Submitted by Elaine Randall English ABSTRACTS OF RECORDS FROM BOOK "B"-WILLS, FIRST DISTRICT, PANOLA COUNTY #1207 Page 170 THOMAS MOORE, signed 12 Jun 1875; witnesses: H. Mosely, Samuel D. Johns, Mat M. Wells, J.A. Blair. Filed 5 Aug 1875: Appr: Mat M. Wells, W. S. Hartsfield, Franklin Martin. Names wife Lydia Margaret (SE 1/4 Section 30, T9, R7 and SW 1/4 Section 29, T 9, R7, of 190 acres); our son Gabriel Moore (real estate in Beauregard, Copiah County, Mississippi); administrator George W. Thetford (Bond $1000); elder children: Elizabeth Higdon, wife of John Higdon; James G. Moore; Margaret Emily Martin, Jane Turnipseed, heirs Malinda Ann Gowen, Aeline Sessione, Rosetta Graves. (*copy of will documents follow: they show differences in the names of the children of Thomas Moore that are more in line with research to date than the abstract transcription) The Will of Thomas Moore deceased. Page 170 No. 1212. Petition The State of Mississippi, Panola County To the Honorable J.N. (?) Campbell, Chancellor of Tenth Chancery District of Mississippi: Respectfully represents the petition of George W. Thedford, of said County, that same (?) during the month of June last, Thomas Moore late of said County, departed this life, leaving a last will and testament, duly signed, published and attested, as your petitioner believes, and which he in pursuance of the Statute, herewith presents to your Honor for probate. That said will is subscribed by H. Moseley, Samuel D. Johns, Mat M. Wells and J. A. Blair as witnesses to the signature and publication thereof, all of whom as your petitioner knows now reside in said County and State. That said testator in his said last will and testament, nominated, and appointed George W. Thedford, your petitioner, executor thereof. And this petition further shows that the said Thomas Moore died seized and possessed of a real and personal estate consisting chiefly of a plantation of land situate and lying in said County, together with personal estate, stock, farming utensils and credits, which said personal estate, according to the best information which your petitioner has been able to obtain, is worth about five hundred dollars. That your petitioner, moved by a desire of meeting and fulfilling the wishes of his said testator, and that his said last will and testament may in all things be executed according to the true intent and meaning thereof is willing to accept and undertake the office and trust confided to him. In consideration whereof, and to the end that, the said last will and testament may be performed as aforesaid, your petitioner prays that the said H. Moseley, Samuel D. Johns, Mat M. Wells and J.A. Blair, subscribing witnesses as aforesaid, may be summoned to be and appear this Court forthwith, then and there to testify of said will as it may please your Honor to direct; and that probate of said will may be thereupon granted, and the same ordered for record. And your petitioner further prays that it may please your Honor to grant him letters testamentary of said last will and testament on his taking the oath prescribed by the statute and entering into bond in such form as your Honor may be pleased to direct; for securities whereof your petitioner hereby proffers w_?_ he believes to be ample and sufficient in the premises and that your Honor will appoint Mat M. Wells, W. S. Hartsfield and Franklin Martin appraisers, to value and appraise the goods, chattels and personal estate of said testator, and make such other orders as to your Honor may seem meet and proper in the premises. And your petitioner in duty bound will ever pray to G. W. Thetford Sworn to and subscribed before me the 5th day of August 1875. W. W. Howe By P.U. Moore Will of Thomas Moore, deceased, continued Page 171 Filed and granted August 5, 1875 W. W. Howe, Clerk Will In the name of God, Amen I, Thomas Moore, of the County of Panola and the State of Mississippi, being frail and feeble in body, but of a sound and disposing mind, do this day June the 12th 1875, make this my last will and testament, to-wit: Item first. I will and bequeath unto my wife Lydia Margaret Moore my plantation on which I now reside in the County and State aforesaid, together with all personal property, household fixtures, and my interest in the growing crops of the same, and known and designated as a part of the South East quarter of Section thirty, Town nine, Range seven West; also all that fraction of the South West quarter of Section twenty nine, in Township nine, Range seven West, containing one hundred and ninety acres more or less, for her use and benefit during her natural life, and at her death, the same is to revert to our son, Gabriel Moore, whom we make our heir to the same. Item 2d I will and bequeath to my son Gabriel Moore, for his own immediate use and benefit, my gold watch, and the bay horse, two years old, and hereby confirm to him all the remainder of realty in the town of Beaureguard and the County of Copiah, State of Mississippi which lots are due to him in his own name and on the record of said County. Item 3d I hereby appoint as administrator of this my last will and testament George W. Thedford, and confirm to him the Deed of Conveyance executed to him for the purposes therein stated and bearing this date of June 12th, A.D. 1875, and hereby again vest in him & his heirs (?) a fee simple title in and to the said Lot No. (?) and Block No. 11 of the town of Beaureguard and County of Copiah and State of Mississippi. Item 4th To my elder children, Elizabeth Higdon and John Higdon her husband, Jno. G. Moore, Margaret Emily Martin, Jane Turnipseed, heirs Malinda Ann Gowen, Alice Sessions and Rosetta*Graves, all my beloved children to whom I have given and granted such facilities for life and education as I have best been able to do from time and such property interest as has been given to them from time, I hereby confirm all such gifts to them of whatsoever kind they may have been. Signed, sealed and delivered this the day and date above written in presence of Thomas Moore {SEAL} Witness H. Moseley Samuel D. Johns Mat M. Wells J.A. Blair Filed by G. W. Thedford and admitted to record August 5th 1875. W. W. Howe, Clerk. *Rosella Moore Graves is plainly listed as "Rosetta" in this copy of the will. However the family Bible records indicate that her name was "Rosella" by several different people. Will of Thomas Moore deceased. Continued. Page 17? Proof of Will The State of Mississippi Chancery Court Panola County August 5th 1875 Before me the undersigned Clerk of said Court in vacation, personally appeared Mat M. Wells and J.A. Blair two of the subscribing witnesses to a certain instrument of writing bearing date of June the 12th 1875, purporting and alleged to be the last will and testament of Thomas Moore, late of said County, deceased, who being first duly sworn, deposed and said that the said Thomas Moore published and declared said instrument as his last will and testament, and acknowledged that he had signed and sealed the same, as such, in the presence of these deponents and S. D. Johns, the other subscribing witness thereto, on the day and date thereof; that the said testator was then of sound, disposing memory, mind and understanding and more than twenty one years of age; that these deponents and the said S. D. Johns subscribed said Instrument as witnesses thereto at the instance and request and in the presence of said testator and also in the presence of each other on the day and year ! therei n mentioned. Mat M. Wells J.A. Blair Sworn to and subscribed before me the 5th day of August 1875. W. W. Howe, Clerk By P. U. Moore, D C Filed August 5, 1875. W. W. Howe, Clerk Proof of Will The State of Mississippi Chancery Court Panola County August 5th 1875 Before me the undersigned Clerk of said Court, this day personally appeared H. Moseley, one of the subscribing witnesses to a certain instrument of writing, purporting and alleged to be the last will and testament of Thomas Moore deceased, bearing date the 12th day of June 1875, who being duly sworn, deposed and said that the said Thomas Moore, signed, sealed, published and declared said instrument as his last will and testament in the presence of this deponent on the day and date thereof; that the said testator was then of sound disposing mind, memory and understanding and more than twenty one years of age; that this deponent subscribed said instrument as a witness thereto at the instance and request and in the presence of said testator, Thomas Moore, on the day and year therein mentioned. H. Moseley Sworn to and Subscribed before me the 5th day of August 1875. W. W. Howe, Clerk By P.U. Moore, D C Filed August 5, 1875 W. W. Howe, Clerk Will of Thomas Moore, deceased. Concluded Page 17? Order C (?) 362 The State of Mississippi Panola County Chancery Court of said County In vacation before the Clerk and Master of said court at his office in the town of Sardis. No. 1212 George W. Thedford, Executor VS Thomas Moore deceased Thursday, August 5th 1875. Probate of Will and Grant of Letters This day before the Clerk came on to be heard the Petition of George W. Thedford, a citizen of this County for probate of a certain instrument of writing, purporting and alleged to be the last will and testament of Thomas Moore, deceased, late of this County, and for letters testamentary thereof; and upon opening (?) and considering the matters set out in said petition and upon taking the testimony of H. Moseley, Mat M. Wells and J.A. Blair, three of the subscribing witnesses thereto, and maturely (?) considering the same, the undersigned Clerk being now fully satisfied the said instrument is properly and legally established and proved as the true and original last will and testament of said Thomas Moore deceased; That said testator was at the time of executing and signing the same-to-wit, on the 12th day of June 1875,-of sound, disposing mind, memory and understanding and more than twenty one years of age, and of right in law entitled to make said will: It is therefore ordered and adjudged that said instrument of writing be admitted to record in this Court and stand established as the true and original l It further appearing that said G. W. Thedford was appointed Executor in and by the provisions of said will; that he is a fit person for said trust and is legally entitled thereto; and he having appeared and taken the oath prescribed by law and executed the proper bond in the penalty of One thousand dollars with sufficient surety: It is ordered that letters testamentary of said will be granted and issued to said George W. Thedford as such Executor. It is further ordered that Mat M. Wells, W. S. Hartsfield and Franklin Martin be appointed appraisers of the estate of said decedent and that a warrant for appraisement be issued to them. Thus done and ordered this 5th day of August 1875. W. W. Howe, Clerk By P.U. Moore, D.C. Recorded W. W. Howe, Clerk.