Will of Lewis Gartley Book A, page 17 I Lewis Gartley of the State of Mississippi, County of Madison being in bad health but of sound and disposing mind and believing that life is uncertain and that it has been decreed of God for all flesh once to die do make publish and declare this my last will and testament. And first after my death I direct that my body be decently interred and as such worldly estate as it has pleased God to __ me with I dispose of the same as follows, 1st I will it that all my just debts and funeral expenses be paid as soon after my decease as possible out of the first money that comes to the hands of my executors from any portion of my estate and effects __ this my intention. I do hereby instill in my executors full power and authority to dispose of my crop or crops of cotton and such part of my personal and perishable property (except the slaves) as they may think proper and necessary to raise funds sufficient to pay the same. And in consideration of the love and affection I have for my wife Louisa I give and bequeath unto her to have for and during her widowhood all my real estate lying in the state of Mississippi together with all my stock of hogs, cattle, horses, farming equipment hereunto of any description and all my furniture of every description and also the following named negro slaves, to wit Tanner, Dave, L. Daniel, Nelson, George, Emily, Sarena, Dorcus, Andrew, Isaac, Jeane, Robbin, Ben, Bill, Luda, Susan, Sina, Milly and Ellen and at the death of my beloved and affectionate wife Louisa I will that the following named slaves shall devolve to her nearest of kin to share and share alike Tanner, Dave, L. Daniel, Nelson, George, Isaac, Susan, Sina, Milly and Ellen and in case my wife should die having a lawful heir of her body begotten living at the time of her death then to devolve to said heir and should my wife marry a second husband or die then in that case it is my will and desire that my mother if she be living shall have during her natural life the following named slave, to wit Sarena, Dorcus, Isaac, Robbin, Ben, and Bill and after her death to go and devolve to my nephew Joseph F. Davis in case he believing in fee simple and if he be died then to devolve to the nearest of kin on his mother's side. I also will it the __ of my beloved wife all my real estate in the state of Mississippi will go and devolve to my mother's relations according to current laws of descent of the state of Mississippi. I also will and direct that my beloved wife shall have the two following named slaves namely Jack and Patsy until she names a __ then __ also to William Caradine and Patsy __ age my nephew Joseph F. Davis. I also direct that the services of Big David shall go towards paying the debts of my estate until the first of January AD eighteen hundred thirty eight at which time in consideration of his long and faithful service I desire that he be set free for life. I also give and bequeath unto my nephew Joseph F. Davis all my interest, claims and title in and to all lands lying and being in the state of Louisiana being two hundred acres more or less. I also direct that the sum of five hundred dollars to be paid to Joseph F. Davis to be applied towards his education and also the sum of five hundred dollars to be paid to my sister Martha Brown. Said sums to be paid to the said Joseph and Martha as soon as it can be raised out of the crops after the payment of my debts. In case Parker Carradine has a living child in the year AD 1836 I direct and desire they shall have two hundred dollars. I also direct two hundred dollars to be paid to Samuel Pearce if living as soon after the payment of all the debts of my estate as the money can be conveniently raised from the sale of cotton. I also give and bequeath unto Joseph F. Davis my double barreled shot gun. And I do hereby make and ordain my esteemed neighbors James P. Thomas, James Dunlavy and my beloved wife Louisa my executors of this my last will and testament. In witness whereof I Lewis Gartley the testator have to this my last will and testament have hereunto set my hand and seal this twentieth day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty four. The last word in the first line of the first page after the word George erased and the words "on his mother's side" inserted in the ninth line of the second page after the word "kin" also the word "caring" [?] inserted in the first line of second page before signing and sealing. Signed sealed and delivered in the presence of us who have subscribed in the presence of each other. Daw Rice, Montfort James Faues, F. W. Ewing I Lewis Gartley do hereby make and ordain this instrument of writing to be my codicil to my last will and testament made on the 20th day of August, 1836 as follows, viz. first the legacy of two hundred dollars directed to be given to Samuel Pearce I hereby revoke and request that said sum of two hundred dollars be given to Rightly Sanders __ in the place of said Pearce and further I hereby appoint Lorenzo Latham my executor in the __ or place of James Dunlavy request in my said will of the date above referred to. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this eleventh day of April 1835. /s/ Lewis R. Gartley witness __ Carradine ==================================================================== 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 ====================================================================