Pike County GaArchives Wills.....James Beckham May 21 1861 ************************************************ 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 January 31, 2004, 6:39 pm Source: Pike County Georgia Probate Court Written: May 21 1861 Recorded: January 1 1863 State of Georgia Pike County In the name of God Amen. I James Beckham of the County and State aforesaid do make ordain and publish this instrument of writing to contain my last Will and Testament cheerfly (sp) I commend my soul to God who gave it and my body to the earth in decent Christian burial. Item 1st I hereby revoke all former wills by me heretofore made. Item 2nd If at my death any just debts should be against my estate I will that my Executor pay them out of my estate not herein specifically willed. Item 3rd I give and bequeath to my beloved wife Martha Beckham, the three lots of land I purchased of Robert Walker on one of which is situate (sp) my dwelling house (except a small portion sold off adjoining the Zebulon lot in the forks of the road South of the branch north of Zebulon) containing in all except as above excepted about six hundred and five or six acres more or less all in the Eighth District of Originally Monroe now Pike County also the following Negro slaves to wit - Ishmael, Jack, Henry and Jim men Lewis a boy and Ann and Linda women with their further increase if any, four of my best mules to be chosen by her and my bay horse my two horse wagon and harness and all my farming utensils with gin thrasher and tools of every kind and all my household and kitchen furniture my stock of cattle and hogs and a sufficiency of corn fodder wheat oats meat and shucks for the support of my wife her slaves and stock for the year next preceding my death to enable her to carry on her farm without the necessity of purchasing for that purpose. Item 4th As I have heretofore given my daughter Susan R. Caldwell as advancement in money and Negro property amounting according to the valuation placed on it by myself to the sum of two thousand and ten dollars and each item is specified in a paper which I desire to accompany this my will which gifts of money and property I hereby confirm and further bequest to my said daughter Susan R. Caldwell to be paid her out of my estate either in money or property at a fair valuation an amount sufficient to make the amount before mentioned equal to that of the largest amount specified and put down on the paper mentioned and my Executor to elect whether to pay the same in money or property. Item 5th As I have heretofore given to my Son Andrew J. Beckham in property and advancements in money amounting to the sum of nineteen hundred and ninety four dollars which is stated in the paper before mentioned which gifts I now confirm and in addition thereto give and bequeath to my said Son an amount sufficient either in money or in property as my Executor may elect - that when added to the above amount shall make his share equal to the largest amount mentioned on said paper and it is my further will and desire that my Said Son Andrew J. Beckham in the settlement with my Executor equalizing what I have advanced to him with the advancement to my other children recount for and be charged in addition to the above mentioned sum of nineteen hundred and ninety four dollars with the sum of three hundred and fifty dollars for a Negro woman named Esther and her boy Spencer at two hundred dollars which Negroes I heretofore gave him in trust for his children which amount when added to the nineteen hundred and ninety four dollars should it make an amount larger than the largest amount given any of my other children as mentioned in such paper the overplus to be considered as a free donation from me in consequence of the many difficulties he has had to encounter with in supporting himself and family. Item6th I have heretofore given to my Son Joseph C. Beckham in property and money as mentioned in said paper heretofore referred to the sum of seventeen hundred and twenty five dollars which gifts I now confirm and in addition thereto bequeath to my Said Son Joseph C. Beckham in money or property as my Executor may elect an amount out of my estate sufficient when added to the above amount to make him equal with the largest amount mentioned on said paper. And my wish will and desire is that he take my Negro man Jerry at the sum of six hundred dollars in the settlement above referred to and account in the said settlement with my Executor for that amount. Item 7th I have heretofore given to my Son Solomon G. Beckham, in property valued by me at the sum of twenty one hundred and fifty dollars after a deduction as shown on the paper before referred to which gifts I hereby confirm and in addition thereto bequeath to my Said Son Solomon G. Beckham to be paid by my Executor out of my estate either in money or property as my Executor may elect an amount sufficient when added to the above sum to make his amount equal to the largest amount mentioned on said paper. Item 8th I have heretofore given in property and a note I have to my Son James M. Beckham valued(?) in all to the sum of nineteen hundred and eleven 69/100 Dollars which gifts I hereby confirm and in addition thereto I hereby bequeath to my Said Son James M. Beckham out of my estate a sum sufficient that when added to the above amount equal to the largest amount mentioned on the paper Before referred to which amount my Executor is to pay in money or property at a fair valuation as my Executor may elect. Item 9th I have heretofore given to my son William C. Beckham in money and property amounting in all to the sum of twenty three hundred and fifty 70/100 dollars which gifts are mentioned on the paper heretofore referred to and which I now now confirm as in addition thereto I give and bequeath to my Said Son William C. Beckham a Negro boy by the name of Hamp which I value at five hundred and fifty dollars which boy he is to receive to make him equal to the largest amount mentioned on said paper but in consequence of the many difficulties with which he has had to encounter in supporting his family the overplus of the Negro after making him equal is to be a free donation and not required to account with my Executor for that amount. Item 10th I have heretofore given my son Matthew R. Beckham in property valued by me to the sum of Twenty five hundred dollars as shown in the paper before referred to which amount excuses any other amount heretofore given off to any of my children and which to him I now confirm. Item 11th I have heretofore given to my daughter Eliza S. Heath in property valued by me to the sum of Sixteen hundred and seventy five dollars which is shown by the paper before referred to and which gift I now confirm and in addition thereto bequeath to my said daughter Eliza S. Heath a sum sufficient that when added to the above amount shall make her equal to the largest amount mentioned on said paper and to be paid by my Executor in money or property at a fair valuation as he may elect. Item 12 I have heretofore given my daughter Sarah J.(?) Nunnally in property valued by me at the sum of eleven hundred dollars as shown by the paper before referred to and which gift I now confirm and in addition thereto I now bequeath to my said daughter Sarah J. Nunnally a sum sufficient that when added to the above amount shall make her equal to the largest amount mentioned on said paper which sum I desire my Executor to pay her either in money or property at fair valuation as he may elect. Item 13 As I have not heretofore given my daughter Martha F. Beckham any property I hereby will and bequeath to her during her life and after her death to be equally divided among her children not subject to the debts contracts or liabilities of any husband she may have Francis a Negro woman and her three children, Joannah and her child and their future increase value by me at one thousand and eight Hundred dollars and I further will and bequeath to my said daughter Martha F. Beckham a sum sufficient that when added to the above named wum shall make her share equal to the largest amount mentioned on the paper before referred to and that my Executor pay her said amount either in money or property at a fair valuation as he may elect. Item 14 It is my will wish and desire and it is upon that condition that I give by this will the property specified to my daughters that is what each of my said daughters take and receive the property herein bequeathed to them for life not subject to the debts contracts or liabilities of their husbands but each to take the property will to her for her life and upon her death said property to go to and be equally divided among the children she may have in life _?_. Item 15 It is my will and desire that all my property not herein specifically bequeathed go into the hands of my Executor first for the payment of my debts second for the purpose of making all my children equal to the largest amount heretofore given off as shown by the paper to wit - Matthew R. who has received property to the amount of twenty five hundred dollars and third the balance to be equally divided among all my children or their representatives the portions to my daughters to go to them for life and after the death of either of my daughters then to be divided among her children as mentioned in Item 14 of this will not subject to the debts liabilities or disposition of either of their husbands of my said daughters. Item 16th I hereby nominate and appoint my wife Martha Beckham and Matthew R. Beckham and Joseph C. Beckham executrix and executors of this my will and testament with power to divide my property not specifically willed or to sell at private or public sale as they may think best. On testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 21st day of May 1861. James Beckham Signed sealed and published in presence of us as witnesses we subscribing the same in his presence and in the presence of each other by the request of Testator. May 31st 1861 Hartford Green Zachariah Sims John J. Caldwell Charles F. Redding Georgia Pike County We Hartford Green, Zachariah Sims, John J. Caldwell and Charles F. Redding solemnly swear that we saw James Beckham sign seal and heard him declare and publish this writing to be and 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 belief and that we signed the same in the presence of each other and in presence and at the request of the testator and in the presence of the other subscribing witnesses. Hartford Green Charles L. Redding Sworn to and subscribed before me in open court this Dec.(?) 9, 1862 _?_ Sims Ordinary Property and effects given to my children as advancements at such corresponding prices as I believe just and equitable. To Susan R. Caldwell Negro girl 400 Cash for Land note 460 Cash advanced 100 Ishmael 600 Lizy 450 $2010 To A.J. Beckham 1 horse 50 Negro girl 200 ½ lot of land 700 Cash paid 869 $1819 Note paid off 175 $1994 Joseph C. Beckham House and lot in Zebulon 600 Negro man Dan 500 Negro woman Mary 450 0ne horse 50 Cash on note held by me 125 $1725 To S.G. Beckham One hundred acres of Land 700 Negro woman and child 500 One horse 50 Negro man Sanford 550 One barouche 100 Wagon and two mules 350 $2250 Deduct for gin and thrasher 100 $2150 James M. Beckham Negro man 550 One Negro woman and child 550 Negro name Andy 500 One note 311.69 $1911.69 To Wm. C. Beckham One Negro man 550 One woman and child 550 Note 550.70 Paid J.L.Booty (?) 600 Lease for land 100 $2350.70 To Sarah J. Nunnally Negro woman and child 550 Negro woman and child 550 $1100 To M. R. Beckham One Negro man 600 One Negro Jacob 600 Sarah and child 600 Negro Frank 350 Negro girl Anna 200 Boy Lee 150 $2500 To Eliza S. Heath One woman Martha and child 600 Milton a boy 400 Jesse a boy 325 Rachel a girl 200 Johnson a boy 150 $1675 Recorded January the 1st 1863 J.(?) 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