Will of James Gillespie, Madison Co., MS, Will Book A In the name of God, Amen I, James Gillespie of the County of Madison and State of Mississippi being in delicate health, but having a sound and disposing memory and mind and being disposed to settle my worldly affairs whilst I have strength and capacity so to do, do make and publish this my last will and testament, hereby revoking and making void all other wills by me at any time heretofore made. And first I do hereby commit my soul into the hand of my Creator who gave it, and my body to the earth to be interred at such place as my executrix hereinafter named may direct. And as to such worldly estate where with it hath pleased God to entrust me, I do hereby dispose of the same as follows (to wit). First, I do will and bequeath unto my beloved daughter Mary Jane Paxton and her children my Negro girl named Eliza, and also my other Negro girl named Rebecca. Secondly, I do also will and bequeath unto my son James Smyth Gillespie my Negro boy named Elbert to have and to hold forever. Then I do will and bequeath unto my beloved wife Martha Gillespie during her life the whole of the balance of my estate both real, personal and mixed of every kind and description whatever, out of which I desire her to furnish my said son James Smyth Gillespie with a decent support during her life, should he remain single during that time, and I do further desire that my said son James Smyth Gillespie in addition to the receiving of his said Negro boy Elbert, be allowed a genteel support out of my estate during the continuance of his delicate health. And I do further will and bequeath (at the death of my beloved wife Martha Gillespie) the whole of the balance of my estate both real, personal and mixed that has not been finally disposed of heretofore, to be equally divided among the whole of my beloved children, to wit Eliza Edmondton Wyly, Allen Campbell Gillespie, William Edmondton Gillespie, Thomas Hardin Gillespie, Martha __ Quinsey, John Cooper Gillespie, Andrew Jackson Gillespie, James Smyth Gillespie, Mary Jane Paxton, them their heirs and assigns. The Negro heretofore liberated and set free my Negro boy named Ezekiel in consideration of the important services that he has rendered to me and to my family, should it appear at any time that he is __ __ __ __ was illegal or irregular in anything whatever, I do hereby will and bequeath unto him his freedom and charge my children above named collectively and individually at the expense of my estate to him liberated and set free by all means. I hereby nominate and appoint my beloved wife Martha Gillespie executrix of this my last will and testament, and request of her accept of the same; and I do further desire that she shall not be required to give either bond or security for the faithful performance of said testament. In witness whereof I the said James Gillespie (the testator) have to this my last will and testament contained on this leaf of paper, hereunto set my hand and seal on this thirteenth day of August in the year of Our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and forty two. /s/ James Gillespie Signed sealed and published in the presence of Thomas H. Gillespie, James S. Gillespie Probated November, 1842 ==================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free Information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Files may be printed or copied for Personal use only. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor, and a copy of the consent sent to the appropriate archive file manager. This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Tony Abruscato