Parish: St. John
Enslaved Persons Mentioned: Sibby, Bess, Balam [alt: Balaam]
Slaveholder: Bradwell, Hannah
Date: 1775-07-22
[NOTE: Archaic spellings standardized to today’s spellings where it cannot affect the meaning.]
[Begin transcription]
In the Name of God Amen. I Hannah Bradwell of Saint John parish in the province of Georgia being of sound memory and understanding, do make and publish this my last will and testament in manner following, that is to say, my soul I submissively resign to Almighty God hoping for a glorious immortality in and thru the merits of my blessed Saviour Jesus Christ. As to my body my will is that it be buried in a decent manner at Mr. Joseph Law’s plantation provided the body of my daughter Mary Law be moved there also, otherwise to be buried at the Midway Meeting house and my worldly Estate I dispose of as follows Viz.
Item: I give and bequeath to my son Thomas Bradwell a tract of land containing five hundred acres and also one other tract of three hundred acres adjoining laying in Saint Andrews parish as by platt and grant as soon as he shall arrive at the age of twenty one years to him his heirs forever.
Item: I give and bequeath to my daughter Susanna Dowse a negro girl named Sibby with her future issue.
Item: I give and bequeath to my grandchildren Thomas Elliott, Joseph Benjamin and Charles Law a negro wench named Bess, her son Balam, also her future issue and in case of the death of either before age, to the survivor or survivors of them, the money arising from the labour of said wench, her son, or future issue, to be applied by my Executors for the use of my said grandchildren.
It is my will and desire that the remainder of my Estate shall remain undivided until all my just and lawful debts be fully satisfied & paid, when that is completed it is my desire that the residue and remainder of my Estate shall be divided as follows Viz.
I give and bequeath to my daughter Susanna Dowse one sixth part.
I give and bequeath to my son Thomas Bradwell one other sixth part.
I give and bequeath to my grandchildren Thomas Elliott, Joseph Benjamin, Charles Law and in case of the death of either of them before age to the survivor or survivors of them one other sixth part of my Estate, the money arising from the labour of such slaves as shall fall to their share to be applied by my Executors for the benefit of my said grandchildren.
I give and bequeath to my sons John & Gidin[Gideon?] Bradwell the remainder and residue of my Estate, to be divided between them share and share alike. And it is my further will and pleasure, that in case of the deaths of either of my children before age that then the shares or shares of such shall be divided between the survivor or survivors of them. And I do hereby constitute and appoint my good friends Gideon Dowse and Jacob Bradwell and my son Thomas Bradwell as soon as he shall arrive at the age of twenty one years Executors of this my last will and testament.
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand seal this twenty second day of July Anno Domini 1775.
Hannah Bradwell
Signed sealed and published and declared by the testator as her last will testament in whose presence and at whose request we have set our names as witness.
Mary Jones
Jno [John] Kell
Jno [John] Jones
[End transcription]
In attached documents: John Kell probated the will on October [left blank], 1775.
Source: “Wills, Colony of Georgia, RG 49-1-2, Georgia Archives”, Colonial Estate Records, held by Georgia Archives Virtual Vault; accessed online at: https://vault.georgiaarchives.org/digital/collection/cw/id/128/rec/24.