Will of Thomas Semmes
Will book A, page 314

Madison County, State of Mississippi}
	Know all men that I Thomas Semmes being in sound mind and memory do make 
this my last will revoking all others by me made.

First above all my will is that I live in the Son and fear of almighty God so after death 
that I may inherit eternal happiness with him in heaven, hoping all through the __ and 
mercy of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  Next I covenant and commend my wife and 
children to the care and protection of almighty God begging Him to direct them in the use 
of what worldly goods I have the honor and glory here and to their salvation hereafter.  
After thus disposing of myself, my wife and children for as in ____ I may proceed to 
dispose of my entire estate as follows, to wit

First Item		I will all my just debts paid as soon as possible.

Second Item		I will the offspring of my son Roger L. Semmes deceased by his 
wife Sarah (the name of the child is __ Roger Semmes) is said offspring as above should 
live to the age of eighteen years the sum of five thousand dollars, this legacy is not to 
bear interest, the simple sum of five thousand dollars is to be paid at the age of eighteen.  
I will it further a home as the homestead of my wife and children, if it __ it without 
charge, if the said child dies before the age of eighteen then I will it nothing unless it 
should marry before that age and die leaving offspring of her body then the legacy of five 
thousand dollars left as above I will it paid to her said offspring.

Third Item		I have given off my son Alphonso T. Semmes his entire share of 
my estate, so I will him nothing more __ is caused by the death of some one of my minor 
children and in that case I will to him to have a child’s part of the said dead child’s share 
which part shall be by my executrix as contained by appraising  my estate and 
appertaining what the said deceased child’s part of said estate and so on in the event of 
the death of the child of Roger L. Semmes.

Fourth Item		I will the balance of my entire estate to my wife Catherine and to 
my minor children jointly share and share alike and to be managed by my wife Catherine 
as she may think best for said joint interest until the said child becomes of age then to 
appraise my estate and set off to the child so of age his or her share or child’s part, the 
balance of my estate remaining together in the hands and care of my wife Catherine for 
the minor children and herself until the next child becomes of age.  Then appraise and  
off as in the first case and so on until all become of age leaving in my wife’s hands her 
own share or child’s part which part I will her to do with as she may please.

Fifth Item		In the event of any of my minor children dying after one or more 
of the older children have become of age and his or her share given off then and in that 
case appraise my estate and appertain the deceased child’s share so as to equalize each 
Child Willings as I do each of my children an equal part of my estate.

Item sixth		In appraising my estate for to appertain a child’s part I will that my 
house and lot and furniture and kitchen furniture and my carriage and carriage horses be 
appraised at a sum not to exceed ten thousand dollars but as much less as their value may 
appear to be at the time of appraising.  The lot attached to house is the land purchased of 
Mr. Henry Coulter in his lifetime of about twenty three acres
and also a piece purchased of Mr. Benj. Chambers on the west of the road of about five 
acres in the line plats about twenty eight acres, this constitutes the land attached to the 
house.

Item seventh		I appoint my wife Catherine my true and lawful executrix to carry 
out this my will giving her full power to carry out and manage the same in any way that 
she may think best for their joint interest  willing that she shall do the same without any 
accountability to the courts of the county for her said acts.  In giving this power I 
embrace the power to sell that she may think proper to do, and in any way that she may 
please, but should my wife Catherine marry then and in that case I annul her powers as 
my executrix and will that my estate be appraised and her own child’s part be set off to 
her and I appoint my son Alphonso T. Semmes my executor to carry out my will or in the 
event of the death of the death of my wife before my estate is wound up I then appoint 
my son Alphonso T. Semmes my executor to carry out my will.  Should my wife and my 
son as above both die before my estate is wound up I then and in that case appoint my 
friend Silvester V. Luckett my executor to carry out my will.

Item eighth		The legacy of five thousand dollars left to the offspring of Roger 
L. Semmes deceased to be paid at the age of eighteen years shall be left in the hands of 
executrix or executor as the case may be or in a fund to meet the legacy when due.
In witness I have hereunto set my hand and seal this twenty second day of February 1858 
in the presence of 			/s/ Thomas Semmes
? 

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