Georgia: Oglethorpe County: Last Will & Testament of John Birdsong 15 October 1830 ==================================================================== 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: Betty M. Helf bhelf2@mchsi.com ==================================================================== Oglethorpe County, Georgia, Will Book C, pp. 123-124: State of Georgia, Oglethorpe County I John Birdsong of the State and County aforesaid being of sound mind and memory do make this my lst will and testament in manner and form following Viz. Item 1st. I give unto my sons Robert Birdsong & George (HW) Washington Birdsong in trust for the use of my daughter Polly Bledsoe wife of John Bledsoe for her support during her life the following negroes which she has now in possession on a load to wit. a man named Sam, a woman named Amy & her children Harriet, Moses, Zechariah, Ben, Angelina and Dick and their future increase and at the death of my said daughter Polly Bledsoe my will is that the above named trustees do equally divide the above named negroes together with their increase thereof among the children of the said Polly Bledsoe which may then be living. Item 2nd. I give unto my sons Robert Birdsong and George Washington Birdsong in trust for the use of my daughter Ann Scroggins for her support during her life, the following negros, to wit, Polly a woman and her four children, Phill, Ben, Peter and Telina and their future increase which negros the said Ann Scroggins has now in her possession on loan - and at the death of my said daughter Ann Scroggins, my will is that the above named trustees do equally divide the above named negroes and their increase if any among the children of the said Ann Scroggins which may be living. Item 3rd. I give unto my grandson George L. F. Birdsong son of Benagah Birdsong dec'd when he arrives to the age of twenty one years five hundred dollars, if he should not live to be twenty one years old, the said sum of five hundred dollars to be divided between my sons Robert Birdsong and George W. (HW)ashington Birdsong and the children of Isaac Birdsong (HW) dec'd and that is to say the children of Isaac Birdsong and is to have one third part. Item 4th. I give my grand children Paris M. Birdsong, Robert B. Birdsong, Lucy Ann S, Birdsong, Genneta Birdsong, John W. (HW) William Birdsong and Washington Birdsong children of my son John Birdsong dec'd one hundred dollars each. Item 5th. I lend unto my wife Elizabeth Birdsong the balance of my property both real and personal that I may be possessed of at my death and the increase thereof during her life and her death the whole of the foregoing property that I have loaned her both real and personal and the increase thereof to be divided in the following manner, that is to say, one third thereof I give to my son George W. Birdsong, one third part thereof I give to the children of my son Isaac Birdsong dec'd and the other third part I give to the children of my son Robert Birdsong. Item 6th. I hereby nominate, constitute and appoint my sons Robert Birdsong & George W. Birdsong Executors of this my last will and testament. In witness whereof I hereunto set my and affix my seal this fifteenth day of October eighteen hundred and thirty. In 2nd item 4th line (Peter, interline before signed). Signed, sealed, published & declared by John Birdsong {Seal} the aforesaid named John Birdsong to be his last will and testament in the presence of Isaac Collier Isaac P. Collier Cuthbus Collier In Chambers, June 11th 1832 Present, Edward Coxe & Robert Freeman Personally appeared Isaac Collier, Isaac P. Collier, & Cuthbert S. Collier the subscribing witnesses to the within will and being duly sworn, deposeth and saith that they saw John Birdsong sign, seal, publish and declare this writing to be his last will and testament, and at the time thereof he was of sound mind and memory. So help us God. Isaac Collier Isaac P. Collier Cuthbert S. Collier July Term of Court of Ordinary The within will was presented in Open Court and ordered to be recorded. William H. Smith, C.C.O. Recorded 3d July 1832 William H. Smith, C.C.O.