Will of Nathan Bryan, Macon Co. GA From: Meredith Clapper Georgia, Macon County In the name of God Amen. I Nathan Bryan of said county, being far advanced in life, but of sound mind and disposing memory feel it to be proper, and right, both with respect to myself and family to make the following disposition of the property with which a Kind Providence has blessed me, and therefore do make this my last will and testament hereby revoking any and all other wills by me at any time made. Item 1st I resign my soul to God, my body to the grave ________ alone for salvation in the merits of the blessed saviour Jesus Christ. After my death, I desire my body shall be buried in a decent and christian like manner. Item 2nd It is my will and desire that my executor, _________ after named shall pay all my just debts. Item 3rd It is my will and desire that my beloved and affectionate wife, and my youngest son, Jasper N. Bryan shall jointly have and enjoy the use of the homestead whereon I now live in said county containing about 1250 acres of land. This same said settlement being bounded on the south by the Mill Creek, on the west by Flint River, on the North by a branch known as the Pitts Branch, on the East by lands of Bluett McCarty, the Pitts Branch is to be the North line running west or nearly so until it comes to a sudden bend or crook therein and changes its direction or course in nearly a southward direction. My intention is that said line shall run due west from said crook to Flint River and all on the south side of said line, said settlement so jointly given is to embrace except as herein after excepted--this settlement of land is to be jointly used and enjoyed by my wife and the said Jasper Bryan for and during her natural life, then to go to and become the property of the said Jasper and it is further my will and desire, that my beloved wife accept the joint use of said settlement of said settlement of land with the said Jasper for and during her life, for and in leave of any right to dower in the lands of which I may did, seize and possed of- Item 4th I do further give and bequeath to my said wife, and Jasper Bryan, all my stock, cattle, hogs, sheep, many horses and stock of every description---household & kitchen furniture, beds, bedsteads, bedclothing, provissing and personal effects on the place of every discription-I give the same together with the carts, waggons, farming implements and tools of every discription to their joint use for and during the natural life of my said wifeŞthen to be equally divided between my sons, John L Bryan, Francis M Bryan, Jasper N Bryan, and my daughers Melissa Carson and Susan Massee and to my son Jackson Bryan's children one share thereof unless my daughter Susan Massee shall not have received before that time two thousand dollars under the provissions hereinafter made in this will, in which event, said stock and other property of so much then of as may be necessary to be sold by my executor to pay to her said sum of said stock and other property be sufficient after that purpose, and if more than sufficient, the remainder thereof to be equally divided between her and my other children & grandchildren as aforesaid share and share alike. Item 5th To my son, John L Bryan, I give & bequeath the settlement of land whereon he now lives in said county containing some 1050 acres, and is bounded on the south by a branch known as Pitts Branchİon the west by Flint River, on the north by lands of James A Miller and the east by lands of George Slappey except 50 acres or thereabouts off of lot of land No. 109 in the first district of said county not included in said boundary and lying south of said Pitts Branch--this I also give him, and likewise give him so much of lot No. 108, in the said first district as lies south of said Branch. Item 6th To my son, Francis M Bryan, I give and bequeath lot of land No. 204, and the north half less 20 acres of lot No. 195, each lot lying and situate in the first district of Macon County-having heretofore given the said Francis M Bryan and conveyed to him about 600 acres composing a settlement whereon he now resides of lots Nos. 223, 223, & 212, less 25 acres and 25 acress off lot 211; all in the first district of said county, and conveyed the same to him by deed and which it is my will for him to have. I cannot give him more land than what I have already done. Item 7th To my son Jackson Bryan's widow, Elizabeth Bryan and her 4 children, John Calvin, Jacob N., Susan & Julia Bryan, my grandchildren, I give & bequeath the settlement of land in said county whereon they now reside composed of lots of land Nos. 213, 214, 215, & 221, each lying and situate in the first district of said county. This settlement of land I will and desire may be enjoyed jointly by the said Elizabeth and her said chidlren by the said Jackson Bryan for and during her natural life then to go to and be the property of the said children-if living-if all of them shall then be dead without issue, then the same to go to and be equally divided between my children share & share alike. Item 8th To my affectionate daughter Melissa Carson & her children I give no land under this will having heretofore given her the settlement of land on which she resides except so far as it confirms what I have heretofore done in procuring for her and her children the settlement whereon she and her children reside. It is my will that she have and enjoy the same together with her children accordin to the terms and provissions of the conveyance to her and them of the same. Item 9th To my affectionate daughter, Susan Massee, I give no land, having heretofore advanced to her and her husband, Drewry W Massee, so much as I suppose makes her something like equal to my other children. It is however my will that my executor pay her out of the provission made for under the 10th clause of this will the sum of two thousand dollars, if the effects mentioned therein be sufficient for that purpose, otherwise to pay her at the death of my said wife from the sale of the stock and other property mentioned in the 4th Item or clause of said will, the ballance of her sum of two thousand dollars if the same be sufficent for that purpose. Item 10th After my death it is my will that my executors collect in all my rights and credits, and they with the proceeds thereof, together with all money that may be on hand & together with all my property of every kind & description not already disposed in & by the foregoing provision of this will shall pay off the said Susan Massee the said sum of two thousand dollars if the same be sufficient for that purpose, and if more than sufficient, to divide the surplus between my children equally share and share alike, the issue of any children dead at the time to draw one share. Item 11th And exposing great confidence in my sons, John L Bryan, Francis Marion Bryan, and Jasper N Bryan, I do hereby nominate and appoint them my executors in and to this my last will and testament. In witness whereof I have hereonto set my hand affixed my seal this the 23d day of October in the year of our Lord 1867. Nathan Bryan Signed, sealed, published and declared to be the last will and testament of Nathan Bryan in the presence of the undersigned subscribing witnesses hereto, at the special instance and request of the said testater and in the presence of said testator and in the presence of each other, and each subscribed their names hereto in presence of each of the other subscribing witnesses this 23d day of October 1867. Wm H Robinson James W Josey Little A M Carty ==================================================================== 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. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Meredith Clapper ====================================================================