Parish: St. Johns Parish
Enslaved Persons Mentioned: Floram, Betty, Murrier, Abbe, Sharlot, Dick, Sam
Slaveholder: Baker, Richard
Date: 1774-09-09
[Begin transcription]
Georgia
In the name of God Amen I Richard Baker of the parish of St. John in the province of Georgia aforesaid planter, being of perfect sound mind and memory, but calling to mind the Mortality of my Body and that it is appointed for all men once to die do hereby make my last Will and Testament; in manner and form following That is to say. First and principally I commend my soul to God that gave it, and my Body to the Earth to be buried in a decent Christian manner at the discretion of my Executors herein after named, as to my Worldly Estate I will and dispose of the same in the following manner.
Imprimus. My Will and desire is that all my just Debts and funeral charges may be first paid, as soon as possible after my decease.
Item I give and bequeath unto my loving wife Elizabeth Baker and to her Heirs forever, my negroe House Wench named: Floram [or Florom], my riding chair and chair Horse, a side Saddle and Bridle, a Feather Bed and bed furniture and five Head of Cattle out of my Stock; the said Negro wench, Chair, and Chair Horse, Saddle and Bridle, Bed and bed furniture , and five head of Cattle. I give and bequeath unto my said Wife Elizabeth Baker, and to her Heirs forever Also it is my Will and desire, that my said Wife if she chooses shall and may have her Residence on my plantation whereon I now live during the time she remains my Widow, and have the Liberty and privilege of employing her slaves on the same, with the slaves of my Estate, and draw a share yearly of the produce of said plantation in proportion to the number of her Slaves employed thereon
Item I give and bequeath unto my loving daughter Elizabeth Quarterman and to her Heirs for ever my Negroe Girl named Betty, a Horse called Diamond, a side Saddle and Bridle, a Feather Bed and Bed furniture, and all the Cattle which are distinguished and known from the rest of my Stock, mark and Brand, by the Letter E to her my said Daughter and her Heirs forever
Item I give and bequeath unto my loving Daughter Lydia McGowen and to her Heirs forever my negroe Girl named Murrier [alt: Murriah] a Horse called Whistler, a side saddle and Bridle; a Feather Bed and Bed furniture, and all the Cattle which are distinguished and known from the rest of my Stock, mark and Brand by the Letter L to her and to her Heirs forever
Item I give and bequeath unto my loving Daughter Mary Way and to her Heirs for ever my Negroe Girl named Abbe [alt: Abbie, Abby], a Horse called Bendbow, a side Saddle and Bridle, a Feather Bed and Bed furniture, and all the Cattle which are distinguished and known from the rest of my Stock, mark and Brand by the Letter M To her and to her Heirs forever
Item I give and bequeath unto my loving Son William Baker and his Heirs forever all my Lands, or real Estate, also a mare called Pleasant; a Saddle and Bridle a Feather Bed and Bed Furniture and all the Cattle which are distinguished and known from the rest of my Stock, mark and Brand, by the Letter W to him and to his Heirs forever.
Nevertheless it is my will and desire that my said Lands, or real Estate shall be subject to the provisions and Conditions herein after mentioned, anything herein before mentioned to the contrary notwithstanding, in any wise whatsoever.
Item I give and bequeath unto my loving daughter Anna Baker, and to her Heirs forever, my Negroe Girl named Sharlot [alt: Charlot, Charlotte], a Horse called Button, a side Saddle and Briddle [sic], a Feather Bed, and Bed furniture, and all the Cattle which are distinguished and known from the rest of my Stock, mark and brand by the Letter A To her and to her Heirs forever.
Rd [Richard] Baker
Item I give and bequeath unto my loving daughter Rebekah Baker [alt: Rebecca] and to her Heirs forever, my Negroe Boy named Dick, a horse called Grey Tail, a side Saddle and Bridle, a Feather Bed and Bed Furniture, and all the cattle which are distinguished and known from the rest of my Stock, mark and Brand, by the Letter R To her and to her Heirs forever
Item I have reason to believe that my Wife is now with Child, and should it please God, that she may be safely delivered of the same, and it should happen to be a Son. I give and bequeath unto him my said son Two Hundred Acres of land on the lower part of the Tract whereon I now live with all the Buildings and Improvements thereon; the said two hundred acres to be divided from the other three Hundred acres of the said Tract by a north and south line, also one Hundred acres more opposite said Tract on the south side of the landing path, which said Hundred acres of Land I purchased from Mr John Winn Senior, also one half of a Lott [sic] of Land situate at Newport landing, the same to be divided lengthways, and one Lott [sic] of land in the town of Sunbury, but not the corner lott [sic], also a Mare called Mouse, a saddle and Bridle, a Feather bed and Bed furniture and heifer Calf seperate [sic] from the rest of my Stock, to him my said son and to his Heirs forever. But should my Wife be delivered of a daughter and not of a Son as aforesaid, then and in such case, the above lands which I have bequeathed to him and his Heirs, shall go to my son William Baker and to his Heirs forever the said Lands being a part and parcel of my real Estate herein before mentioned and bequeathed on proviso and Condition unto my said son William Baker and to his heirs forever
Item But should my Wife have a daughter, and not a Son as aforesaid I give and bequeath unto her my said Daughter my Negroe Boy named Sam, the above mare called Mouse, a side Saddle and Bridle, a Feather bed and Bed furniture, and one Heifer calf seperate [sic] from the rest of my Stock To her my said daughter and to her Heirs forever
Item all the remaining part of my personal or moveable Estate, which is not herein before mentioned, I give and bequeath unto my loving Wife and to my Children aforesaid, to be equally divided amongst them, and should any of my Children die before they come to the age herein aforementioned or lawfully married, then such Child’s part shall be equally divided amongst my surviving Heirs. But should it please God, that I should have two Sons and either of them should die before the age of Twenty years, or without lawfull [sic] issue, then and in such case, the surviving Brother, shall inherit that part of my real Estate which belonged to his deceased Brother, and should it please God, that I should have no sons to live to the above age, nor to have any lawful issue, then and in such case, my Will is that my said Lands may be sold to the best advantage by my Executors when they think my Estate may receive no Damage by the Sale of them and the money of such Sale to be equally divided amongst my surviving Heirs, to the use of them and their Heirs forever
Item my Will and desire is, that my son, or sons, shall receive and take his or their part of my Estate, at the age of Twenty years, and my Daughters at the day of their marriage or at the age of sixteen years, and those which are married as soon as possible after my decease and also it is my positive will and desire, that the Sale of my lands /if they should happen to be sold by the above provises/ shall in no manner be sold to disinherit my Widow from living thereon during the time of her being my Widow, neither without her consent to be set to Sale, anything herein before mentioned, to the contrary notwithstanding, in any wise whatsoever
Item I give and bequeath unto Archible Christy [alt: Archibald], Son of Thomas Christy deceased his Maintenance and Schooling at a moderate rate to be paid by the Executors, at the charge of my Estate, untill [sic] such time as he is fitt [sic] to be put to some Trade and then to be bound by them to such Trade as they shall judge most advantageous for him
Rd [Richard] Baker
Item lastly I constitute and appoint my loving wife Elizabeth Baker Executrix, and Trusty and well beloved, Friends Benjamin Andrew Esq [Esquire] William Graves Senior Thomas Quarterman, and my sons in Law Robert Quarterman, Edward Way and Joseph McGowen Executors of this my last Will and Testament, and I do hereby give my said Executors a discretional power to buy sell act and do, in all matters relating to my Estate as they shall think best for the advantage of my Familly [sic], ratifying confirming and allowing this and no other to be my last Will and Testament, contained on three Sheets of paper – for Testimony whereof I have set my Hand and Seal to each sheet separately this ninth day of September in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy four.
Rd [Richard] Baker
Signed Sealed and acknowledged and declared by the Testator as his last Will and Testament, contained on three sheets of paper, who in his presence, and in the presence of each other have hereunto as Evidence subscribed our names, the above day and year
William McGowen
Thomas Badwood
Nicholas Smith
[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_00105.