[NOTE: Only last page of will found in probate record book B online (first page missed by digitizers), but the entire will was found in the Liberty County Court of Ordinary loose papers online. See sourcing at end.]
Enslaved Persons Mentioned: York, Henry, Harry, George, Richard, Moses, Tom, Clarissa, Charlotte, Simon, Esther, Peter, Lucy, Arter [alt: Arthur]
Slaveholder: Miller, John
Year: 1836
Location: Liberty County, Georgia
Testator: John Miller, Liberty County, State of Georgia
[Begin Transcript]
In the name of God Amen.
I John Miller conscious of the frailty of human life, but being of sound mind and memory, for which I desire to bless Almighty God, do make ordain and constitute this my last Will and Testament.
1st. I commend my soul to God who gave it & my body I commit it to its mother earth.
2d. I give and bequeath to my daughter Nancy Lovett, the fellow York, and the boy Henry, to her and to the heirs of her body and never to be subject to the debts contracted by her husband.
3d I give and bequeath to my son Fredrick H. Miller, the fellows Harry and George.
4th. I give and bequeath to my grandson James F. Miller the two boys Richard & Moses and do hereby appoint Enoch Daniel as the Trustee of said James F. Miller until he arrives of age, and should he die without issue I desire that the property shall return to my nearest heirs who may be then living.
5th. I give and bequeath to my daughter Mary Martin, the fellow Tom and the woman Clarissa, to her & her heirs forever, and not to be subject to the debts of her husband.
6. I give and bequeath to my daughter Eliza A. Williams, the woman Charlotte and the boy Simon, to her and her heirs forever and not to be subject to the debts of her husband.
7. I desire that Esther and her child Peter be sold and the proceeds divided equally among the heirs I further give to Eliza A. Williams Lucy the child of Easter.
8th. I desire that the lands and stock of cattle and hogs be sold and the proceeds equally divided among the heirs. I give Arter a aged servant priviledge [SIC] to choose his master or owner in the family provided the[y] will agree to protect and support him through life.
9th. I desire that the household and kitchen furniture should be sold, and the proceeds be equally divided among the heirs; except one feather bed and furniture, which I give to my grandson James F. Miller.
I desire that this my last will and testament remain unexecuted during the natural life of my beloved wife Mary Miller.
I desire Eli Bradley, Enoch Daniel, and [name crossed out in one version, blank in the other] to act as the executors of this my last will and testament. “
[End transcription]
Date signed: 9 September 1836
Witnesses: Newman Bradley, Simon Fraser Jr., John Wells
John Miller signed by mark
Probated by Newman Bradley on 2 October 1837
Recorded 11 November 1837
See original will [last page only] at: “Georgia Probate Records, 1742-1990,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L93L-GCQ4?cc=1999178&wc=9SYT-PT5%3A267679901%2C268032901 : 20 May 2014), Liberty > Wills, appraisements and bonds 1790-1850 vol B > image 553 of 689.
See entire will at:
Ancestry.com, “Georgia Probate Records, 1743-1990,” Liberty County, within “Estates 1775-1892 Mell, James-Perry, John,” images #329-30. (Link: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-893B-T912?i=328&wc=9SBX-823%3A267679901%2C267985701&cc=1999178, accessed 5/23/2021.)