Will of Joanna Adams, Madison Co., MS, Will Book A

State of Mississippi, Madison County}	I Joanna Adams of the county
and state aforesaid being especially [warned ?] of the uncertainty of
life by a present bodily disease and being of sound and disposing and
understanding do hereby make and constitute this my last will and
testament which shall operate as a revocation of all former wills and
testaments heretofore made by me.

1st.  While I commend my soul to the keeping of God who gave it, I wish
my body to be decently committed to the Earth and I hereby set apart a
sufficient sum to defray the expenses of the same.

2nd.  I wish all my just debts be paid as soon as a sufficient amount
can be collected from those indebted to me.

3rd.  I bequeath to my son James Adams one feather bed.

4th.  It is my wish that al my negroes shall be appraised by three men
appointed by the Court of Probate, and that my son James Adams shall
take them all at the appointed value, he being allowed a credit of
twelve months for the whole amount from the time of my decease.  It is
also my wish that my entire estate excepting whatever may be
hereinafter specially otherwise bequeathed be divided into ten equal
shares as legacies to be bequeathed as hereinafter specified.

5th.  I give and bequeath eight of the aforesaid slaves to my children
James Adams, John Adams, William Adams, Elizabeth Obion [?], Binket
Thompson, Nancy Flowers [?], Samuel Gasington [?] and Jack C.
Castterphin, one share to each in divided and all to share alike.

6th.  I give and bequeath to my son William Adams one of the aforesaid
ten shares, and one feather bed to be held in trust ___ by the said
William Adams for the use and benefit of my daughter Rebecca Flowers
[?] for and during her natural life, and at her death it is my wish and
desire that the said property with all the profits & monies thereof
be equally divided between the children of the said Rebecca Flowers
[?].

7th.  I give and bequeath to my son William Adams one of the aforesaid
shares to be held in trust also by the said William Adams for the use
and benefit of my __ Jeremiah Alford for and during his natural life
and at his death it is my wish and desire that the said property with
all the monies and profits thereof be given and transferred to Sarah
Smith [?] wife of John Smith of Porter County, State of __ and to his
heirs.

8th.  I give and bequeath to my beloved daughter Elizabeth __ __ . . .
. . . .

9th.  I wish my son William Adams to be exempted from the payment of
one hundred dollars which he owes me in consideration of  one years
labor performed by him for me after he had arrived at the of twenty one
years.

10th.  It is my wish that my son John Adams shall be exempted from
paying for a waggon which he obtained from me several years ago.

11th.  I hereby name, constitute and appoint my sons James Adams and
John Adams to be the executors of this my last will and testament.  I
testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 22nd day of
July AD 1835.	/m/ Joanna Adams

Signed sealed and subscribed by the said Joanna Adams to be her last
will and testament in presence of us.	/s/ Thos. J. Catchings,
William C. Tuppin

State of Mississippi, Madison County}  Probate Court, September Term
1838The last will and testament of Joanna Adams dec'd was this day
produced in open court.  Whereupon came Thomas J. Catchings one of the
subscribing witnesses thereto who being duly qualified deposed and says
that the said Joanna Adams signed sealed and delivered & acknowledged
the same to be her last will and testament in his presence and in the
presence of William C. Tuppin  the other subscribing witness to said
will, that he the deponent signed the same as a witness in presence of
said Joanna Adams and in presence said William C. Tuppin and that the
said Tuppin signed the same in presence of said Joanna Adams and of
this deponent.  And further that said Joanna Adams at the time of
making and publishing said will was of sound and disposing mind.

It is therefore ordered that letters of testamentary on said estate be
granted to James Adams and John Adams on their entering into bond in
the __ sum of ten thousand dollars with Robert G. Anderson Jun'r and
Thomas J. Catchings  their securities.  The said James Adams and John
Adams having been appointed executors by said will.
/s/ Thos. Shackleford, Judge of Probate


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