JONES COUNTY Will of James M. Gray File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by CREATVCNCP@aol.com Sylvia Ryce Cornell DENT, BARRON, BOWEN, HOLLY, FARLER, GRAY, KINGMAN, WOOLFORK, SLOCUMB, ROSS, and FINNEY. Last Will and Testament of James M. Gray State of Georgia Jones County I, James M. Gray of the County of Jones and State of Georgia, being of sound disposing mind and memory, do make and publish this my last will and testament in the manner following to-wit: Item First I give and bequeath unto my trusty Man Servant, Jim Gray absolutely and forever, my house and lot in the Town of Clinton, State and County aforesaid adjoining lot belonging to Robert H. Barron, Ada Holly and also adjoining or being near the lot whereon is situated the Methodist Church used by the white people; I also give to the said servant Jim the sum of Eight Hundred Dollars in money; said lot and money herein given him to be received by him, the said Jim Gray in Full satisfaction of all claims or demands of whatever nature, due to him by me. Second I give and bequeath, absolutely and forever unto my faithful Cook and Servant Queen Farler, the following property towit: Two hundred and sixty acres of land in said County of Jones, known as the Dent Place being the land I bought of Thomas O. Bowen. Also one mule of her own choice and selection. One Cow and calf of her own choice and selection; also one half of all the crockery ware in my house leaving out the knives and forks of which she is to have none; also one bedstead, bed and mattress to be taken out of my house, and the sum of one hundred and fifty dollars in money. Third The rest and residue of my property to be held controlled and disposed of by executor as herein directed of whatever discription (sic) not herein otherwise bequeathed and disposed of. I give and bequeath unto the President and Trustee of Mercer University a College in the City of Macon, County of Bibb, and State of Georgia, and their successors in office of said President and Trustees, upon and subject to the following conditions, that is to say I desire and direct that the annual income or interest of said property given to the said President as aforesaid, be used and appropriated by them in defraying their expenses, including tuition, purchase of Books and board, while in actual attendance upon said college of such meritorious young white men from the County of Jones, and State of Georgia, who may be pecuniarily unable to defray the expenses as aforesaid at said college, and if there should be no applicant from said county of Jones, then of such meritorious young white men indiscrimately (sic) from the State of Georgia who may be in like condition of inability to educate themselves at said college; the beneficiaries of this fund to be selected from among said applicants by the Faculty of said Mercer University, under such terms and in such way and manner as they the Said Faculty may think best in all cases, giving preference to and selecting from the applicants for the benefit of said fund, from those from said County of Jones. It being my intentions that applicants for the benefits of said fund shall be selected from other than said County Jones, only when there shall be no suitable or proper person from said County of Jones applying therefor. I also desire and direct that in no event, shall the principal of the property herein given to said President and Trustees as aforesaid, be diminished, but the annual income or interest only be appropriated and expended for the purposes contemplated by me in this Will. In order and for the purpose of avoiding a sacrifice of my Property, by exposing the same to sale immediately upon and after my death, I hereby authorize and empower my Executor hereinafter named to keep together my Estate herein bequeathed to said President and Trustees as aforesaid so and for such time as in the judgment of my said Executor, it may seem advisable and best and to work or rent the same, paying over annually to said president and Trustees as aforesaid the income interest and profits to be used by said President Trustees for the purpose herein before indicated and directed. Whenever in the sound Judgment of my Executor a sale of property herein given and bequeathed to said President and Trustees as aforesaid so and for such time as in the judgment of my said Executor, it may seem advisable and best and to work or rent the same, paying over annually to said president and Trustees as aforesaid the income interest and profits to be used by said President and Trustees for the purpose herein before indicated - and directed. Whenever in the sound Judgment of my Executor a sale of property herein given and bequeathed to said President and Trustees as aforesaid shall be deemed advisable and best, I desire and direct said property to be sold by my Executor aforesaid at Public outcry and after such notice as is usual for sale by Administrators and Executors. My personal property to be sold for cash and money arising from the sale of said personal property to be by my Executor paid over to said President and Trustees as aforesaid to be by said President and Trustees invested in such way and manner and in such securities as they shall deem best, the interest of which is to be used by them the said President and Trustees for the purposes herein before indicated and directed. My real estate I direct sold upon credit the time of such credit to be in the sound discretion of my said Executor, he taking the notes of purchasers thereof, bearing interest from the date of sale at the rate of ten per cent per annum and executing bond for title to said purchasers conditioned to make title thereto upon the payment of the purchase money thereof. The interest of which said money shall be collected annually, by said Executor and by him paid over to the said President and Trustees as aforesaid, for the uses and purposes herein before indicated and directed. I further desire and direct my said Executor as fast as the purchase money of said real estate shall be collected, to be by him paid over to the said President and Trustees as aforesaid, who shall invest the same in such way and manner and in such securities as they may deem best, the interest of which shall alone be used by said President and Trustees for the uses and purposes as herein before indicated and directed. Fourth: I hereby nominate and appoint my worthy friend Roland T. Ross, sole Executor to carry into effect this my last Will and Testament. Th words, "for the uses and purposes" in the third item of this will interlined before signing. In witness whereof, I, James M. Gray do hereto attach my hand and seal this 27th day of October, 1874. James M. Gray (Seal) Signed, sealed, published and declared by James M. Gray to be his last Will and Testament in our presence and we at his instance and request in his presence and in the presence of each other have hereunto signed the same as witnesses. This October 27th, 1874. Thomas O. Bowen William Slocumb Thomas J. Woolfork A. Kingman O.P. Finney This will is recorded in Will Book "C", Pages 26, 47, 48, 49, Ordinary's Office Bibb County, Georgia; and said Will was recorded on the 18th day of March, 1875. This will is recorded for the befit of the public only as said will was probated in Bibb County, Georgia, October 27, 1874. ========== Note: Trusted man servant, Jim Gray, was James Seaman Gray, said to be Gray's son by an unnamed slave woman. 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