Will of James Andrew 19 Jul 1770 Liberty County, GA [James Andrew's will was found in the Colonial Will Book. St. John's Parish was a part of the Midway community and is now in Liberty County.] In the Name of God Amen. I James Andrew (planter) of St. Johns Parish and Province aforesaid being mindfull of the Frailty and Mortallity of Human Nature and that it is Appointed unto all men once to die while of sound mind memory and understanding Do constitute this my Last will and testament. (That is to say) first and principally I commend my soul to God that Gave it and my Body to the dust to be Buried in a Christian manner at the Discretion of my Executors hereafter mentioned and at Touching my worldly Estate I will and Dispose of the same in manner Following (Viz) Impremis My will and desire is my Just Debts shall be punctually paid as soon as possible after my decease. For which purpose I Impower my executors if they see Occation to sell such of my goods and chattels most Perishable and least advantage to my Estate and after my debts are paid ----------- Item I give and Bequeath to my loving Wife Esther Andrew and her heirs forever one third part of my personal Estate and the use of one third part of this Tract of Land I Live on and the Improvements thereon During her natural life; and while she remains my widow a seat in Midway Meeting house on my rights of Subscription. Item I Impower my Executors (If they hereafter think Best) to sell the whole or in part of my Lands in St. Andrews Parish and with the money arising on such sale to purchase young slaves for my Estate after my Debts are all paid, which said Slaves if purchased and all the remainder of my estate I give and bequeath to my two sons John and Thomas to be Equally divided between them (that is to say) my tract of one hundred and seventy one acres and a Half adjoining to the east of this tract of Land I Live on and on the Publick Road and one other tract of Fifty one acres adjoining southward of the first above recited Tracts of land containing in the whole Two hundred and twenty two and a half of land my Lott in the Town of Sunbury number two hundred and Forty and the one of my Lott of Land at Newport Publick Landing Dividing it Length wise the Lott and one half of the Remainder of my personal Estate to my son John for him and his heirs and assigns forever and this (PAGE TORN) one hundred and six acres of Land I live on with two other Tracts one of Nineteen Acres and a half and one of one hundred acres adjoining to the South of this Tract Containing in the whole Two Hundred and twenty five acres and a half. Also my Lott of Land in Sunbury Town Number Two Hundred and thirty nine the other half of my Lott at Newport Landing Containing Twenty five feet front and Twenty feet back Situate to the South of that half bequeathed to my son John and all the remainder of my personal Estate I give to my son Thomas For him his heirs & assigns Forever -------------- Item In case any of my Lands in St. Andrews Parish shall remain unsold then my will and desire is such Land shall (by a direst Line through the Middle from East to West) be Equally divided into two Lotts and the South Lott I give to my son John and the North Lott to my son Thomas for them their heirs and assigns forever ------------ Item My will and desire is my sons be deemed of full age to receive their Estate at the age of Twenty years But in case my Children shall die under age or without a will after of age and leaving no lawful issue (and my wife is Surviving them) then I give to my wife one third of the Improvement of Estate During her natural Life One third of the said Improvements to John Wynn for the Support of the Gospel in the district of Midway and Newport and one third to be divided among my two nephews Benjamin Andrew and John Godfrey and my two nieces Mary Bacon and Mary Baker and at the Death of my said Wife the whole of my Estate Real and Personal Bequeath to any said Children & Desire shall be sold and one Sixth of the Money arising on such sale I give to John Winn and William Baker and their heirs forever in Trust for the Support of the Gospel on Newport & the remainder I give to my said Nephews and neaces afore mentioned to be equally divided among them for them their heirs & assigns forever ----------------------- Item I give to my Executors a Discretional Power to buy sell act and do in all matters Relating to my Estate as they think most to the Advantage of my Family ------------- Item My will is my Children shall have proper Education and my eldest son shall be kept at School until he has Learned the Lattin Tongues & then if his Tutors and the Minister for the time being shall be of opinion he has a Capacity to be usefull & his disposition is Encouraging, and the Income of his proportion of my estate will allmett Of it he may have what further education is requisite if to be obtained with Conveniently- I Constitute and appoint my loving Brothers Benjamin Andrew, Richard Baker and Samual Jones Executors of this my Last Will as also Guardian for my Children above said Revoking every will by me heretofore made Ratifying and Confirming this and no other to be my Last will and Testament In Witness whereof I have hereunto sett my Hand and seal this nineteenth day of July in the year of our Lord 1770. Jas Andrew Signed Sealed Published Pronounced & declared by James Andrew as his Last Will and Testament in the presence of us who in his presence and the presence of Each other have hereunto Subscribed our names Thomas Sillavant John Swinney Brice M Cleland Georgia Before His Excellancy James Wright Esq Captain Gen and Govonor in Chief of his Majestys said province and Ordinary of the same ---------- Personally appeared Brice M Cleland one of the Subscribing witnesses to the within written last Will & Testament of James Andrew of the parish of St. John planter deceased who being duly sworn on the Holy Evangelists of Almighty God made with that ? Present & did sae the said Testator sign seal publish pronounce & declare the same to be and Contain his last Will & Testament & that he was of sound and disposing mind and memory to the best of his knowledge and belief and that he with Thomas Sillavent and John Swinney signed their names as Witnesses to the ? and will at the request and in the presence of the said Testator & in each others presence. At the same time Benjamin Andrew one of the Executors named in the said Will _____ ______ as such Given under my hand this 27th day of March 71 Ja Wright Recorded 29th March 1771 ==================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor. This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Beth Collins ====================================================================