Pike County GaArchives Wills.....John Mays January 20 1847 ************************************************ 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: William Russell dragonraj@comcast.net November 5, 2003, 5:48 pm Source: Will Book C Pike County Probate Court Written: January 20 1847 Recorded: March 6 1848 State of Georgia Pike County In the name of God Amen. I John Mays of said State and County being of advanced age and knowing that I must shortly depart this life, deem it right and proper, both as it respects my family and myself; that I should make a disposition of the property with which s kind providence has blessed me, do make this my last Will and Testament, hereby revoking all others heretofore made by me. 1st Item . I desire and direct that my body be buried in a decent and Christian like manner suitable to my circumstances and condition in my life, my soul I trust shall return to rest with God who gave it, as I hope for eternal salvation through the merits of and atonement of the blessed Redeemer 2nd Item. I desire and direct that all my just debts be paid without delay by my executor or executors hereafter appointed, as I am unwilling that my creditors should be delayed in their rights, especially as there is no necessity for delay. 3rd Item. I give and bequeath to my beloved wife Francis with whom I have lived in _?_ _?_ for many years three lots of land all adjoining including my residence viz N. 10 and 11 in the Seventh District of said County and N. 11 eleven in the 8th District of said County with all the rights and immunities to have and to hold the farm in fee simple during her widowhood, and in the case __?__ the said Francis shall again marry, all the said land shall revert back and be equally divided with my children who are now born or may be hereafter born. I also give and bequeath in the same __?__ manner all my stock of mules, horses, cattle, hogs heretofore _?_ _?_ _?_ _?_ which I wish to be sold. I also give and bequeath to my beloved wife all the plantation tools and implements of every kind whatever and all the house _?_ and kitchen implements and furniture including anything used therein in the same manner. I also give and bequeath to my beloved wife our Negro boy named Charles about eighteen years old and a girl named Sarah about fifteen years old in the same _?_ manner, also one other girl named Julia about twenty five and her child Jam about three years old to have and dispose of as she may wish in life or at her death. I also give and bequeath to my beloved wife the sum of five hundred dollars in money to have use of during her widowhood then revert back as before mentioned. 4th Item. I also give and bequeath to my son John J. Mays my old man Jim and his wife Bassey and her oldest child Charles, twelve years old, and Gabriel about ten years old, and Caroline about eight years old and Jacob three years old and her youngest child called Monroe, also our boy named Adam eight, Cordil (?) about thirteen years old, also our boy named Isaac about five years old, also two lots of land in the 3rd District of said County, N. thirty eight and thirty nine with all its rights _?_ and_?_ as in any wise belonging to the same. Item 5th. I also give and bequeath to my daughter Saphronia(?) L. and to the heirs of her body, only and to be free from the disposition of nay future husband our girl named Clary, twenty five also her son Edmund, thirteen years old, also a boy named Cicero about six years old, also a boy named Adam about five years old also a girl named Eve about five years old, also a girl named Rachael light complected about fifteen years old, also our girl named Antonette ten years old, also our gold watch of the value of one hundred and fifty dollars. 6th Item. And to my son Thomas I also give and bequeath our woman named Sylva , about twenty five years old, also her son Elliot about twelve years old, also her next son named Green about eight years old also two others one by the name of Harrison, about four years old and the other named Bess about two years old, also a boy by the name of Henry about twenty four years old. Item 7th. And whereas my beloved wife is now in a family situation and will in the course of events bring forth a son or daughter ; and if a son, I do give and bequeath to him a boy named Washington about twenty six years old, also a girl named Mary about sixteen, and her child Amanda, and also one thousand dollars with interest from the time the money is realized but in case the child not yet born should be a daughter, the above bequest shall be to her and her heirs according to the bequest made to my daughter Saphronia in the bequest. Item 8th. I also wish and desire that my wife and all the family remain together and raise and educate the children said that each _?_ have his or her portion given to them when of proper age and whereas I am possessed of other lands in the low counties of this State, I wish my executor or executors to act in sufferance to them as will best _?_ with the interest of the legates and when finally disposed of the proceeds to be equally divided with all the legates. Item 9th And whereas I am possessed of some moneys and due at interest which may create some funds and it is my desire if there is such a sufficiency of funds raised from the farms made on the plantation to raise and educate the children that in that case a draw be made on the interest so realized to satisfy the deficiency. Item 10th. I do hereby constitute and appoint my beloved wife Francis executrix and my worthy friend John Jenkins executor of this my last will and testament this 20th day of January 1847. Signed, sealed, declared and published by John Mays as his last Will and Testament in the presence of us the subscribers who subscribed our names hereto in the presence of the Testor and of each other this 20th January 1847. We the undersigned do certify that the foregoing _?_ contains the last will and testament of John Mays as far as we know or believe as we were all present at the time the devise was made this 25th January 1847. John B. Jenkins Daniel Harkey (?) James L. Winfield We John B. Jenkins, James L. Winfield, and Daniel Harkey do solemnly swear that we were present and heard John Mays publish and declare this writing to contain his last will and testament and at the time thereof he was of sound disposing mind and memory and that he did it freely without compulsion to the best of our knowledge and that we subscribed the same as witnessed this 7th day of March 1847. John B. Jenkins James L. Winfield Daniel Harkey Wiley E. Mangham Francis Mays pro _?_ of the last will and testament of John Mays deceased vs. _?_ Mays Caveater(?) (this is written of the left side of the page) The will sustained as to the personalty (misspelled) by the court and ordered to be admitted to record. (There are six words crossed out...they are partially readable.) We the jury find _?_ _?_ and sever(?) at this time the will of John Mays deceased being brought before the court for probate. T_?_ Mays, brother of the deceased (?) and (?) his caveat against the proof of record thereof upon the following grounds -to wit- First For that the said John Mays did not execute said _?_ and will. Secondly For that the said John Mays did not bid the persons present at the time of making said pretended will bear witness that such was his will. Thirdly For that said pretended will is imperfect and incomplete. Fourthly For that said pretended will attempts to _?_ land contrary to law. And all this the said Caveator is ready to supply whereupon he prays the judgement of the court Robert M. Beckham(?) atty for Caveator We the jury find the foregoing and annexed instrument _?_ by Francis A Mays to be the last will and testament of John Mays as to the _?_ included in said will and we find that is no will as to the real estate. Georgia Pike County Clerks office of the Superior Court of said County. The within instrument recorded in Record Book F. _?_ 233-234-235 and 236 this 4th day of March 1848 Henry A. Caldwell(?) March 1848 State of Georgia Pike County I Francis A. Mays do solemnly swear that this writing contains the true last will of the within John Mays deceased so far as I know or believe and that I will well and truly execute the same by paying first the debts and then the legacies contained in the said will as far as his goods and chattels will thereunto extend and the law charges me and that I will make a true and perfect Inventory of all such goods and chattels so help me God this 6th March 1848. Francis (her mark) A. Mays Attest in open court W.G. Mangham C.C.O. This file has been created by a form at http://www.poppet.org/gafiles/ File size: 9.0 Kb