Jesse BENTLEY, of the State and county aforesaid do hereby testify the following is my last Will and Testament and do in presence of almighty God and the undersigned witnesses testify to the same in my proper mind and without persuasion of my own free will. 1st. I commit my soul to God and my body to the earth from whence it came. 2nd. I bequeath all my property to my wife Mary Scott BENTLEY her natural lifetime and after her death, I desire it to be equally divided between my children viz. John T. BENTLEY, James J. BENTLEY, William BENTLEY, Josiah BENTLEY, Hannah T. RAY. 3rd. I bequeath to my wife Mary S. BENTLEY her lifetime one Negro woman named Joan and her offspring and all my property both real and personal and that my wife Mary Scott BENTLEY and John T. BENTLEY be my lawful Executors to attend to the taking care of my estate during my wife's life and after her death to distribute it equally among my children afore named. In witness where of I do hereby affix my hand and seal this 5th September 1829. Jesse BENTLEY (seal) Witnesses: James SHELNUTT S. BRYANT Georgia Henry County We, John SCOTT and James SHELNUTT do solemnly swear that we saw Jesse BENTLEY sign seal and publish and declare the foregoing writing to which many appear as witness to be and contain his last Will and Testament. That we subscribed the same as witnesses at his request in his presence and in the presence of each other and that we saw Samuel BRYANT sign the same as a witness that at the time thereof he was of sound disposing mind and memory and that he did it freely without compulsion to the best of our knowledge so help us God. John SCOTT James SHELNUTT Sworn to and subscribed in open court this 25th July 1836. Chat BAYNE D.C.C.O. Into my court personally came John T. BENTLEY the Executor named in the foregoing Will who after being duly sworn saith this writing containing the true last Will of the within named Jesse BENTLEY deceased so far as you know or believe and that I will execute the same by paying the debts and ____ the legacies contained in said Will so far as his goods and chattels will thereunto extend and the law charge me; that I will make a true and perfect inventory of all such goods and chattels so help me God John T. BENTLEY Sworn to and subscribed in open court this 25th July 1836. Chat BAYNE D.C.C.O.