LIBERTY - Bryan  COUNTY, GA - WILLS Henry Austin 1818

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THE LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT OF HENRY AUSTIN
Liberty County, Georgia
May 21, 1818

(From the original will and transcribed exactly as written including the original spelling and punctuation except in the instances where "f" is used as "s".  Where there are questions about words I have inserted question marks.  Items appearing in brackets are my own comments.)

Found and photocopied by Mary Whitaker and transcribed by Carolyn J. Cooper

State of Georgia	
Bryan County
(Although Henry Austin wrote his will in Bryan
County, it is recorded in Liberty County.  He had
extensive land holdings and residences in both
counties.)

In the name of God Amen.  I Henry Austin of the
County and State aforesaid, planter, being weak in
body, but of sound and disposing (?) mind and
memory, considering the uncertainty of this mortal
life, do make this my last will and testament,
hereby revoking all other wills or testaments, which
may have been by me or at my direction made.  

Imprimis: First, and principally I commend my soul
to Almighty God with a hope of acceptance through a
confessed Redeemer, and my body to the earth, with
an assurance of resurrection to be reunited to the
Soul, I trust, to enjoy everlasting felicity. 

___Item: As touching all worldly goods wherewith it
has pleased God to bless me in life, I wish to
dispose of in manner and form following:  I desire
that all my just and lawful debts may be paid. 

___Item: I will, bequeath and devise unto my beloved
wife, Elizabeth Austin (My note: Elizabeth's maiden
name was Cubbedge), my plantation, known and
designated by the name of Westfield, whereon I now
reside, to her during her natural life, and at her
death to ….? to my children, that might be then
living. 

___Item: I desire that my portion of the land now in
dispute with the heirs of Robert Holmes, should it
be obtained, shall be for the mutual benefit of my
children. 

___Item: I wish and desire that my negro property
may be held together for the use, behoof and benefit
of my wife and children, as at present, until my
youngest child shall turn to an age capable of
choosing a guardian at which time I wish a just and
equitable division of the same between my wife and
children, share and share alike; and the said
division to be placed upon record by my executors,
giving to my wife her choice of her share.

Item: I will and devise that my horses, stock and
household utensils, of every description to be
disposed of in the like manner of the negroes.

Item: I desire that my boys, as soon as they shall
acquire sufficient age (of which their guardians or
executors shall be the Judges of) that they be put
to such trade as their guardians or executors may
think most advised.

Item: It is my desire that a house be provided in
the town of Sunbury for my wife for the purpose of
educating my children.

Lastly, I nominate and appoint Thos. Young, George
M. Waters, John Cubbedge, James Holmes and Saml. S.
Law my executors to carry into effect this my last
will and testament, hereby revoking and disannulling
any will or testament which might heretofore have
been made by me.  In witness whereof I have hereunto
set my hand and seal this twenty seventh day of May
in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred and
eighteen.
							Henry Austin (seal)

Signed, sealed, pronounced, published and …? to be
the last will and testament of the testator in the
presence of us, who, in his presence and the
presence of each other, have signed our names.
Chauncey G. Lee
William Ward
Washington Winn

State of Georgia
Liberty County
William Ward, being duly sworn, deposeth and
testifies that he is a subscribing witness to the
foregoing last will and testament of Henry Austin
deceased, that he saw the said testator duly sign
and seal the same in the presence of him the said
deponent, and of Chauncey G. Lee and Washington
Winn, the other two subscribing witnesses and that
the said testator appeared at the time, to be in his
perfect senses.
							William Ward

Sworn to before us, this
16th of October 1821
Thos. Mallard IIC
Thomas Bacon IIC
							Recorded 22 January 1822 by
							order of the Court of Ordinary on
							the 7th of January 1822
								E. Baker clerk

On March 30, 1822, the following slaves were
included in the inventory of Henry Austin's estate:

Phebe			Sarah		Nancy		Beck		Nelly
Venus			Flora		Tirah		Rosella		Isaac
Joshua			Ron		Lily		Sally		Diana
Anna			Mary		Fanny		Emily		March
Dembo

On March 9, 1830 and March 29, 1830, further estate
inventories and appraisals named the following
slaves not included above:			

Robert			Laura		Esau		Derry
Tilpha			Jacob		Rachel

(These are no doubt children born between 1822 and
1830.  The appraisal also includes the fact that
Emily, named in the first inventory, is deceased by
this time.)