Morgan-Meriwether County GaArchives Wills.....Charles B. Harris April 12 1857 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Pat Laney pat_laney@hotmail.com and Lynda SoRelle clsorelle@yahoo.com April 13, 2004, 4:18 pm Source: Ga. Dept Of Archives & History Written: April 12 1857 Georgia Meriwether County In the name of God amen: I Charles B. Harris of said state and county being advanced in years and knowing that I must in the course of nature die, deem it right and proper both as respect my family and my self that I should make a disposition of the property with which kind providence has blessed me,do therefore make this my last will and testament hereby revoking all others heretofore made by me. Item 1.I desire and direct that my body be buried a secent and christianlike manner suitable to my circumstances and condition of life. Item 2 I desire and direct that all my just debts be paid without delay by my executors herinafter appointed-as I am unwilling my creditors should be delayed in their rights. Item 3.I desire and direct after my death that all my property be kelp togeather and all things go on as though I were alive,the same to be under the direction and control of my executor and executrix. Item 4.I desire and direct that when one of my children becomes of age or marries that he or she shall receive from my estate the same amount and kind of property that I have given to those of my children already married and of age; to wit, a young negro woman & child and girl ten or twelve years of age-horse bridle & saddle, bed and bedstead and clothing and such household furniture as my others have received. Item 5.I desire and direct that my youngest son William Charles shall have when he becomes of age or marries three negros,two boys, on between sixteen & eighteen the other between twelve and fourteen, and a girl about ten or twelve, but should he take a profession, then he is to have but two boys. It's also my desire and I so direct that at the age of sixteen have a gold watch worth one hundred adn twenty-five dollars, and a fine horse, bridle & saddle whenever the same may be necessary. Item 6.I desire and direct should the same William Charles take a profession that the money necessary to educate him and give him said profession come out of my estate. And I desire that my daughters be educated also out of my estate. The whole matter to be under control of my executor. Item 7.It is my will and desire and so I direct that the estateor property received by my daughters from my estate should be to them for their sole and separate use apart from the contracts or liabilities of any husband that they may have. I have given to my daughters Caroline Richardson, wife of David C Richardson and _______ giving to my daughters Amanda and Maria Victoria, wife of Robert F.Stephenson each three negros-the same to be for the sole and seprate use of said daughters. Item 8.It is my will and desire and I so direct that should my wife, Maria J.without marry again then and in that event a distribution to take place of my estate and my said wife to have four negros, to wit, A(manda?), Jane, Nancy, (all women) and Squire, a man, to be hers only for her natural life, and at her death the same to equally distributed between all my children share and share alike. Item 9.It is my will and I do so direct that on the death of my wife Maria J.without marrying again then my whole estate to be distributed between my children. And whither whether the distribution shall take place upon the marriage or death of my wife, in either case- the children who may have received property as herein before provided is to account for the same at said distribution in kind and not value, and is to account for only such negroes as they receive and not their increase. Item 10.It is my will that my executor and executrix have full power to buy and sell-to sell at private sale andy land or lands or negros or other property. If necessary to sell out my present place and move to any place thaty in their discretion may think best. Item 11. It is my will&I so direct that each one of my daughters as they grow up have a watch worth fifty dollars, or the worth of fifty dollars in addition to what is mentioned in the 4th item. Item 12. I hereby constitute and appoint my beloved wife Maria J. and my son Judge R.Harris , executrix and executor of this my last will and testament. April 12.1857 Charles B.Harris LS Signed ,sealed, declared and published by Charles B. Harris as his last will and testament in the presence of us the subscribers, who subscribed our names hereto in the presence of said testator ( at his instance and request)and of each other . This April 12.1857 A.P.Mooty WmT.Harris George A.Hall Georgia Meriwether County I Charles B. Harris for the purpose of altering and making addition to the foregoing,my last will and testament,so make and ordain the following a codicil thereto. First. It is my will that the 8th item of my said will be so changed as to allow my beloved wife to select any three of my negros women and a negro man instead of the said negros mentioned in the said 8th item of said will -such negros to be held only for her natural life as provided in said 8th Item. Second it is further my will and I do so ordain that should either of my children institute proceeding to set aside my will or codicil in that event such child or dhildren shall receive but twenty-five dollars of my estate. In witness where of I the said Charles B. Harris, to this codicil to my foregoing will have set my hand seal, this June 25th 1861 C.B Harris L.S Signed sealed, published and declared by the above named Charles Harris as a codicil to his last will and testament in the presence of us who at his request in the presence of each other have subscribed our names as witnesses hereto. John DeGacy Josep H.Barnes George A. Hall Additional Comments: Charles Baldwin Harris b.1808, name found on Confederat Papers...is the son of Ralph and Agnes Baldwin Harris, he joined the Confederate Army in 1861 and died in battle of Spotslyvania Court House, Virginia in May of 1864. Charles B.Harris was the only child of Agnes Baldwin Harris and Ralph Harris to be born in Morgan County,Ga. Although this will dosen't name all the children, the 1850 & 1860- Meriwether County,Ga Census list his children and his wife Mariaj/Mariah J.maiden name also Harris. This file has been created by a form at http://www.poppet.org/gafiles/ File size: 6.8 Kb