LAURENS COUNTY, GA - Wills - William Goff Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Denise Lindsey Wells Wellsdjl@cs.com Table of Contents page: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/laurens.htm Georgia Table of Contents: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm Source: Will Record 1840 - 1869, Vol 1 & 2, pgs. 136 - 139, Laurens Co., GA Probate Court Georgia, Laurens Co.} In the name of God, amen. I William Goff of said state and county being of advanced age and knowing that I must shortly depart from this world deem it right and proper both as respects myself and family that I should make a distribution of the property with which a kind providence has helped me. I therefore make this my last Will and Testament hereby working and annulling all others heretofore made by me. Item the first. I desire and direct that my body be buried in a decent and Christian like manner suitable to my circumstance and condition my soul I trust shall return to rest with God who gave it as I hope for eternal salvation through the Blessed Lord and Savior Jesus Christ whose Religion I have professed and is I trust enjoyed for thirty years. Item second. I desire and direct that all my just debts be paid by my Executor here and after named as I am unwilling my creditors should be delayed of their rights especially as there is no necessity for delay. Item third. I give and devise to my beloved wife Delila with whom I have lived in the strictest quiet and love for fifty years all my property both real and personal with all the Rights and members and appurtenances as belonging free from all charges or limitation seven hundred acres be the same more or less acres the same lying and being in this County of Laurens and state aforesaid being the land whereas the said Goff now lives. I also give and bequeath to my wife in the same unre____ed manner its farming utensils used on and belonging to said plantation of Every description whatever and all my horses and all my cattle all the corn on said plantation and all the fodder and all my hogs stock hogs and fatning hogs and all my house hold and kitchen furniture belonging to said plantation and my carriage and carriage horse all without reservation or limitation. Item fourth. I give and bequeath to my belove wife for and during her natural life my Negro man Will my Negro man John about Eighteen years of age also my Negro woman Sarah about Thirty give years of age and her five children Rachal about fourteen years of age also delsa (?) about ten years of age also Martha about eight years of age also Lelitha (?) about Six years of age also Mary about Two years old and also my Negro Woman Eliza about Twenty five years of age and her six children Margaret about Ten years of age also Abraham about Nine years of age and also Alexander about six years of age and also Isaac about four years of age and also Freeman about three years of age and also Emaline about one year old to my beloved wife during her natural life at her death to be Divided between the heirs of us both Except Rutha Odom the wife of E. S. Odom and except Joseph Watson by certain Negroes being ___ deeded to them previous but to remain on said plantation during my wifes life time. Item fifth. The rest of property both real and personal wherever and whatever it may be I devise and bequeath to my beloved wife for and during her natural life. Item sixth. I constitute and appoint my worthy Friend John G. Smith my Executor to this my last will and Testament this 20th November in the year of our Lord one thousand Eight hundred and fifty six. his William Goff Mark Signed sealed declared and published by William Goff as his last Will and Testament in the presents of us the Subscribing who subscribed our names hereunto in the presents of said testator _____ of each other this November 20th 1856. Childs Harvey V. Hilburrn John G. Smith, JP his Homer Johnson Mark State of Georgia} Laurens County} Before me Freeman H. Rowe Ordinary in and for said County of Laurens personally came John G. Smith Executor of the last Will and Testament of William Goff late of said County deceased and produced before the last Will and Testament of William Goff deceased and the Witnesses of said Will to wit Childs Harvey V Hilburn and John G Smith JP which witnesses being duly Sworn deposes and say that they saw William Goff the Testator sign seal declare and publish the instrument now ______ as his last Will and Testament freely, voluntarily and of his own accord and without any compulsion or influence whatever that at the time of the Execution of the said Will said Testator was of sound and disposing mind and memory that deponents ____ said Will is Witness in the presents of the Testator in the presence of each other. Sworn to and subscribed before me in Open Court February 2nd 1857. F. H. Rowe Ordinary} Childs Harvey John G. Smith V. Hilburn Recorded 2nd day of February 1847 ======APPOINTMENT OF EXECUTOR========= Georgia, Laurens Co.} By the Ordinary for said County - To all to whom these presents shall come greeting. Know ye that in the second day of February in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty seven the last Will and Testament of William Goff of said county deceased was exhibited in open court, and in common form of Law, present and admitted to Record of copy of which is hereunto annexed, and administration of all and singular, the Goods, chattels, credits, lands and Tenements of said deceased was granted to John G. Smith the Executor in and by said Will named and appointed he having first taken the oath and performed all other requests required by law __ ___ by order of said court and by virtue of these presents, legally and thoroughly to administer the Goods, chattels, credits, lands and tenements of said deceased according to the term and effect of said Will and Testament, and according to Law and he is hereby required to render a true and perfect inventory of all and singular the Goods, Chattels, Credits, Lands and Tenements of said deceased, appraised and returned to this court according to law, and to render a true and correct account to the Ordinary of said County of his acting and doing, yearly, until his administration is fully completed. In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal of my office this Second day of February 1857. F. H. Rowe Ordinary Recorded Third day of February 1857 ===========ESTATE INVENTORY========== Microfilm Laurens Co. Public Library History Center April 2002 Eighteen hundred and fifty-seven Thomas Y. Bu___ JP Recorded April 1st 1857 Inventory of the goods and chattels rites and credits of William Goff deceased February 9, 1857. Land 650 acres 1,240.00 Side Board & contents 10.00 2 Trunks 3.00 first Bed & furniture 30.00 Second Bed & do 25.00 Third “ “ 25.00 Fourth Bedstead & Hide 2.00 Fourth Bed “ “ 30.00 Fifth Bed & furniture 25.00 One clock 1.00 1 Arm chair 2.00 ? Common chairs 11.25 3 Jars 2.25 4 Mugs .75 1 Table & Bed Clothing 10.00 1 set fire dogs .75 1 Lumpit .12 ½ 1 Blowing Horn .25 3 Water Buckets 1.25 1 foot Tub & Wash pan .25 1 side board 3.00 Scales & weights 1.00 3 pr sheep shears 1.00 1 Desk & contents .50 2 Spinning Wheels 5.00 1 Table 2.00 1 Double Barrel gun 5.00 1 Lot Tin ware 1.25 2 Smoothing irons .50 4 Augers 1.12 ½ 1 Steel Trap 1.25 1 Whip Saw 2.00 4 Bells & Halter Chains 1.75 3 Reclers (?) .75 3 cheese Boxes 2 pair curds 1.12 ½ 1 Tin churn .50 1 Jar .25 4 Boxes 1.00 2 chop axes 1.00 1 Lot sundries .25 1 pr steelyards 1.00 1 Tail .12 ½ Second Lot Pot ware 5.00 1 Single Barrel Gun 1.00 3 pans .25 2 Wheels 1.00 1 Crop Cut Saw 4.00 1 ? and contents 6.00 1 Lot Sundrys 1.25 1 lot shovels 1.25 1 Lot hoes 1.00 1st Lot plows 1.00 1st Lot 20 head Hogs 20.00 10 Head Goats 5.00 2nd Lot plows 10.00 1 Log Chain 2.00 1 Lot plow G__ ? 3.00 1 Road Waggon 50.00 1 hors cart 12.00 1 ox cart 30.00 2 Sugar Boilers 12.00 1 Lot Barrels .75 2 Sugar Trays 2.00 1 Mug & 1 Jar .50 1 Sugar Mill 3.00 Blacksmith shop & tools 12.00 8 head of sheep 12.00 140 head cattle 6 pr head 840.00 Saddle horse Peter 150.00 2nd Charley 80.00 1 Filley 75.00 old Sorrel 30.00 old B____ 30.00 old Black Bety 5.00 1 Bale Cotton 50.00 1 grindstone 1.50 1 Carriage 25.00 1 Lot of corn 125.00 1 Lot peas 5.00 1 Saddle .12 ½ 1 Lot Buck 1.20 1 Box & Wheat 1.50 1 do Peas 2.50 2nd Lot corn 10.00 G_____ & Peas 5.00 4 Jars 1.00 2 pails & 2 pegings 1.00 1 Lot Tin Ware .37 ½ illegible .37 ½ 2nd Lot Barrels 1.56 ¼ 3rd Lot Peas 1.50 1 Box Lime .50 1 Lot Bacon 14.00 1 Sithe 1.50 1 Salt Tray .25 1 Gum & Salt 1.50 1 Barrel & Salt 2.00 1 Lot Baskets 1.00 1 Lot Axes 1.00 Dory & contents 2.00 1 Yoke oxens 40.00 27 head hogs at $2 per head 54.00 3 pigs 1.00 1 Lot Seed ? 15.00 1 Lot Fodder 15.00 1 piece iron 2.00 1 Side Saddle 3.00 1 Saddle & 1 Bridle 1 pair Martingale 7.00 1 Lot potato plantings 3.75 1 foot Addys (?) .50 Knive & Forks 1.00 1 Lot Augar 10.00 Brady Money 10.00 1 open Acct on Bunde Rey 50.00 1 do do A. Y. Hilburn 61.50 1 Execution on Benjamin Mims & Dugal Stewart 10.00 Negroes Will 800.00 John 1200.00 Sarah 700.00 Rachel 1000.00 Alisely 800.00 Martha 600.00 Trilethy 400.00 Manny 300.00 Lezas 900.00 Margaret 800.00 Abrham 700.00 Click 500.00 Isaac 400.00 Freeman 250.00 Emiline 150.00 One Broad Axe 2.50 Illegible .50 House use cotton 10.00 Two ? Saddle Bags 2.00 Total amount twelve thousand nine 12921.36 ¾ Hundred and Twenty one dollars and Thirty six cents and three fourths. We do certify that the foregoing contains A true appraisment and valedation Of the goods and chattels of William Goff Deceased as produced to us by John G. Smith the Executor to best of our Judgment and understanding February 9, 1857 A.Y. Hilburn} V. Hilburn} Willis Carter} appraisers R. A. Odom} A. G. Odom} I do certify thus the above appraisers were sworn to perform their duty as appraisers of the Estate of William Goff deceased according to law February 9th 1857. Noah Tison JP Recorded April 1st 1857 Inventory of the sale of apportions of the goods and chattels of William Goff deceased. Sold by John G. Smith the Executor sold this day this April the 30th 1857. John G. Smith, Exec 1 pistol to John Smith .25 One Carpet Bag to John C. Tapley .50 One Decanter to Hardy Smith .50 One Jug to A. G. Hillburn .20 One Bed to Samuel Goff 20.00 Second Bed to John C. Tapley 25.00 One Whip Saw to J. A. Johnson .25 One pair of saddle Bags to Hardy Smith .37 One Road Waggon to Hardy Smith 39.00 One Stove to Thomas Pullisey (?) 61.00 Nine head of Goats to Daniel Spivey 4.50 $151.57 John G. Smith Executor Recorded January 15, 1858