Parish: St. John
Enslaved Persons Mentioned: Dinor [alt: possibly Dinah]
Slaveholder: Maran [Alt: Moron, Moren, Maren], Charles
Date: 1772-03-30
[Begin transcription]
In the Name of God Amen. I Charles Moron [alt: Maran, Moren] of the Parish of St Johns and Province of Georgia Being very Sick and weak in Body but of perfect Mind And Memory, Thanks be given unto God; calling unto Mind the Mortality of the Body, and knowing that it is appointed For all Men once to die, do make and ordain this my last Will And Testament. That is to say principally and first of all I Give and recommend my Soul unto the Hand of Almighty God That gave it, and my Body I recommend to the Earth, to be Buried in decent Christian Burial, at the Discretion of Executor [page torn, several words missing] at the General Resurrection I shall receive [page torn, several words missing] by the mighty power of [page torn, several words missing]. And as touching such worldly Estate wherewith it has [pleased] God to bless me in this life, I give, demise, and dispose of [the] Same in the following Manner and form.
All my Relations Excepting John Couper I bequeath one [page torn after “Shill” but presumably wrote “Shilling”] Starling [sic, Sterling] each to be payed [sic] out of my Estate.
To John Couper I bequeath all my Lands, Neagors [sic]/Excepting Dinor [alt: possibly Dinah?] whom I give hur [sic] freedom and the said John Couper is to be her Security if any required. Also all my Cattle; Horses; Hogs And whatsomever [sic] else I may process at my Death. I leave to the said John Couper. And that this my last Will may be Justly Complyed [sic] with I disannual all other Wills and make them Void and of No Effect. And leave James Butler Senor [sic, presumably Senior] and John Couper to be my Executors of this my last Will and Testament.
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal. This Thirtih [sic] day of March One Thousand Seven hundred and Seventy two. Signed Sealed published pronounced and declared By the said Charles Maren as his last will and Testament in The Presence of us who in his Presence and in the Presence of each other [paper torn] here to Subscribed our Names
James Ducker
Jas [James] Barron
James Taylor [signed by his mark]
Charles Maran
[End transcription]
James Ducker probated the will, and James Butler Sen’r and John Couper were qualified as executors on May 11, 1772, before James Habersham. The will was said to be recorded in book , pp 138-139.
[Note: Spelling was extremely variable in this will, and the surname of the testator was spelled variously Moron, Maran, Maren]
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/580/rec/161.