Pike County GaArchives Wills.....James D. Beckham October 5 1859 ************************************************ 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 March 13, 2004, 8:50 pm Source: Will Book C Pike County Probate Court Written: October 5 1859 Recorded: January 15 1862Will Book C Pike County Courthouse State of Georgia Pike County In the name of God Amen. I James D. Beckham of the County of Pike and State of Georgia, being of sound and disposing mind and memory, and being desirous to settle my worldly affairs in view of the uncertainty of life and more especially as I have for a long time been afflicted with disease, do make and publish this my Last Will and Testament. To wit First I desire my body to be interred in a decent and becoming manner. I will and direct that all my just debts be paid. Second I will, bequeath and devise unto my dear wife Mary A.E. Beckham, the whole of my Estate, real and personal of whatever nature or kind to hold the same and the profits thereof ( after my debts are paid) to the said Mary A.E. for and during the term of her natural life or widowhood. Third I will, bequeath and devise one share of part of all my Estate, real and personal, after my wifes' death, unto my son James P. Beckham, to have and to hold to him his heirs and assigns forever. Fourth I will, bequeath and devise one share or part of all my Estate, real and personal (after my wifes' death) unto my son Jesse B. Beckham to have and to hold to him, his heirs and assigns forever. Fifth I will, bequeath and devise one share or part of all my Estate real and personal (after my wifes' death) unto my Executor hereinafter named in Trust and only in Trust to and for the sole and separate use of my daughter Mary S. Strickland wife of George Strickland, not subject to the debts or control of her present or any future husband, for and during her natural life and no longer, and after her death to her child or children, share and share alike, free from any trust whatsoever, his her or their heirs and assigns forever deducting from her share sixty dollars, value of property advanced her. Sixth I will, bequeath and devise two shares or parts of all my Estate, real and personal (after my wifes' death) unto my Executor hereinafter named, in Trust and only in Trust, to and for the sole and separate use of my daughter Susan R. Beckham, not subject to the debts or control of any future husband, for and during her natural life and no longer, and after her death to her child or children, share and share alike, free from any Trust whatsoever, his her or their heirs or assigns forever. Seventh During the life of my wife or during her widowhood my sons James P. and Jesse B. and my daughter Susan R. are to be supported and educated from the profits of my Estate until they respectively shall marry or become otherwise settled in life. Eighth In case my wife shall marry then the whole of my Estate real and personal to be sold and divided, that is to say- the real Estate to be sold and the Negroes divided, and my wife to be entitled to one share or part of the whole of my Estate, to have and to hold to her and her heirs and assigns forever. Ninth I do hereby constitute and appoint my wife Mary A.E. Beckham and my friend and kinsman Dr. Jesse D. Beale of Taylor County in the State aforesiad my Executrix and Executor, hereby revoking all other Wills made declaring this to be my last. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal this Fifth day of October One Thousand eight hundred and fifty nine. James D. Beckham Signed sealed, published, pronounced and declared by the Testator to be his Last Will and Testament in the presence of us who in his person at his request and in the presence of each other have hereto set and subscribed our names as witnesses hereto on the day and year above written. James Eppinger John N. Mangham John P. Garney Georgia Pike County We James Eppinger, John N. Mangham and John P. Garner, do solemnly swear that we saw James D. 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 the presence and at the request of the Testator. James Eppinger J.N. Mangham John P. Garner Sworn to and Subscribed before me in open court January 13th 1862 John N. Mangham Ordinary Georgia Pike County We Mary A.E. Beckham (Executrix) and Jesse D. Beale (Executor) do solemnly swear that this writing contains the true Last Will and Testament of James D. Beckham deceased as far as we know or believe and that we will well and truly execute the same by paying first the debts and then the legacies contained in said will as far as his goods and chattels will thereto extend and the law charges us and that we will make a true and perfect Inventory of all such goods and chattels so help us God. Mary A.E. Beckham (her mark) Jesse D. Beale Sworn to and subscribed in open court this 13th day January 1862 John N. Mangham Ordinary Recorded January 15th 1862 John N. Mangham Ordinary This file has been created by a form at http://www.poppet.org/gafiles/ File size: 5.6 Kb