JOHN ROLLINS/RAWLINGS/RAWLINS LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT - HOWARD COUNTY, MISSOURI ************************************************************************ File contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Neil Smith USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, material may be freely used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material, AND permission is obtained from the contributor of the file. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for non-commercial purposes, MUST obtain the written consent of the contributor, OR the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. ************************************************************************ Last Will and Testament of John Rollins as proven on June 9, 1823 and recorded on June 16, 1823 in Howard County, Missouri Wills Volume 1, pages 138-141, microfilm C2846 at the Missouri State Archives. [transcribed exactly as written, punctuation added to improve readability.] Page 138 In the name of God, Amen. I John Rollins of the County of Howard and Territory of Missouri calling unto mind the mortality of my body and knowing that it is appointed for all men ever to die, do make and ordain[?] this my last Will and Testament, that is to say principally and first of all I give and remand my soul to the hand of Almighty God that gave it, and my body I remand to the earth to buried in a decent Christian burial nothing doubting but at finnal resurrection I shall receive the same again by the mighty power of God, and as touching such moldy estate exhummeth it has pleased God to bless me in this life. I give dismiss and dispose of the same in the following manner and form – first I wish all my just debts to be paid by my wife a bring[?] out of the Negroes. Item I leave and bequeath to wife Jane Rollins three negroes namely Pompy, Peter, and Easter together with all my stock of horses, Cattle, and hogs with the farming utensials and house hold and kitchin furniture to be hers during her natural life and at her death to be Equally divided among my six last Children. I leave and bequeath unto my son Thomas Rollins our negro girl named Siller, our bed and bed and furniture, horse, and saddle. Item I leave and bequeath to my daughter Mary Bush our negro woman named Libby, her bed and furniture. Item I leave and bequeath to my son Benjamin Rollins our negro Boy named Hiram, horse and saddle, bed and furniture. Item I leave and bequeath unto my son Levy Rollins our negro Boy named Sam, his horse, bed and furniture. Item I leave and bequeath to my son John Rollins our negro Boy named bill, his horse, bed and furniture. Item I give and bequeath to my son Owen Rollins our negro boy named Aaron[?], his horse, bed, and furniture. Item I give and bequeath to my six last children namely James D. Rollins, Nancy Rollins, William Rollins, Jane Rollins, Elvina[Elvira?] Rollins and (blank) [probably Julia] Rollins all the rest of my negroes namely Jos, Dury, Milly, Harrison, Squire, and Aney and as they come of age let them have a negroe, horse and saddle, and bed and furniture and when the youngest child comes of age let the six last named negroes be equally divided amongst the six last children. Item I leave and bequeath to my two youngest sons namely James D. Rollins and William Rollins that twenty five acres of Land that I bought of Irvin to be Equally divided between them and I do hereby utterly disallow revoke and disown[?] all and every other former Testaments, Wills, ? bequests and Enscutors by me in any wise(?) before made wills and bequesthes, ratifying and confirming this and no other to be my last will and testament . In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the thirteenth day of January one thousand Eight hundred and twenty. Page 140 State of Missouri County of Howard Recorded the foregoing last will and testament of John Rollins deceased on the 16th day of June 1823. John B. Clark clr State of Missouri County of Howard Be it remembered that on the ninth day of June in the year of our Lord one thousand Eight hundred and twenty three the last will and testament of John Rollins deceased was pronounced by David Manchester to the County Court of Howard County, and the Same, after being proven as the Law directs, was ordered to be recorded, and upon the sixteenth day of June 1823 James Rawlings made application to the office of the Clerk of the County Court of the County aforesaid for letters of administration upon said Estate with the Will as read there being no Executor named in said will which upon the said James Rawlins together with James Jackson and George H. Delany having Executed a bond as the law directs and having taken the oaths required by Law and granted him. Page 141 State of Missouri County of Howard John B. Clark Clerk of Howard County Court. To all who shall see these presents Greeting. Know Ye that whereas John Rollins deceased having made his last will and testament without having appointed any Executor or Executrix thereof and James Rawlins having given satisfactory security and complied with the requirements of the law, I do by these presents give and grant unto the said James Rawlings full power and authority to administer all and singular the good Chattels Rights and credits of the said John Rollins deceased and demand and legally require and secure all manner of debts and demands due and owing to the said deceased and truly and faithfully to dispose of the Same according to Law and the true intent and meaning of said last will and testament of said deceased, and lastly I do by these presents constitute and appoint the said James Rawlins administration (with the will of the said deceased ann???) of all and singular the good Chattels rights and Credits of the said deceased. Witness my hand and seal of office at Franklin this sixteenth day of June Eighteen hundred and twenty three – John B. Clark clr State of Missouri County of Howard Recorded the foregoing Letters of administration with the will ann??? On the day of the date and before the acting ?. John B. Clark clr