Names of Enslaved People: Frank, Peg, Sally, Sandy, Belinder [alt: Belinda], Cupit [alt: Cupid], Lidy
Testator: John Mann
Year: 1786
Location: Liberty County, Georgia
Georgia
In the Name of God Amen
I John Mann, of the County of Liberty in the State of Georgia Esquier [sic] being aged and infirm in body but of sound and disposing mind memory and understanding do make and declare this my last will and testament in manner and form following that is to say first and principally I resign my soul with all humility into the hands of Almighty God my Creator humbly hopeing [sic] for a full remision [sic] of all my sins through the merits and mediation of my ever blessed saviour Jesus Christ; and my body I commit to the Earth to be decently buried at the discretion of my Executor herein after named; and as to such worldly estate wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me; I dispose of the same as follows;
Imprimis I will and direct that all my just debts and funeral charges be paid and satisfied as soon as conveniently may be after my deceas [sic]. Item I give and bequeath to my well beloved son Luke Mann the sum of twenty shillings lawful money of the State of Georgia and to my Daughter Mary Sapp the sum of twenty shillings like money and I direct that the said Legacies be paid to my said son and daughter respectively within six months after my decease and that the same be deemed held and taken in full of every right clame [sic] or demand (legal or equitable) which they or either of them may can or shall clame against my Estate; and that the said Mary Sapp neither for herself nor her heirs, or either of them or their heirs executors or administrators or any other person or persons whatsoever under or through her may or can have or clame against my Estate or any part or parcel thereof.
Item I give and bequeath to my well beloved grandson Thomas Mann son (of my son) Luke Mann; a certain family of negroes by name Frank, Peg his wife, and their children with together with themselves makes ten in number with all their future issue and increase Also a certain tract of land buting [sic] and bounding on the North side of the Altahmaha RIver in the County of Washington containing by survey two hundred eighty seven and a half acres which lands and every advantage theirto [sic] belonging, together with the above described negroes and their increas [sic] I direct that my hereinafter named executor, do and shall or that his heirs executors administrators or assigns do and shall faithfuly [sic] peaceably and quietly deliver to the above named Thomas Mann at the age of twenty one years to have and to hold the said Negroes and Land to himself his heirs and assigns from that time forward forever.
Item I give and bequeath to my well beloved grandson Luke Mann (son of my son Luke) a certain parcel of Negroes by name Sally Sandy Belinder Cupit and Lidy with all their future issue and increas [sic] also all my stock of black catle [sic] containing about seventy head also a certain tract of land on which I now reside contining [sic] about two hundred acres I direct that my herein after named executor do and shall; or that his heirs executors administrators or assigns do and shall faithfully peaceably and quietly deliver to the above named Luke Mann, Junior, at the age of twenty one years, all the above described negroes and catle [sic] with every part of their increas together with the tract of land above mentioned containing about two hundred acres, lying on little Conuche [sic, alt: Canouchee] in Liberty County to have and to hold the said negroes catle and land to himself his heirs and assigns from that time forward forever.
Item I direct that my herein after named executors do sell and dispose of all and every other of my estate of whatsoever kind it may be (except the parts first above mentioned) together with my house hold goods and chattels and the moneys arising from the sails [sic] to be equally divided between my two above named grand sons
and lastly I do hereby nominate constitute and appoint my said son Luke Mann whole and sole executor of this my last will and testament and I hereby revoke and make void all former and other wills by me at any time heretofore made in witness whereof I the said John Mann have to this my last will and testament (comprized in the two first pages of one sheet of paper) set my hand and seal, and I have also set my hand to the said two pages at the bottom thereof, at Little Conuche in Liberty County, in the State aforesaid this nineteenth day of January in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eight six.
[Signed] John Mann [by mark]
Signed sealed published and declared by the said testator as and for his last will and testament in the presence of us who in his presence at his desire and in the presence of each other have subscribed our respective names as witnesses to the same.
Silvanus Robeson
Joseph Harr????
Sarah Mkinley
“Georgia, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1742-1992 for Luke Mann -> Chatham -> Probate Records, McIntosh-Martin, Folder 62-130,” images 768-771 of 988, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/1474430:8635 : accessed 14 May 2024).