Jasper County GaArchives Wills.....Jeffries, Thomas 1859 ************************************************ 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: Robert Jeffries rjffres@charter.net July 29, 2004, 12:21 pm Source: Jasper County Will Book 14, On Page 148 Written: 1859 Recorded: June 1859 THE 1859 LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT OF THOMAS JEFFRIES The last will and testament of me, the subscriber, Thomas Jeffries, being now of advanced age and much bodily infirmity, but of a sound mind and a disposing memory do think it proper to make this my last will and testament. 1st item- It is my will and desire that my body, after my death, be disposed of in a decent and respectful site. 2nd item- Any of my debts, if any, to be paid off by my executor hereinafter named, with as little delay as possible. 3rd item- I give and bequeath to my daughter, Elizabeth Jeffries, (She was not named Kelly at the time Thomas wrote this will, but she had married John W. Kelly by the time the will was probated.) my Negroes Mary, George, Serene, Daniel, and Raney and their offspring, if any. One bedstead, one set of bed clothing, one clothes press, and one horse worth $125. I give the above stated property to Elizabeth M. Jeffries, during her lifetime and at the time of her death to her children, if any. If she has no children, it is to be equally divided between my three children, to wit, Cordial D., Colbert, and Esther Jeffries to share and share alike. Should the said Elizabeth marry the property named above should not be subject to the debts of her husband that he may have had before their marriage, or that may be made by him afterwards, nor shall the property be subject to his removal, except by her consent. 4th item- I give and bequeath to my daughter, Esther L. Jeffries, my Negroes Johanna, Henry, Wina, James, Hela, Francley, and their increase, if any. I also give her one horse worth $100, one bedstead, one feather bed, one set of bed clothing and one secretary. The above stated property I give and bestow on the above named Esther L. Jeffries during her lifetime and then to her children, if any. If she has no children the property is to go to my three children, to wit; Cordial D., Elizabeth, and Colbert Jeffries to share and share alike. Should she marry the above stated property shall not be subject to the debts of her husband, nor shall the property be subject to her husband without her consent. (About a year after Thomas’ will was probated in Jasper County Esther married Christopher Columbus Spears in Jasper County. A year, or two, later she died and shortly afterwards Christopher Columbus Spears was killed in a battle in The War Between the States. They had no children, but if this property was returned to the estate and divided between the three named children, no record in Jasper County shows it. 5th item- I give and bequeath to my son, Cordial D. Jeffries, my Negroes Ned, Sam and Fannous. I also give him one bedstead, one feather bed, one lot of bed clothing, one horse, one mule worth $100, and 100 acres of land known heretofore as the Amy Smith Place, where Mrs. Huff now lives. 6th item- I give and bequeath to my daughter, Melissa L. Spears, my Negroes Cornelia, Sarah, and their increase, if any. 7th item- I give and bequeath to my son, William R. Jeffries, my Negro woman, Harriett, who is about forty years old. (Later records show William was five years old at this time, and that he was a mulatto. It is believed Harriett was his mother. It is also believed Elizabeth (Morris) Jeffries died around 1854 and Thomas and Harriett were lovers until his death. It is also known that the estate paid for William’s upkeep until he was 16 years old.) 8th item- I give and bequeath unto my son, Colbert Jeffries my Negroes Tilda, Hulda, Humphrey, John Rans, Gary, and Fortnight (a girl about 16 years old). I also give him 450 acres of land known heretofore as the Morrison Place, with a reserve for my daughters, Esther L. and Elizabeth M. Jeffries, for a home during the time they are single, or see proper to use the above state place as their home. 9th item- All my property not specified, in this instrument, I want sold as early as convenient. The money arising from the sale I want to go to the payment of any debts. The remainder, if any, I want to be equally divided between my children specified in this instrument, to wit; Elizabeth M., Esther L., Cordial D. and Colbert Jeffries I constitute and appoint my son, Colbert, as my executor of this my last will and testament. Thomas Jeffries L.S. (Some of his children, such as Lovey (Jeffries) Taylor, Dr. Thomas Jeffries, and Burkett Jeffries were not specifically mentioned in his will. It is known that many of Colbert’s brothers and sisters were not happy with the way he handled the estate and there were three, or four, cases brought into court against him over the manner he handled it.) The sale of the perishable property of the estate took place on November 1, 1859 in Jasper County. On July 29, 1859 the property had been appraised at $22,920.25, with $21,800 of this listed as slaves, who were given their freedom less than five years later. (I do not know the total financial wealth of William Jeffries, Sr., Thomas’ father, but I believe, in considering the value of property, etc. that Thomas is the wealthiest Jeffries I have come across in my research at any time period.) INVENTORY OF THOMAS JEFFRIES’ 1859 ESTATE IN JASPER COUNTY 2 beds, bedsteads, and foundation $30 wagon and harness $50 2 beds, bedsteads, and foundation $30 11 head of sheep $11 1 bed, bedstead, and foundation $15 45 head of hogs $200 two horse wagon and harness $40 1 lot of cattle $140 lot of scythes and gin band $10 mule (Ginny) $40 plows, stocks, and gear $10 horse (Alfred) $75 gin, fan, and threasher $50 mule (Mark) $25 sixty bushels of wheat $60 mule (Bill) $90 two stacks of fodder $10 mule (Tim) $80 10 bushels of corn $25 grey horse $15 Miscellaneous Property $80 23 slaves $17,000 Additional Comments: The tax records of Jasper County for 1850 showed the following information for Thomas Jeffries: He owned 750 acres of land valued at $2,000 and equipment valued at $60. He also owned fourteen cows, two horses, four mules, forty hogs, and thirty-eight sheep for a total value of the livestock of $500. He owned 500 bushels of corn, 50 pounds of butter, and 20 pounds of honey, among his other farm products. The tax records stated he owned ten slaves, but the 1850 slave census of Jasper County showed he owned 26 slaves. The 1850 Jasper County Agricultural Schedule said Thomas Jeffries owned 800 acres of land valued at $2,000, with 450 acres under cultivation that year and his livestock was valued at $500. Thomas Jeffries died in 1859 and since his will did not mention Elizabeth it is believed she had died between the 1850 census and the time of Thomas’ 1859 will. The Last Will and Testament of Thomas Jeffries, which was recorded in Jasper County Will Book 14, on page 148, was brought into court in the June term of 1859, by his son, Colbert Jeffries, who was the executor of his father’s estate. Named as heirs-at-law were: Esther, Cordial D., Colbert, William R. (mulatto), and Burkett Jeffries, William Spears in the right of his wife Melissa, John W. Kelly in the right of his wife Elizabeth, and Benjamin F. Taylor in the right of his wife Lovey. (Although he was listed as an heir-at- law, Burkett, was not mentioned specifically in the will. It is believed he received his share of his father’s estate at the time of his marriage. It is known he was still living for the 1850 census, but he was not living for the 1860 census, so it is also believed he may have died before his father’s death.) Thomas had married Elizabeth Morris in Wilkes County, Georgia and they moved to Jasper County around 1818. They had three sons and who spent their entire lives in Jasper County. I descend from one of his sons named Burkett N. Jeffries, who married Elizabeth Reeves, daughter of Joel A. Reeves in the county. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ga/jasper/wills/gwl82jeffries.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/gafiles/ File size: 8.9 Kb