Transcription
Georgia, Liberty County } In the name of God Amen. I, Francis John Chapman of said State and County, being of advanced age and knowing that I must shortly depart from this world deem it right and proper, both as respects myself and my family, that I should make a disposition of the property with which a kind Providence has blessed me, I therefore make this my last Will and Testament, hereby revoking and annulling all others heretofore made by me.
Item first: I desire and direct that my body be buried in a decent and Christain [sic] like manner, suitable to my circumstances and condition.
My soul, I trust shall return to rest with God who gave it, as I hope for eternal salvation through the blessed Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
Item Second: I desire and direct that all my just debts be paid without delay, by my executor, hereinafter named, as I am unwilling my creditors should be delayed of their rights especially as there is no necessity for delay.
Item third: I give and bequeath to my beloved wife Mary during her natural life or widowhood eight hundred and forty nine acres of land, all adjoining which contains my plantation and together with the privilege of the use of the farm and farming tools house hold and kitchen furniture horses and all the stock of cattle hogs and sheep that have been usually keep [sic] on or about the plantation and also thirteen slaves viz. Ritta, Toney, Bob, Dye, Patsey, William, Jane, Celia, George, Levi, Moses, Boston and little Patsey, at her death or marriage to be distributed as follows.
Item fourth: The above named eight hundred and forty nine acres of land, including the plantation I give and bequeath to my younger son, Shelton M. Chapman and also my daughter Kiziah Westberry to have a residence and be supported from the said farm so long as she lives or remains a widow.
Item fifth: I give and bequeath to my daughter Kiziah Westberry the above named George about ten or eleven years of age.
Item sixth: and to my daughter Mary Delk Moses a boy about six or seven years of age.
Item seventh: and to my daughter Eleanor Strickland, wife of Allen Strickland and to her children by her present or any future husband, free from the disposition of her present, or any future, husband, my negro girl Jane about fifteen or sixteen years of age, one lot of land No. 482 Appling County and State aforesaid containing four hundred and ninety acres and appoint Nathaniel H. Chapman trustee for the same.
Item eight: I give and bequeath to my daughter Eleanor Strickland wife of Allen Strickland and to her children by her present or any future husband, free from the disposition of her present or any future husband, the tenth part of my stock south of the Altamaha river, and also the tenth part of what stock I have reserved for the support of my wife, and anything else that may be to ?devid? at the death of my wife, and also as above stated appoint Nathaniel H. Chapman Trustee, for Eleanor Stickland and her children.
Item ninth: and to my daughter Nancy E. Hines Celia a girl about eleven or twelve years of age.
Item tenth: and to my daughter Jemima Sullivain little Patsey and one hundred dollars with her.
Item eleventh: and to my son Nathaniel F. Chapman Levi a boy about eight or nine years of age.
Item twelfth: I give and bequeath to my son James F. Chapman my negro man Anthony a man about twenty five years of age and Toney and his wife Dye, Toney about forty five or Fifty and Dye about forty or forty five years of age.
Item thirteenth: I give and bequeath to my son Shelton M. Chapman William a boy about twenty years of age.
Item forteenth [sic]: I desire that my executors shall heir [sic, hire] out my boy Washington and the money arising from his labour shall be applied to the use of buying a negro girl about ten years of age for my daughter Rosena C. Owens.
Item Fifteenth: And I also desire that my executors shall buy a Negro girl about twelve or fourteen years of age in the place of Levi for my son Nathaniel F. Chapman if they can out of his proceeds of my carpenter Washington and if not the said Nathaniel shall keep Levi.
Item Sixteenth: I desire that my executors shall keep my man Washington a carpenter hired out so long as my beloved wife should live or remain single unless my wife should want any work done by a carpenter and then he shall be subject to her and at the death of my wife or marriage he be divided amongst my heirs.
Item Seventeenth: I give and bequeath to my son John Chapman, Bob a man about forty-five or fifty years of age.
Item Eighteenth: I give and bequeath to my grandson, Albert Westberry my lot of land in Cherokee and also shall be educated out of my estate a common education.
Item Nineteenth: I give and bequeath to my daughter Mary Delk one tract or parcel of land containing two hundred acres on the waters of Doctors Creek the lower tract.
Item Twentieth: I give and bequeath to my daughter Nancy E. Hines one hundred acres of land lying on the waters of Doctors Creek the next lowest on said land on middle tract.
Item Twenty-First: I give and bequeath to my daughter Jemima Sullivan one other tract lying on the waters of Doctors Creek containing two hundred acres, the upper tract of the three and it also joins John Chapman land.
Item Twenty-Second: I desire that my negro woman Patsey and her future increase and Boston and the increase of Jane and Celia at the death or marriage of my beloved wife Mary Chapman to be equally divided among my children provided that if any one of the slaves bequeathed to any of my above named children, shall die previous to their becoming possession of them that the value be refunded from the property bequeathed in this item.
Item Twenty-third: I constitute and appoint my two sons John and James F. Chapman executors to this my last will and testament this 7th day of March 1850.
F. J. Chapman (L.S.)
Signed sealed declared and published by Francis J. Chapman as his last will and testament in the presence of us the subscribers who subscribed our names hereto in the presence of said testator and of each other the March 7th 1850.
WILLIAM DUNHAM
JOHN S. FLETCHER
SIMON HARRINGTON
[End Transcription]
Find the original (complete) will and other papers online at Ancestry.com or FamilySearch.org. [Source name on both sites: “Georgia, Wills and Probate Records, 1742-1992” → “Liberty County” → “Wills, Alexander, E-Dorsey, J, 1864-1876”]
See another copy at: “Georgia Probate Records, 1742-1990,” images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L93T-XBJQ?cc=1999178&wc=9SB7-6T5%3A267679901%2C268014801 : 20 May 2014), Liberty > Miscellaneous probate records 1850-1863 vol C and L > image 53 of 703; county probate courthouses, Georgia.