Parish: St. John
Enslaved Persons Mentioned: Pattey [alt: Patty]
Slaveholder: Way, Edward
Date: 1762-07-02
[Begin transcription]
In the Name of God Amen. I Edward Way of the Parish of St John in Georgia, Planter, being weak in body but of perfect mind and bearing in mind the mortality of my body and that it is appointed for all men once to die have made and ordained this my last will & testament that is to say [I give and] recommend my soul into the hands of God that gave it, and my body to the dust from whence it was taken, to be buried [blurred words] at the discretion of my Executors. And as to my Worldly Estate with which it has pleased God to bless me, I think proper to dispose of in the following manner:
Imprimis I Give and bequeath unto my beloved wife one third part of all my personal Estate Except the Girl Pattey [alt: Patty[ and two lots in Sunbury, herein afore given to my Daughter to her and to her heirs forever. And the use of my Dwelling house and one third part of the Plantation and Improvements during the time she shall remain my widow, in lieu of her Dowry.
Item I give and bequeath unto my beloved Daughter Ann the Negro Girl [name starts with P] and two Lots in the Town of Sunbury [blurred] of my personal Estate to her and to her Heirs forever.
Item I give and bequeath unto my beloved son Edward one [several words blurred] acres of land on new [rest of word missing due to tear, possibly Newport] and one fourth part of the remainder of my personal Estate, to him and to his heirs forever.
Item I give and bequeath to my beloved son William one half of the tract of land on which I now live, viz the North part/and one third part of the remainder of my personal Estate, To him and to his heirs forever.
Item I give and bequeath unto my beloved son Joseph the remaining half of my Land at Newport; and one half of the remainder of my personal Estate to him and to his Heirs forever.
Item I give and bequeath unto my beloved son John the remaining half of my Land on which I now live, with the plantation improvements and the remaining part of my personal Estate to him and to his heirs forever.
And I do hereby appoint my beloved Friends John Elliott, John Stewart and Joseph Way Executors, and my beloved wife Ann Executrix of this my last Will and Testament, disannulling all former wills by me made. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my [blurred] seal this 2 July 1762.
Edward Way
Sign’d Seal’d and Deliver’d [sic] in the presence of us,
John Winn
Edward Sumner
Thomas Quarterman
[End transcription]
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/1367/rec/285.