LIBERTY - Bryan  COUNTY, GA - WILLS Mary Austin 1835

Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm

This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb
Archives by: Carolyn J. Cooper caroljcoop@everestkc.net

Georgia Table of Contents: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm


THE LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT OF MARY AUSTIN
Liberty County, Georgia
June 25, 1835
(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

[Mary's first husband was John Soulegree or
Soulagree.  She married Joseph Austin after the
death of his wife, Sarah Ann Pritchard Hinson
Austin.]

In the name of God Amen.  I Mary Austin of Liberty
County, Georgia, being of sound mind but to all
appearances near my end, do make and constitute this
my last will and testament.  In the first place, I
give to my sister Frances Valley during her life the
use of all my property.  After he death, I divide my
estate in the following manner, vis.

In the second place, I give to Ann Virginia,
daughter of William Dottery [Dottory?], the
following twenty one slaves, vis. Old Cuffy, Myra,
Anthony, Sam, Emeline, Little Cuffy, Titus, Jacob,
Paro?, Peggy, Sylvia, Hannah, Chloe, Anna, Pompey,
Sally, Hetty, Bella, Edy, Nancy and Prince, when she
becomes of age, or is twenty one.  In the mean time,
I leave the said property and the said Ann Virginia
to the care and protection of my nephew Barth.
Busby; the property to be used by him and the said
Ann Virginia to her support and education from the
[unreadable] thereof, until she is of age or twenty
one, and then the property to be hers.  In case she
dies before she is twenty one or in case she dies
without issue, then and in that case, or in either
case, the said twenty one negroes to be equally
divided between Matilda Harden of Bryan [county] and
Ann Maxwell, wife of Col. John Maxwell, share and
share alike, to them and their heirs forever.

In the third place, I give to Elizabeth P. King,
daughter of Reuben King, one negro slave named
Venus, to her, her heirs and assigns forever.
[Elizabeth was the daughter of Abigail Austin,
daughter of Joseph Austin by his first marriage.]

In the fourth place, I give to Mrs. Matilda Harden
of Bryan County, the following seven slaves, vis.
Old Chloe, Joe, Rachel, Betty, Doll, Mary and her
infant child, to her and her heirs forever. [In the
appraisal the infant child is named March.]

In the fifth place, I give to my nephew B.A.
[Bartholomew Austin] Busby the following fourteen
negroes, vis. Judy, Porteous?, Toby, Hannah, Andrew,
Lucilla, Jane, Philip, Dick, John, Katy, William,
Jackson and Charlotte.  Out of this portion I leave
all my lawful debts to be paid.

In the sixth place, I give and bequeath to Medway
Church for the use of said church, five hundred
dollars, to be paid out of the [unreadable] of the
portion left to Ann Virginia, to be paid in five
annual installments.

In the last place, I leave my beloved nephew, B.A.
Busby sole executor to this my last will, wishing
him to be exonerated from the trouble of making
annual [unreadable] to the Court.

In witness whereof, I have set my hand and seal this
twenty fifth day of June eighteen hundred and thirty
five.
									Mary Austin (seal)
Signed, sealed and delivered
in the presence of 
David Staton?
John Dunwoody

State of Georgia
Liberty County
David Staton? being duly sworn, deposeth and saith,
that he is a subscribing witness to the within last
will and testament of Mary Austin, deceased, which
he saw duly executed by the said testatrix in the
presence of John Dunwoody Esquire, the other
subscribing witness and that the said testatrix
appeared to be in her perfect senses.
									David Staton
Sworn to before us
this 6th July 1835
?? Fleming
John Dunwoody
W.?. Baker
Recorded 11 July 1835
 
[The appraisal of Mary's estate lists the 43 slaves
named in her will.]