CORYELL COUNTY, TEXAS - WILL OF WILLIAM CORDRA MAPLES, JR. Transcribed by: Fleta Aday [search@cswnet.com] ******************************************************************************** USGENWEB ARCHIVES(tm) NOTICE All documents placed in the USGenWeb Archives remain the property of the contributors, who retain publication rights in accordance with US Copyright Laws and Regulations. In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, these documents may be used by anyone for their personal research. They may be used by non-commercial entities so long as all notices and submitter information is included. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit. Any other use, including copying files to other sites, requires permission from the contributors PRIOR to uploading to the other sites. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.net ******************************************************************************** The Last Will and Testament of William Cordra Maples, Jr. : The State of Texas, Coryell County. I, William C. Maples of the County and State above written having in view the shortness of this mortal life and being of sound mind and memory, do make publish this my last will and testament in manner and form following; First I give bequeath and devise to my beloved wife Sallie A. Maples all my property of all kinds whatsoever personal and real that I have or may have on hand or in action at the expiration of my life. After the expiration of my beloved wife's life; if any personal property remain I will the same be sold and the proceeds to be equally divided among my three children R. A. Maples, F. E. Hardy, and S. A. Cole. I also give bequeath and devise to the said three heirs all my real Estate, the same to be divided as follows; The land on which I now live is to equally divided according to the number of acres in said tract, the dividing lines to run parallel with the West line of said tract of land and so as to give S. A. Cole the middle lot including the dwelling in which I now live, the lower part I give to F. E. hardy, and the upper part to R. A. Maples. I give if any money be left at the end of my wife's life, the same is to be equally divided among my four heirs namely John Maples, Hannah Ervin, Martha J. Ford and Amanda Raines or their heirs in the same manner in which their parents would have drawn had they been living. All over one thousand dollars if there should be any, is to be equally divided among my six heirs namely the four just above mentioned and James N. Maples and Nancy Dolaney. Having given my son and daughter James N. Maples and N. Dolaney land to the amount of six hundred and forty two dollars ($642) I hereby five them nothing more than what I have herein stated and I hereby appoint Richard M. Cole and my wife S. A. Maples executor and executrix to carry out my will and testament and I further will that my said executor and executrix be not required to give any bond whatsoever in connection with the management of my estate and I hereby revoke all other and other and former wills by me made. In witness whereof I hereunto sign my name on this the 19th day of August A. D. 1877. Wm C. Maples (X) his mark. The above instrument consisting of two pages of paper was now here subscribed by Wm. C. Maples of each and both of us and was at eh same time declared by him the said Wm. C. Maples to be his last will and testament and we at his request, sign our names hereto as witnesses on this 19th day of August A. D. 1877. R. A. Culp, J. S. Everett. The State of Texas, County of Coryella. I Wm. C. Maples of the county and State aforesaid having made my last will and testament dated on the 19th day of August 1877 and witnessed by R. A. Culp and J. S. Everett and afterwards after due consideration make this act with R. M. Cole and my wife S. A. Maples as executors to my last will as above mentioned in witness whereof I hereunto sign my name on this 16the day of October A. D. 1881. William C. Maples (X) his mark. Witness: W. J. Roberts, G. E. Halmark. The State of Texas County of Coryell. I, R. B. Wells Clerk of the county Court of Coryell County, Texas, do hereby certify that the foregoing is a true and correct copy of the original will & testament now on file in said Court. Given under my hand and seal of said Court, at office in Gatesville this the 26th day of May A. D. 1884. Attest: R. B. Wells, Clerk. A copy of the above Will, Codicil to the will and Certificate was obtained from Miss Eva Maples, great granddaughter of William Cordra Maples, Jr. and granddaughter of James Noah Maples, who had already received land in Alabama from his father and therefore only shared in the equal division among six heirs of all money left over one thousand dollars. James Noah Maples had he certified copy of the Will and Codicil made, the 26th day of May 1884. This copy could not be obtained until after William Cordra Maples, Jr.'s death, which would indicate that he died sometime between 16 Oct 1881 (date of the Codicil) and 26 May 1884 (date of certified copy).