Transcription
State of Georgia, Liberty County } In the name of God Amen. I Stephen Sweatman Perry of the said State and County seeing the uncertainty of life think it right and proper that while I am yet of sound and disposing mind and memory to make a disposition of the property with which a kind providence hath blessed me. I do therefore make and ordain this my last will and testament in manner and form following to wit:
Item 1st. I desire and direct that my body be buried in a decent and Christian like manner suitable to my condition in life. My soul I commend to God who gave it.
Item 2d. I desire and direct that all my just debts be promptly paid by my executors herein after named and appointed.
Item 3rd. I give and bequeath to my honored father John Perry all my property both real and personal for his support and maintenance during his natural life and after his decease to be divided as follows: I give and bequeath to my beloved wife Ann Eliza Perry a negro woman named Sarena. I give and bequeath to my daughter Lydia the following negro slaves Sam sen. Sam jun. Jane Henry and Tony together with the plantation on which I now live embracing five hundred and fifty nine acres of land more or less with all its appurtenances as also my stock or horses cattle and hogs and I desire that she my said daughter be decently raised and well educated from the income of said property.
Item 4th. I desire that my said wife have and enjoy the privilege of my residence as a home during her widowhood. I also leave to my wife a boy named Frank as her own property forever.
Item 5th. I hereby constitute and appoint my brothers John O. Perry and John Baker the sole Executors of this my last will and testament.
Signed sealed and declared by Stephen S. Perry as his last will and testament in the presence of us the undersigned who subscribed our names hereunto in the presents [sic] of each other and the testator as witnesses at his instance and special request the 30th day of May 1863.
Flurnoyal Sapp
Jno. D. Fox
Benjamin Darsey J.P.
[End Transcription]
Probated by Flournoyal Sapp on 7 September 1863. Mentions witnesses John D. Fox and Benjamin Darsey.
Recorded on 10 September 1863
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, 1869-1917 Miller, Melissa-Zoucks, D.”]
See also a copy of the will and probate documents at FamilySearch.org here: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L93L-RJP5?i=13&wc=9SYY-ZNP%3A267679901%2C268025701&cc=1999178