JEFFERSON COUNTY, GA -WILLS Sarah Alexander Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: "Brian Nichols" Table of Contents page: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/jefferson.htm Georgia Table of Contents: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm WILL OF SARAH ALEXANDER (Will Book A, pages 286-87) MADE May 27, 1840 PROBATED October 17, 1842 In the name of God amen - I Sarah Alexander taking into consideration that it is appointed to all once to die and being in a low State of health but of a sound mind and memory do make and publish this my last will and Testament in manner and form following: (first) I commit my Soul into the hands of God and my body I leave to be buried in a decent and Christian like manner - and my worldly property I will and dispose of as follows: Viz - (first) I will and bequeath to my youngest son Green David Alexander all the tract or parsel of land on which I now live to have and to hold said tract or parcel of land to my said son Green D. Alexander his heirs and assigns forever. Also I will and bequeath to my said son Green D. Alexander my Negroe Woman Florah and her two children Mariah and also my best bed bedstead and furniture and also my sideboard. (secondly) It is my will and desire and I do hereby will and bequeath to my grand daughter Mary Jane Lawson and her lineal descendants or to the natural heirs of her body My negro Girl Silvy and I do hereby appoint John W. Alexander and William S. Alexander the lawful agents to act for my said Granddaughter and to manage her property left to her in this my will until she becomes of full age. I also will and bequeath to my said Granddaughter Mary Ann Lawson my second best bed bedstead and furniture and said bed bedstead and furniture to be left in the care of John W. Alexander until said Granddaughter Mary J. Lawson should die in non age or before she shall have bodily heirs then and in that case the above property shall revert back and be equally divided among my lawful heirs - And if said willed Silby should die before the distribution of my property after my decease then and in that case my said Daughter Mary Jane Lawson shall have an equal part with my other heirs of all property left for an equal division. (thirdly) It is my will and desire that my two negro women Big Phely and little phebe, together with the balance of my property of whatever kind be sold by my executor herein after named, and after all my lawful debts are paid which is to be paid out of the processes thereof - to be equally divided between my three sons (Viz) John W. Alexander, William S. Alexander and Green D. Alexander. I do hereby nominate and appoint my son John W. Alexander my sole executor of this my last will and testament. In Witness I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this 27th Day of May in the year of our Lord one thousand Eight hundred and forty one. Sarah Alexander her X mark Signed, sealed and acknowledged by the said testator as her last will and testament in presence of us who at her request in the presence of each other have subscribed our names as witnesses hereunto: Robert Boyd Thomas A. McBride Saml Stephenson Georgia: Jefferson County} In the court of ordinary September adjourned term to 17th October 1842, personally appeared in open court Robert Boyd one of the subscribing witnesses to the within and foregoing last will and testament of Mrs. Sarah Alexander deceased and being duly sworn saith that he saw the testator Sarah Alexander sign, seal and publish the same to be and contain her last will and testament and that she was of sound and disposing mind and memory at the time of publishing the same to the best of his knowledge and belief and that Thomas a. McBride and James Stephenson together with this deponent did subscribe the same as witnesses in the presence of each other and in the testatrix presence. Sworn to and subscribed in open court October 17, 1842. Ebenezer Bothwell, clerk -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- WILL OF ANTHONY HANCOCK ***** WILL OF ANTHONY HANCOCK (Will Book A, pages 60-61) MADE March 8, 1806 PROBATED July 7, 1806 In the name of God amen, I Anthony Hancock of the county of Jefferson in the State of Georgia, do make, ordain, and declair this my last will and testament in the manner and form following I lend unto my wife Sarah Hancock during her lifetime the Plantation whereon I now live together with all the personal property of whatsoever kind or nature I may be possessed of except the Negroes hereafter devised. 2nd. I give and bequeath unto my sons Duglas, Martin, Thomas and John Hancock, four negroe boys to wit Joe, Frank, Sam, and Phill, to be equally divided then-- 3rd. I give and bequeath unto my son Duglas Hancock one Negro named Frank which is now in his possession to my son martin Hancock one negro named Ben, which is now in his possession and to my son Thomas Hancock one Negro named Austin which is now in his possession-- 4th. I lend unto my daughter Sarah Smith during her lifetime, and after her decease, I give and bequeath unto the heirs of her body lawfully begotten, one Negro Boy named Henry- and also one other negro named Judy and her increase, which said Negro Judy is now in her possession. 5th. I lend unto my daughter Nancy Cheatham during her lifetime and after her decease I give and bequeath unto the heirs of her body lawfully begotten a Negro Woman named Lucy and her increase which the said negro Lucy is now in her possession. 6th. I lend unto my Daughter Jane Brown during her lifetime and after her decease I give and bequeath unto the heirs of her body lawfully begotten a Negro Girl name Faner and also one other Negro named Pat and her increase which said Negro Pat is now in her possession- 7th. I give and bequeath unto my son John Hancock one hundred Dollars Cash to be paid out of my estate- 8th. I give and bequeath unto my Sons Duglas, Martin, Thomas and John Hancock and their heirs forever and I lend unto my Daughters Sarah Smith, Nancy Cheatham and Jane Brown during their lifetimes and after their decease I give and bequeath unto the heirs of their body lawfully begotten the residue of my Estate both real and personal to be divided in equal and just proportions between them- 9th and last I constitute make and ordain my beloved wife Sarah Hancock Executrix and my sons Duglas Hancock and Thomas Hancock executors to this my last Will and Testament and I so hereby revoke and disallow all Wills by me heretofore made. In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this eighth day of arch one Thousand eight hundred and six. Anthony Hancock X (his mark) Signed sealed and declared by the said Anthony Hancock to be his last will and testament in the presence of us who in his presence and in the presence of each other have hereunto subscribed our Names- J. Meriwether Benjamin Bryan Caren Brannon Georgia Jefferson County} At a Court of ordinary held in and for the County aforesaid on the 7th of July 1806, personally appeared Benjamin Bryon one of the subscribing witnesses to the annexed last Will and testament of Anthony Hancock deceased and being duly sworn deposeth and sayeth that he was present and did see the testator sign seal publish and declare the same to be and contain his last will and testament and that to the best of his knowledge he was of sound mind and memory, and that James Meriwether and Caren Branon together with this deponent did subscribe their names as Witnesses thereto in presence of the testator and in each others presence. Sworn in open Court this 7th Day of July 1806 Benjamin Bryon -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- WILL OF JAMES BIGHAM ***** WILL OF JAMES BIGHAM (Will Book A, pages 78-79) MADE January 27, 1810 PROBATED April 4, 1810 In the name of God Amen I James Bigham Senior of Jefferson County and the State of Georgia being weak and sick in body but of sound mind and memory do make this my Last Will and testament in manner and form following that is to say, Item First I give to my beloved wife Jane Bigham the plantation whereon I now live during her natural life and all the plantation tools of every description also twenty Cow and Calves one Sorel filly one bay mare one horse by the name of Shep also my whole stock of Sheep hogs and geese two beds and furniture and all my household and kitchen furniture to the proper use of the said Jane Bigham and the four unmarried Children while they remain unmarried, I further give to my wife Jane Bigham two Negros Ben and Sarah to be hers and to be at her own Disposal and her own proper use and benefit forever. Item I give and bequeath to my Son Samuel Bigham the tract of Land whereon he now lives containing eighty acres to be the same more or less also one other tract of land known by the name of the Hally Land containing three hundred acres to be the same more or less two negros Yellow Ben and yellow Bob also four Cows and Calves out of the bought stock to be his and his heirs forever. Item I give and bequeath to my daughter Maryann Brackenridge the wife of Joseph Brackenridge two hundred acres of Land lying in the oak woods to be taken our on the South side of a percent of the land containing five hundred and sixty two acres in one body but of several sureys also two Negroes Rachel and Jude to be hers and the heirs of her body forever---- Item I do also give and bequeath to my grandson James Brackenridge a son of Maryann Brackenridge four Cows and calves to be taken out of the above stock to be his and his heirs forever. Item I also give and bequeath to my Son James Bigham Junior my old plantation Lying in the oak woods containing two hundred and forty three acres to be the same more or less and the balance of the percent of Land containing five hundred and sixty two acres also two Negroes Tom and Jain also one horse Colt by the name of Jolly and one other colt by the name of Darby one bed and furniture to him and his heirs forever. Item I also give and bequeath to my Daughter Jane Bigham a tract or parcel of Land containing five hundred and seventy five acres to be the same more or less which land is known by then name of Shorses Place. Also two Negroes Allen and Chain one horse by the name of Jack one bed and furniture to her the heirs of her body forever. Item I also give and bequeath to my Daughter Sally Powel wife of William Powel one tract of land Containing one hundred and sixty four acres to be the same more or less known by the name of Wals Place also one other tract Containing two hundred acres known by the name of the Mountain Place be that the same more or less and two hundred acres lying on the waters of Dewharts Creek on the Long Branch be the same more or less also two negroes Agness and ell one mare by the name of Cate and her Colt also four Cows and two heiffers to her and her heirs of her body forever. Item I do also give and bequeath to my Daughter Margaret Bigham a tract of land being on the waters of Rocky Comfort on Clear Creek containing eight hundred acres be the same more or less also three negroes Sall, Charles, Sealy one black mare and her Colt one bed and furniture to her and her heirs of her body forever. Item I do also give and bequeath Elizabeth Bigham the plantation and Land whereon I now live Containing Seven hundred and twenty acres be the same more or less at the Decease of her mother but if she the said Elizabeth Bigham should marry before that time it will entitle her to one half of the plantation and Lands and the remainder at the Death of her mother also three negroes Clow, Bob and Beck one young sorrel colt one bed and furniture to her and her heirs of her body forever-- Item I also leave the Remainder part of my stock of Cattle to be equally divided between my four unmarried Children James, Jane, Margaret and Elizabeth Bigham I also leave one part of land Lying in Baldwin County to be sold and 200 dollars to be applied to the use of schooling and Clothing my two youngest Daughters or son much as is necessary and the remainder to be equally divided amongst the rest I also leave the Residue of my property not willed of what kind so ever to my wife to her proper use During her natural life and then to be equally divided amongst my children to them and their heirs forever and if ___ Should Decease without an heir or heirs as is above mentioned of their body the property bequeathed to them is to be divided to the surviving brothers or sisters to be theirs and their heirs forever. I do also appoint my beloved wife Jane Bigham Executrix my son Samuel Bigham and William Powell Executors of this my last will and testament hereby revoking all former wills made by me made for witnesses whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this twenty seventh day of January 1810. James Bigham Signed sealed published and declared by the above named James Bigham Senior to be his last will and testament in the presence of us who have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses of the Testator-- John Vining Edmond Hering Robert Martin James Martin April 4, 1810 The above last will and testament of James Bigham Senior Decd was read in the presence of John Beal Senior, John Gamble Senior and Joseph King. Georgia Jefferson County} At a Court of Ordinary held in and for the County aforesaid on the 7th day of May 1810-- Personally appeared Edmond Hering one of Subscribed witnesses to the annexed last will and Testament of James Bigham decd and being duly Sworn deposeth and saith that he was present and did see the Testator Sign and acknowledge the same to be and contain his last Will and testament and that he was of sound and disposing mind and memory to the best of his knowledge and __ and that john Vining Robert Martin and James Martin, Together with this deponent did Subscribe their names as Witnesses thereto in the presence of the Testator and in each others presence. Edmond Herring Sworn to in open Court this 7th Day of May 1810 A. Wright, Clerk