Parish: St. Philip Parish
Enslaved Persons Mentioned: Mingo, Adam, Natt, Bob, March, Peter, Dick, Cudjo, Lucy, Big Chloe and Jemima, Paul, Liman, Will, Flora, Rachael, Joe, Leah, Melinda, Bob, Saul, Nan, London, Bella, Harry, Sammy, Wallie, Eve, Sue, Pompey, Little Flora
Slaveholder: Davis, John
Date: 1773-12-13
[Begin transcription]
Georgia
In the name of God, Amen. I John Davis of the parish of Saint Philip, in the province of Georgia planter being weak in Body, but of sound and disposing mind; memory and understanding Do make and publish, this my last Will and Testament, in manner and form following, that is to say
Imprimis I desire that all my just debts and funeral charges be fully paid and satisfied.
Item I give and devise to my Son, John Davis one tract of land, containing Four Hundred and fifty acres, called the Home [or Hame] swamp in the parish of Saint John and province aforesaid – also five negro Slaves, to wit, Mingo, Adam, Natt, and Bob, Men and Mose a woman, with her future issue and increase, together with one Cherry Tree Table To hold the said tract of land, cherry tree table and negro Slaves with the future issue and increase of the said female slave unto my said John his heirs, Executors, Administrators and Assigns forever.
Item Item I give and devise to my son William Davis, five several tracts of land situate on the North side of Medway River in the said province containing in the whole Eleven hundred and fifty acres, that is to say one tract of five hundred acres, one tract of one Hundred acres, and one tract of one Hundred and fifty acres, adjoining each other, also one tract of two hundred acres, and another tract of two hundred acres also adjoining each other and also one Bed and furniture, and one large Bottle case together with the following eight Negroes Slaves to wit, March, Peter, Dick, and Cudjo, Men / Lucy, Big Chloe and Jemima (women) and a male child named Paul, with the future issue and increase of the said female Slaves To hold the said Five several tracts of land, the said Bed and furniture and Bottle case, and the said Eight negro Slaves, with the future issue and increase of the said female Slaves, unto my said Son William his heirs Executors, Administrators and assigns absolutely forever
Item Item I give and bequeath to my daughter Sarah Jones the following Negro Slaves, to wit, Liman [alt: Lyman] and Will /Men/ and Flora and Rachael [alt: Rachel] /Women/ To hold the said Four negro Slaves with the future issue and increase of the said female Slaves unto my said daughter Sarah her Executors Administrators and assigns forever.
Item Item I give and bequeath to my daughter Catherine Morecock, the four following negro Slaves, to wit, Joe a man, Leah and Melinda women, and a Male Child called Bob To hold the said four last mentioned negro slaves, with the future issue and increase of the said Female slaves, unto my said daughter Catherine her Executors Administrators and assigns forever.
Item Item I give and bequeath to my daughter Rebecca Patterson, the four following Negroes to wit, Saul a Man, Nan a Woman, a Male child named London, and a female child named Bella, together with one Bed and furniture To hold the said Bed and furniture, and the said Four last mentioned negro Slaves, with the future issue and increase of the said female Slaves unto my said daughter Rebecca her Executors, Administrators and Assigns forever.
Item Item I give and bequeath to my daughter Theodora Davis the five following negro Slaves, to wit, Harry Sawney [or Sammy] and Wallie alt: Whalley and Eve and Sue (women) and also one Bed and furniture To hold the said five last mentioned negro Slaves with the future issue and increase of the said female slaves, and the said last mentioned Bed and furniture unto my said daughter Theodora her Executors, Administrators and Assigns forever.
Item Item I give desire and bequeath, unto my Grandson James Davis, one tract of Land containing Four hundred acres, situate at the spring Branch, in the parish of saint John aforesaid, Also the two following Negro Slaves, to wit, Pompey a Man and little Flora, a female together with such of my cattle, as shall be marked with a crop; a slit and an under half penny, and I desire that the said land, negroes and Cattle, be delivered over by my Executor herein after named to my said Grandson, when and as soon as he shall attain his age of twenty one years, and from thence forth To hold to him his heirs Executors Administrators and Assigns forever but in case my said Grandson shall die before he shall arrive at his aid Age of twenty one years, then I give desire and bequeath, the said land Negroes and Cattle unto my said son William, his Heirs, Executors, Administrators and Assigns forever.
Item Item I give and bequeath all the rest and residue of my personal Estate, to my three youngest Children to wit William, Rebecca and Theodora, and I direct that the same as soon as conveniently may be after my decrease may be divided among them, in manner following, that is to say, to my son William the one half part thereof, to Rebecca, one fourth part, and to Theodora the remaining fourth part, thereof, and to hold the said respective parts or shares unto my said Children respectively, and their respective Executors, Administrators and assigns forever, provided nevertheless that in case of the death of any of my said last mentioned Children before I depart this life, then I desire that the part of him, her or them so dying be divided between the Survivors or [word] to the Survivor of them absolutely forever and Lastly I do hereby nominate, constitute and appoint my said son William Davis sole Executor, of this my last Will and Testament, and do revoke disannul, and make voiid all former, and other Wills, bequeaths and devises by me at any time or times heretofore made, bequeathed or desired, and declare this only, to be my last Will and Testament for witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the thirteenth day of December, in the year of our Lord, one thousand seven hundred and seventy three
John Davis
Signed, sealed, published and declared by the above named Testator John Davis as and for his last Will and Testament in the presence of us, who in his presence at his request, and in the presence of each other, have subscribed our names as Witnesses thereto
James Cochran
John Smith
Jno [Jonathon] Griggs
[End transcription]
Source: Ancestry.com, “Georgia, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1742-1992” -> All Counties -> “Wills, Vol Aa, 1772-1777”; accessed online at: https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/8635/images/007701189_00166