TALIAFERRO COUNTY, GA - Wills Edwards, Ethelred ***************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm *********************** This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Shannon Dale Byrd byrdman10@iname.com Last Will & Testament of Etheldred Edwards- Georgia, Taliaferro County) I, Etheldred Edwards of the State and County aforesaid being of sound mind and disposing memory do make declare and publish this my last Will and testament herby revoking and annulling all other wills heretofore made by me and after the payment of my just debts do make and ordain the following disposition of my property after me death. Item 1st I will and bequeath to my son Thomas Edwards for and during his natural life only and for the support and maintenance of himself and family and not otherwise, the following property, to wit, my tract of land known as the Colelough place deeded to me by Alexander Colelough whereon my said son now lives, also my tract of land known as the Pittman place deeded to me by Alexander H. Stephens, and my tract of land known as the Guest place deeded to me by Jesse Guest, and a small tract of land deed to me by James Lyle. I also give to him in like manner two negroes, one a boy named Stephen, and the other a girl named Sallie both now in his possession. Said property to be in no wise subject to the debts or contracts of my son Thomas and after his death said land and negroes together with their increase to go to such lawful child or children as he may leave living at the time of his death and the representatives of such of his children as may be dead at that time leaving representatives, said representatives taking by representation. The property given to my son Thomas in this the first item of my will in addition to such household and kitchen furniture horses cattle hogs and agricultural instruments which I have heretofore given and delivered to him as all that I intend for him to have out of my estate. Item 2nd I will and bequeath to my daughter Mrs. Mary E. Brown for and during her natural life only free from the debts of contracts of her present or any future husband for her own separate use maintenance and support one eighth part or share of my negroes after those disposed of specifically in the various items of this will are taken out and after her death said negroes together with their increase to go to such child or children as she may leave living at the time of her death and the representatives of such of her children as may be dead at that time leaving representatives of, said representatives taking by representation The property given to my daughter Mrs. Mary E. Brown in this the second item of my will in addition to the property I have heretofore given of my estate…(page cut off). Item 3rd I will and bequeath to my daughter Mrs. Martha Bird in addition to the property I have heretofore given and delivered to her, the following property to wit my lot of land lying in what was formerly Baker County in this State said Lot of land was granted by Littleton Ogletree and deeded to me by Jesse Woodall and Amos Stewart the Administrators of said Little Ogletree. I also give to her one eighth part or share of my negroes after those disposed of specifically in the various items of this Will are taken out also one seventh part or share of all my other property not otherwise disposed of. Item 4th I will and bequeath to my daughter Mrs. Mildred Bird in addition to the property I have heretofore given and delivered to her the following property to wit my Lot of land lying in what was formerly Early County in this State said Lot of land was granted to me I also give to her one eighth part or share of my negroes after those disposed of specifically in the various items of this will are taken out also one seventh part or share of all my other property not herein otherwise disposed of. Item 5th I will and bequeath to my daughter Mrs. Harriett Z. Clifton in addition to the property I have heretofore given and delivered to her, for and during her natural life only free from the debts or contracts of her present or any future husband for her own separate use maintenance and support one eight part or share of my negroes after those disposed of specifically in the various items of this will are taken out also one seventh part or share of all my other property not herein otherwise disposed of and after her death said property and negroes together with their increase to go to such child or children as she may leave living at the time of her death and the representatives of such of her children as may be dead at that time leaving representatives said representatives taking by representation. Item 6th I will and bequeath to my three daughters Rebecca Edwards, Cordelia Edwards and Emma Edwards all my household and kitchen furniture of every kind and description also all my carriages and buggies and all my plantation tools including wagons carts and cotton gins that may be on the plantation whereon I now live and on the plantations known as the Porter place and Town place also all the wheat, corn, fodder, shucks, oats, rye, bacon, lard and all other kind of provender and provisions that may be on the three said plantations at the time of my death also the blacksmith tools that may be on Said three plantations at the time of my death also all the pork and stock hogs that may be on the plantation whereon I now live a the time of my death to be equally divided among them share and share alike. The division to be made by my said three daughters provided they can agree upon a division if not then by the commissioners appointed to appraise my estate I also give to each of my said three daughters three negroes to be selected by them out of all my negroes in the following manner to wit, Rebecca first to select one then Cordelia one and then Emma one and so on alternately until they have each selected three I also give to each of my said three daughters two horses or mules and two cows and calves to be selected by them from all my stock of horses and cattle in the same manner to wit, Rebecca first to select one then Cordelia one and then Emma one and so on alternately until they have each selected two horses or mules and two cows and calves. Item 7th In addition to the property given to my daughter Rebecca Edwards in the sixth item of this will I also will and bequeath to her the following property to wit, my plantation whereon I now live containing about eight or nine hundred acres adjoining the lands of William M. Harrison, Wiley Rhodes, the estate of Amos Stewart, John Evans and Asbury Ogletree also one eighth part or share of my negroes after those disposed of specifically in the various items of this will are taken out also one seventh part or share of all my other property not herein otherwise disposed of. Item 8th In addition to the property given to my daughter Cordelia Edwards in the sixth item of this will I also will and bequeath to her the following property, to wit, my tract of land deeded to me by William H. Chapman known as the Towns place and my tract of land deeded to me by Nathan Chapman whereon Wiley D. Portwood now lives also one eighth part or share of my negroes after those disposed of specifically in the various items of this will are taken out also one seventh part or share of all my other property not herein otherwise disposed of. Item 9th In addition to the property given to my daughter Emma Edwards in the sixth item of this will I also will and bequeath to her the following property, to wit, my tract of land deeded to me by William H. Rhodes (son of Redin R. Rhodes) whereon Johnathan Doster now lives also my tract of land dded to me by William B. Moore also the two tracts of land deeded to me by Joel Portwood and a small tract of land lying near the gin house that stands on the tract deeded to me by William B. Moore, deeded to me by James Lyle also one eighth part or share of my negroes after those disposed of specifically in the various items of this will are taken out also one seventh part or share of all my other property not herin otherwise disposed of. Item 10th I will and bequeath to my son William C. Edwards in addition to the household and kitchen furniture and the two horses (unclear) have heretofore given and delivered to him and in addition to the small lot of cattle given to him by his Mother which gift I herby consent to, I also will and bequeath to him the following property, to wit, my plantation deeded to me in two deeds by William R. Evans administrator of William Evans whereon my said son William C. now lives also all the plantation tools including the blacksmith tools and the cotton gin that may be on and belonging to said plantation at the time of my death also all the bacon, lard, wheat, corn, rye, barley, fodder and shucks that may be on and belonging to said plantation at the time of my death also one eighth part or share of my negroes after those disposed of specifically in the various items of this will are taken out also one seventh part or share of all my other property not herein otherwise disposed of. I also have paid out for my son William C. for substitutes (unclear) about twenty five hundred dollars which I do not wish him to account for in the settlement of my estate as he was at the time I paid it and is now overseeing for me. Item 11th I give nothing at all to the children of my deceased daughter Mrs. Sarah Bell as I gave it to their mother in her lifetime all that I intend for them to have out of my estate. Item 12th In the settlement of my estate I do not wish any of my children to account for any sums of money that I have paid out for or advanced to them. Item 13th If my daughter Emma Edwards should not be twenty one years of age at the time of my death, I wish her to act for herself as though she were of full age and I do herby authorize and empower my Executor hereinafter appointed to turn over and deliver to her the property I have herein willed to her as though she were twenty one years of age. Item 14th I hereby appoint George F. Bristow Executor to this my last will and testament herein before on these seven pages written and I do herby authorize and empower him to sell without an order of court either at private or public sale as he may think best any of my property not herein specifically willed that may be necessary to sell in order to affect a division and settlement to my estate. But it is my wish that all of my property be divided among those to whom I have herein given it so far as it can be conveniently done. The word “that” in the last line of the first item was interlined before this will was signed. In testimony whereof I Etheldred Edwards have hereto set my hand this the 3rd day of March 1865. Etheldred Edwards (X his Mark) Signed and published by Etheldred Edwards as his last will and testament in our presence as witnesses thereto by his request we also signed our names hereto in the presence of testator and in the presence of each other this the 3rd day of March 1865. Daniel A. Williams Esau Ellington John J. Kent (Codicil) Georgia Taliaferro County Whereas I, Etheldred Edwards of said state and county did on the third day of March 1865 sign declare and publish my last will and testament in the presence of Daniel A. Williams, Esau Ellington and John J. Kent who signed the said will and testament as witnesses. And whereas I am desirous of making some additional items to said will and testament, I therefore make declare and publish this codicil to said will and testament. Item 1st I will and bequeath to my daughter Mrs. Mildred Bird in addition to the property given to her by my said Will and Testament the sum of five hundred dollars to compensate her for the trouble and expense she has and may be at in consequence of my present illness at her house. Item 2nd I will and bequeath to my daughter Mrs. Martha Bird in addition to the property given to her by my said Will and Testament the sum of five hundred dollars. Item 3rd I will and bequeath to my grandson Etheldred Bird son of Wiley Bird deceased the sum of five hundred dollars. Item 4th I will and bequeath to my son William C. Edwards in addition to the property given to him by said will and testament all the horses, mules, cattle and hogs that are now on the plantation whereon he now lives. Item 5th I will and bequeath to my three daughters Rebecca Edwards, Cordelia Edwards and Emma Edwards in addition to the property given to them by said will and testament all the gold and silver money that I may have on hand at the time of my death to be equally divided among them share and share alike. I also in like manner give to them all my interest in the crop now growing on the place whereon I now live, the place where on B.B. Bowls now lives and the place whereon William A. Perkins now lives except the cotton crop on said three places. I also will and bequeath to my said daughter Cordelia Edwards the sum of five hundred dollars to make up for the lack of improvements on the lands which I have willed and bequeathed to her. Item 6th I hereby direct my Executor to have a suitable tombstone placed over my grave, and I also wish him to allow my daughter Rebecca a sum of money out of my estate sufficient to pay for the recovering and other repairs now needed on my dwelling house and for (unclear) the well at home. Item 7th If there should be any money left belonging to my estate after paying the different sums mentioned in the foresaid items of this codicil, I wish it whatever it may be to be equally divided between my two daughters Mary E. Brown and Harriet Z. Clifton which said sum of money I give to them for their own separate use and benefit free from…end