Georgia: Morgan County: Last Will & Testament of Samuel Skidmore, 3 November 1851 ==================================================================== 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 this file permanently for free access. This file was contributed by: Barbara Walker Winge Barbarawinge@yahoo.com ==================================================================== Georgia, Morgan County ---------- In the name of God, Amen! --- I, Samuel Skidmore, of the State & county aforesaid, being of Sound mind & disposing memory, do hereby make, ordain & constitute this my last will & testament, revoking all others. Item 1st I will that my body be committed to the earth, with Christian burial, & I commit my Soul to God who gave it to me. Item 2D I will that all my debts be paid as soon as possible Item 3D I will & bequeath to my beloved wife, Mariah E. Skidmore, that plantation on which I now live, (including all the tracts of land, or parcels of tracts of which Said plantation is comosede-) to hold & have the Same during her natural life ___ & also all the household & Kitchen furniture & plantation tools of every discription, & the four wheel carriage & Buggy, & all the provisions of every Kind, at the time of my death, together with the crop of every Kind made upon the plantation the year of my death ___ & ten negroes of her own Selection ___ & So much of the Stock of all Kinds, as She may Select ___ The above property, of every description, to be hers during her natural life, & at her death to be equally divided between my children, & the representatives of my children, who may be dead ___ (The representatives or heirs of Such deceased child or children to receive Such a part, as Such child or children would have received, had he or She been in life ___) I further, wish that my wife, out of the household furniture shall give off to my three younger children, Miranda W. & William S. Skidmore & Sarah A. Veal, so much of the Same, as Shall equalize their portion of my estate (in this respect), with my older children. ___ Item 4th I give & bequeath unto my Grandchildren, Sarah W. Willis, Mary P. Smith, Harriet Ann Skidmore, Eight hundred dollars to be equally divided between said grandchildren__ to be paid over to them by my executrix, twelve months after the end of the year, in which I may die. Item 5th I give & bequeath to Crosby S. Skidmore, twelve hundred dollars, to be paid in money or negroes (at their valuation) by my executrix, at the end of the year succeeding the one, in which I may die. My executrix to determine, whether to pay in money or negroes. Item 6th I give & bequeath unto William L. West, in trust for the Sole & Separate use of my daughter Sarah P. West, twelve hundred dollars, to be paid (at the discretion of my executrix) either in money or negroes___ & if in negroes, at their valuation___ Said bequest to be paid twelve months after the end of the year, in which I may die. Item 7th I give to my beloved wife, Mariah E. Skidmore, after the payment of the foregoing legacies, all the cash, notes & accounts & cotton, which may be on hand, at the time of my death. Item 8th It is m will & desire, that all my property, not disposed of by the previous items, be equally divided between my four younger children__ as follows___ The equal distributive Share of Ruth Sydney Banks, to be held by Francis A. Banks in trust for her Sole & Separate use___ & out of her Share, is to be deducted the value of two negroes, previously given to her___. The equal distribution of Miranda W. Skidmore to her Sole & Separate use___. The other equal distributive Share to William S. Skidmore. Item 9th I constitute & appoint my beloved wife, Mariah E. Skidmore, executrix of this my last will & testament. In testimoney hereof, I have Signed, Sealed & published this my last will & testament, this third day of November 1851, in presence of _________ Erased in 4th & 5th lines on page 2 & in 11th line page 2 ___ & in 3D line page 3 before signing. Samuel Skidmore (Seal) Lucuis L. Wittich W. L. Hollingsworth I. S. Ray (Submitted by Barbara Walker Winge, barbarawinge@yahoo.com)