Parish: St. John
Enslaved Persons Mentioned: Bob, Peg, Leah
Slaveholder: Stewart, John
Date: 1776-03-DD
[Begin transcription]
In the Name of God amen. I John Stewart of the Parish of St. John and Province of Georgia Planter, being [paper torn] Bodily Health, but of sound Mind and Memory, calling to Mind my Mortality, and knowing that it is appointed for [paper torn] once to die, Do make and appoint this my last Will and Testament in Manner and Form following: committing my [paper torn] the Hands of God that gave it, and my Body to the Earth to be buried with a decent and Christian like Buriel [sic] at the discretion [paper torn] my Executors.
Imprimis I Will that all my Lawful Debts and Funeral Charges be paid.
Item I Give to my beloved Daughter Sarah the Wife of William Quarterman the following Negroes by Name, Bob, Peg [paper torn, obscuring 1-2 names] and one Bed and Furniture, which said Negroes Bed and Furniture I have already delivered into her possession, and value at one hundred and eighty two Pounds Sterling: And it is my Will that all the rest of my herein aftermentioned Children shall each of whom draw the same Value of my Personal Estate that is to say, a Part equal to what I have already given to my said Daughter Sarah and that such Part of my Personal Estate [paper torn] remain, shall be equally divided to, and amongst all my Children.
Item It is my Will that if any of my Children herein mentioned, should die under Age or before Marriage, that what Part so ever of my Estate real or Personal, is or shall be herein mentioned as given to any such, so dying, shall be equally divided to and amongst the Survivors, that is to say, Lands left to Daughters, among Daughters only, and Lands left to my Son, amongst all my Daughters, and Personal Estate to Son and Daughter equally.
Item I Give to my Daughter Susanna One Negro Girl named Leah a Part of her share as abovesaid, at the Value of thirty Pounds Sterling.
Item [blurred] I Give to my beloved Son Daniel, one hundred and thirty Acres of Land, or thereabouts, being two adjoining Tracts, on one of which my present dwelling House [word blurred] to him his Heirs and assigns forever: and also all my wearing Apparel without appraisement: and over and above his share of Personal Estate as herein before or aftermentioned.
Item I Give my three Daughters, Sarah, Susanna and Lisabeth as abovesaid my Tract of seven hundred Acres of Land on the Mortor Swamp in the Parish of St. Andrews to be equally divided amongst them, and to be sold in Order of said Division if my Executors think fit, [blurred] in the Town of Sunbury Numbered 114.115.116 on the general Map of the said Town to them their Heirs and assigns forever.
Item I further Give to my Daughter Elizabeth one Tract of Land which was given by the last Will and Testament of Captain Robert Nichols ? to my late wife [word] her Heirs, to her ? the said Elisabeth her Heirs and Assigns, And it is my Will that my said Daughter Elizabeth shall have in Part of the Share of my Personal Estate, those Negroes which were given by the said Nichols to my said Wife [word] will appear from his last Will and Testament [word] being thereto had.
[paper torn] is my Will that [blurred] of my Children to whom I have already verbally given Cattle or Horses shall retain the same.
[paper torn] give to my [paper torn] James Girardeau a Mare called Beauty which Pairs and is boarded thus 3S.
[paper torn] is my Will that my Children shall have their Estates delivered to them at the Age of eighteen Years or Marriage; and that my Estate be divided amongst them as soon as may be conveniently after my Death, that much as are, or may be of Age or married [paper torn] may take their shares.
[paper torn] constitute nominate and appoint my Trusty Friends Willaim [alt: William] Graves and John Bacon, my Son in Law William Quarterman, and Brother Daniel Stewart and beloved Son Daniel Stewart Executors of this my last Will and Testament, hereby revoking and disannulling all former and other Wills Testaments and Legacies by me heretofore made or mentioned; ratifying [paper torn] confirming this and no other to be my last Will and Testament.
John Stewart
[paper torn] published, pronounced and declared to be [paper torn] Will and Testament of the said John Stewart this [paper torn] Day of March Anno Domini 1776 [paper torn] is desired by him and witness the same.
[paper torn ]
[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/893/rec/266.