Will of James M. Smith I, James M. Smith of Madison County and State of Mississippi, of sound and disposing mind being well aware of the uncertainty of human life it having been appointed of God for all men to do coolly soberly and deliberately of my own free will and accord make and ordain this my last will and testament. First, in accordance with the decree of Heaven that dust thou art and unto dust thou shalt return I direct that my body be decently interred in a respectful manner free from the __ and vanities of the world. Secondly, believing that honesty is the best policy and that mankind should deal with such __ an the __ and God I direct that all of my just debts be paid so soon as a sufficiency for that purpose can be raised from the sale of my crop or crops of cotton. Next I will and specially direct that my mulatto girl Angeline and her child a female named Pamelia Octavia be immediately set free after my decease. They not be included in any inventory as part of my estate. I will and direct that the sum of five thousand dollars be paid to said girl Angeline to be nested by my executors in real estate in the state of Indiana or Ohio, the made profits and issue of the same to go to said Angeline during her natural life and at her death to go and devolve to her child said Pamelia Octavia entailing the same to said Pamelia Octavia and her posterity and I further direct that a further sum of five thousand dollars be given and paid to said Pamelia Octavia (she being now about four years old) so soon as she arrives at the age of eighteen years to be nested in real estate as directed in the case of Angeline the said profits and issues of the same to go to said Pamelia Octavia during her natural life and at her death to go and devolve to her posterity if she has any and in the event of the said Octavia dying without a lawful heir of her body the property hereby outlined __ her is to go at her death (said Pamelia Octavia) and be distributed as my other effects as herein after directed and I further direct that the sum of five hundred dollars be appropriated for the purpose of aiding said Angeline and her child in reaching their home or house in Ohio or Indiana immediately after my decease. I will and direct that my slaves (except Angeline and Octavia) be kept at work and employed upon my said estate until they gain or raise a sufficiency to pay all my debts then I direct that my entire estate both real and personal be equally divided between my brother Cotesworth Pinckney Smith and my sister Ellen Cornelia now the wife of Henry J. Moore (insuring however at all times the legacies directed for account of said Angeline and Octavia) said property to remain in the possession of said Cotesworth Pinckney and Ellen Cornelia during their natural lives then to devolve to their heirs or representatives and I hereby beg leave to __ request that my executors attend thereby to my wishes in relation to said Angeline and Pamelia Octavia and lastly I do hereby appoint my brother Cotesworth Pinckney Smith and my brother-in-law Henry A. Moore executors of this my last will and testament made the twenty fifth day of May in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty five. Witness my hand and seal /s/ James M. Smith Witnesses present L. Latham, James F. Dinion, H. H. Harper ==================================================================== 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. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor. This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Tony Abruscato ====================================================================