Parish: St. John Parish
Enslaved Persons Mentioned: Mingo, Prince, Isaac, Cretia, Peter, Tom, Prime, Jean, Daphney, Cudjo, Harry, Frank, Primus, Jacob, Dinah, Cloe, Sylve, Peggy, Toney, Jonah, Nanney, Jack
Slaveholder: Osgood, John
Date: 1773-06-02
[Begin transcription]
In the name of God Amen I John Osgood of St. John’s parish and Province of Georgia being indisposed as to bodily Health but of sound mind and memory not knowing the day of my Death Do make and appoint this my Last Will and Testament, in the following manner: humbly Commiting my soul into the hands of my dear Redeemer and only Savior Jesus Christ; and my body to Christian Burial at the Discretion of my Executors, in firm belief and Expectation of the Resurrection at the Last day and the worldly Estate wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me I give and dispose of in the following manner –
Imprimus It is my Will that all my Lawful Debts and Funeral Charges be paid out of my Estate
Item I give and bequeath to my well beloved Wife Mary Osgood in lieu of her Lawful Dower the following negroes by name Mingo Prince Isaac and Cretia, with her Children named Peter Tom Prime Jean Daphney and Cudjo, and whatever further Issue the said Cretia may have and fifty pounds Sterling, also my riding Chair and Harness, a Chest of drawers, one Feather Bed and Furniture, my silver Tablespoons, and teaspoons all my Stock of Hogs and Sheep her choice of three of my Horses, a third part of my Cattle and household Goods (my Books excepted) and a third part of my plantation tools utensils and kitchen Furniture to her and her heirs forever; but in case my said Wife should not outlive me; it is then my will that the abovementioned Mingo Prince Isaac and Cretia with her Children Peter Tom Prime Jean Daphney and Cudjo, and the further Issue of the said Cretia shall be divided into six equal parts according to their Value; and that two of the said parts and the above said Chest of Drawers, Bed and furniture and spoons be given to Mary Baker the Daughter of my Wife’s Sister Elizabeth Baker and that the other four parts of the said Negroes in Value be given as follows Viz. one of the said four parts to John Andrew Son of James Andrew, one other of the said four parts to John Godfrey son of Hannah Alexander, formerly Hannah Godfrey: another of the said four parts to Susannah Andrew Daughter of Benjamin Andrew, and the other of the said four parts to Mary Bacon and Saunders Andrew Children of Joseph Andrew to be equally divided between them; to them and their Heirs forever –
Item under the following Limitations and Directions I further give to my said beloved Wife, the use and Improvement of the House plantation and tract of land on which I now live, also my Gold sleeve Buttons, Ring, and Silver Watch during her natural Life, with full Liberty to clear and Improve any part of my said tract of land at her Discretion; while she remains my Widow; but in case of her Marrying again, not after that, to clear any more of the High Land of the said tract, without the Consent of my herein after named Executors.
Item I further give to my said Wife the use of all my Stock of Cattle for meat – Milk or Labour and of all my plantation Tools Trucks Carts Household Goods Kitching Furniture, and also books – during her Widowhood and further the use and service of the following Negroes, by name, Harry Frank Primus Jacob Dinah Cloe [alt: Chloe] Sylve Peggy Toney Jonah and Nanney [alt: Nanny] and the Children of the said Females, for the Term of seven years after my Decease if she shall so long continue my Widow, and thence forward of only one half of the said negroes, reckoned according to their Value; the other half then to return to my Estate, and belong to my heirs herein after mentioned, as the whole is to do when her Widowhood is expired –
Item I give and bequeath to John Osgood Harley son of James Harley five pounds Sterling to be paid one year after my Decease –
Item I give and bequeath to my nephew Thomas Baker one negro Fellow who now works with him at the Carpenters Trade, called Jack, and all my right in and to a Negro Child, belonging half to myself, and half to my sister in law Lydia Winn, and one Town Lot in Sunbury numbered fifty seven to him and his heirs forever –
Item Of the remaining part of my Estate if the Executors of the Estate or last Will and Testament of John Quarterman shall think proper to help, or put, my Grand Children John and William Quarterman at School or College, or either of them I give twenty pounds Sterling a year towards the Expence [sic] of of the Education of one or both of them so long as it shall be needed for that purpose –
Item One third part of my remaining Estate both real and personal, I give the use to my beloved Daughter Sarah Way, during her natural Life, after whose Decease I give the said third part to be equally divided amongst all the Children of my said Daughter who shall survive their – whether already born or hereafter to be born of her to them and their Heirs forever –
Item another such third part of my Estate I give and bequeath to the following Children of my said Daughter namely Sarah, Elizabeth, John, William and Elijah Quarterman to pertain equally to such of them as shall survive their minority to them and their heirs forever
Item the other such third in part of my Estate I give and bequeath to my other Grand Children Mary Way and Joseph Way if they live to come and be of Age; to be equally divided between them; or if one of them should die under age, to the Survivor and of both should die under age then to be equally divided to and amongst such of my abovesaid Grand Children as shall outlive their Minority, to them and their Heirs forever –
Lastly I Constitute ordain and appoint my beloved Wife Mary Osgood, and beloved Daughter Sarah Way Executrixes, and my trusty and beloved Friends John Winn Senior Benjamin Andrew Robert Quarterman and my nephews William Baker and Thomas Baker Executors of this my Last Will and Testament and do hereby revoke disallow, and disanull all former and other Wills and Testaments by me heretofore made and mentioned ratifying and confirming this and no other to be my last Will and Testament In Witness whereof I have hereunto on my hand and seal this second Day of June Anno Domini and thousand seven hundred and seventy three
John Osgood
Signed sealed published pronounced and declared to be the Last Will and Testament of the said John Osgood in presence of us, who at his request signed our names hereto as Witnesses – N. B. the Interlineation in the twenty second Line was made before signed and sealing as was that also in the thirty second
Samuel Saltus
John Stacy
John Elliott
Be it known to all men by these presents that I John Osgood of St. John’s parish & province of Georgia [word] have made and declared my Last Will & Testament in Writing bearing date the second day of June Anno Domini one thousand seven hundred & seventy three. I the said John Osgood by this present Codicil do ratify & Con[faded] my said last Will & Testament and do hereby nominate ordain and appoint my beloved son in Law Parmenas Way an Executor of my said Last Will and Testament jointly with & as fully as those therein mentioned and do hereby authorise and empower my said Executors to buy & sell for said Estate, at their discretion whatever they shall judge necessary or conducive to the Increase advancement benefit & improvement of my said Estate without being subject [or] liable to suit or Damage for any loss that may be means of their so doing happen to my said Estate; and it is my Wil & meaning that this Codicil be adjudged to be a part and parcel of my Last Will & Testament as fully as if the same had been therein expressed. Witness my hand and sea this eighteenth day of June Anno Domini one thousand seven hundred & seventy three.
Signed & sealed in presence of
Samuel Saltus
John Stacy
John Elliott
[End transcription]
[NOTE: Also contained a document in which John Elliott of the parish of St. Jhhn probated the will of “the Reverend John Osgood late of the said parish” on August 27, 1773.
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_00046