JEFFERSON COUNTY, GA - Wills James Matthews Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Pamela D. Hudson redbird@accessatc.net Table of Contents page: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/jefferson.htm Georgia Table of Contents: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm Will of JAMES MATTHEWS (Mathews), Jefferson County, Georgia Will Made: 09 Aug 1849 Probated: 05 Nov 1855 State Of Georgia ) Jefferson County ) In the name of God, Amen. I, JAMES MATTHEWS, of the County and State aforesaid, being of sound mind and memory do make, ordain, and establish this to be my Will and Testament, hereby revoking all former Wills, requesting my Executors to interr my body in a suitable manner: Item First: I direct my Executors to discharge all of my just debts. Item Second: I give and bequeath unto my beloved wife ELIZABETH MATTHEWS for and during her natural life the following negroes viz: Sam, Washington, Ben, Lela, Sarah, and Amy, three head of horses, four cows and calves, eight head of sheep, and sufficient quality of stock hogs and provision of all kinds for one years support after my death, sufficient quality of household and kitchen furniture to embrace two beds and furniture, plantation tools, plough gear and necessary apparatus for farming, wagon and gear and buggy and harness. All to be selected by her from what I may have on hand at my death. Also, three hundred (300) acres of land to be laid off West End of the plantation where I now reside so as to embrace the buildings. Item Third: I give and bequeath unto CHARLES MATTHEWS, JR. in special Trust and confidence for MARGARET A. J. THOMPSON, child of LEMUEL THOMPSON, one tract of land lying and being in the County of Jefferson on the wayers of Reedy Creek adjoining the lands of RHESA J. FARMER and others containing two hudnred and seventy-one (271) acres more or less. One sorrel mare and one other animal worth seventy or eighty dollars, also three negroes: Henry, Ann and Lotty and their future increase. LEMUEL THOMPSON, her father, to have the use and occupation of said property until the said MARGARET A. J. THOMPSON marries or arrives at age but in no wise to be subject to his debts or contracts. Item Fourth: I give and bequeath unto CHARLES MATTHEWS, JR. in Special Trust and confidence for ELIZABETH McGAINS, one tract of land originally in Early County containing two hundred and fifty (250) acres No. 129 12 dis. dram (sic) by myself. If it should be deemed advisable by the Trustee to sell the same, he is hereby authorized to do so and inrest the proceeds in other property for the use of said ELIZABETH. Item Fifth: I give and bequeath unto CHARLES MATTHEWS, JR. in Special Trust and confidence for my daughter JULIA ELIZABETH MATTHEWS the tract of land knows as The Kelly Place and the following negroes: Killis, Eliza, and child Neal, also man Bill and Emily, three head of horses, two beds and furniture and a side saddle. Item Sixth: I give and bequeath unto my daughters MARTHA M. CHEATHAM, MARGARET A .J. WEEKS, and JULIA E. MATTHEWS in Trust (Trustees hereinafter named) all the rest and residue of my property which may belong to me not hereinbefore given away and also at the death of my wife, the property given to her all to them and their children, share and share alike. In the event of the death of either the children to represent the mother --I appoint DAVID T. SMITH, Trustee for MARTHA M. CHEATHAM and children; CHARLES MATTHEWS, JR., Trustee for MARGARET A. J. WEEKS; and CHARLES MATTHEWS aforesaid Trustee for JULIA E. MATTHEWS. Item Seventh: It is my will and desire that all ready money and notes on hand at my death be equally distributed between my wife and children, the Trustees to receive the childrens portion for their use, and the balance of my property equally divided as aforesaid between my children distributed by lot, the opinion of my Executors to be taken in the appointing of Dividers. Lastly, I do hereby nominate and appoint my friends HENRY B. TODD, CHARLES MATTHEWS, JR., DAVID T. SMITH, and THOMAS MATTHEWS as Executors to this my Last Will and Testament. In Witness whereof, I, JAMES MATTHEWS, the Testator have hereunto set my hand and affixed my signature in the presence of the undersigned who have hereunto set our names in the presense of said Testator ) and of each other this the ) /s/ JAMES (X) MATTHEWS 9th Day of August, 1849 ) /s/ R. J. FARMER JAMES W. CLARK L. C. MATTHEWS ------------------------ Notes About Those Listed In The Will: James Matthews married ELIZABETH ROSS on 22 November 1812 in Jefferson Co, GA. Julia Elizabeth Matthews married Jesse Clark on 30 May 1850 in Jefferson Co, GA. Martha M. Matthews (b:abt. 1830 Jefferson) married James L. Cheatham (b:abt. 1814 Jefferson) on 02 November 1837 in Jefferson Co, GA. They lived next door to the WEEKS family below and had four children by August 1850. Margaret A. I. Matthews (d:bef.? August 1850) married Rufus G. Weeks (b:abt.1828 Warren Co, GA) on 30 November 1848 in Jefferson Co, GA. They had one child, Elizabeth C. Weeks born abt. May 1850. Margaret A. J. Thompson was born about 1842 in Jefferson Co, GA. She was 8 years old by August 1850. Lemuel Thompson was born about 1802 in Robinson Co, NC. There was no wife listed with him in the 1850 Census (Page 152b, note his name is spelled "Elemuel"), however, he was living with Ann Austin (age 66 b: Halifax Co, NC) and Susannah Austin (age 26 b: Jefferson Co, GA). I do not know their relationship to the Thompson’s at this time. Elizabeth McGains - I don’t know anything about her at this time. Charles Matthews, Jr. (b:abt. 1808 Burke Co, GA) married Nancy R. F. C. Hudson (b: abt. 1827 Jefferson Co, GA; d/o James T. and Temperance Leaptrot Hudson) on 06 July 1843 in Jefferson Co, GA. Henry B. Todd (b:abt. 1801 Burke Co, GA) married Matilda G. Bostick (b:abt. 1798 Richmond Co, GA) on 22 December 1835 in Jefferson Co, GA. David T. Smith (b:abt. 1793 NC) married Frances Ross (b:abt. 1803 Jackson Co, GA) on 03 June 1823 in Jefferson Co, GA. Thomas Matthews (b:abt. 1784 Culpepper Co, NC) married Unity King (b:abt. 1795 Jefferson) on 03 September 1814 in Jefferson Co, GA. About The Witnesses: Rhesa J. Farmer (b:abt. 1811 Burke Co, GA) married Elizabeth I. Matthews (b:abt. 1817 Jefferson Co, GA) on 13 February 1834 in Jefferson Co, GA. James W. Clark (b:abt. 1819 Burke Co, GA) married Emily F. A. Matthews (b:abt. 1825 Jefferson Co, GA) on 23 January 1845 in Jefferson Co, GA. Levin C. Matthews (b: 28 Jan 1815 Jefferson, d: 26 Jun 1866; buried: Ways Baptist) married Elizabeth Anne Hudson (b: 28 Oct 1822 Jefferson, d: 13 Jun 1856; buried: Ways Baptist; d/o Elijah & Sarah Penelope Morgan Hudson) on 15 May 1838 in Jefferson Co, GA.