Transcription
Georgia, Liberty County } In the name of God Amen. Conscious of the uncertainty of this frail [sic, maybe “life” omitted] and being of advanced age, I Mary E. Anderson of the said State and county feeble in health yet of sound and discretion [sic] thanks be to God, deeming it proper and just, both to myself & family to make disposition of the property with which a kind providence has blessed me do make and declare this to be my last will and testament revoking all others heretofore made by me.
Item 1st. I desire that all my just debts (which are few) to be paid as soon as possible and that my body be buried in Christian like manner suitable to my condition & circumstances and my soul I commend to Him who created it with humble reliance upon the merits and atonement of our blessed Sviour whose religion I have professed, and as I trust enjoyed for many years past. And it is my humble wish and hope that when this mortal body shall be sleeping silently and unconsciously in the grave the same brotherly love and good feeling may harmonise in the bosoms of my beloved children, which have always characterised them in my life time; and may they be satisfied that however their mother’s frail judgment may have erred from their wishes, that nevertheless she has sought in this disposition that justice which an impartial parent should ever administer between beloved children.
Item 2nd. I give and bequeath unto my beloved daughter Sarah my valuable seamstress and body servant Annie, Betsey[,] her child Henry, Eliza, Phebe and my faithful old servant Die with their future issue and increase.
Item 3rd. I give and bequeath unto my beloved son Joseph A. Anderson all of my interest in the plantation known as the estate of Anderson being the one fourth part of the number of acres thereon together with my portion of the interest in the house & lot at Walthourville my present residence, being the one fifth of the interest therein, together with the following Negroes to wit my driver Will, Jim, Charles & old Dinah as I cannot leave her on the cariety of the world.
Item 4th. I give and bequeath unto my beloved daughter Marion S. Jones the following Negroes to wit my cook Cate and her husband old Cain (with the desire that he be indulged and not made to do much being of advanced age and great faithfulness) also their children, ?Bettey?, little Cain, Daphne, and Prince with the future issue and increase of the families from this time forward together with old Hannah.
Item 5th. I give and bequeath unto my two grand children George and Lillian Anderson the following negroes to wit, Sylvia and her children Die, Lucy, Rose, and Dianna with their future increase. Also my land in the up country comprising two hundred and fifty acres the papers to which are in the hands of my son Joseph A. Anderson.
Item 6. I give my gold watch to my son Joseph. My silver candlesticks and their appendages together with my ?iron? Bedstead, I give to my daughter Marion; my mahogany bedstead and bureau to my daughter Sarah; my bedding entire I give equally to Sarah & Marion, and the balance of my household furniture I give to Joseph. The residue of my estate whether it may consist of lands, cattle, horses, notes, mortgages, ready money either in hand or that may be due me from any source and negroes I leave to my three children, Sarah, Joseph and Marion share and share alike.
Item 7. I do hereby nominate and appoint my two sons Joseph A. Anderson and Charles B. Jones my executors to carry into effect this my last will and testament according to the above disposition which I have made.
[Signed] Mary E. Anderson
Signed sealed declared and published by Mary E. Anderson as her last will and testament in the presence of us the subscribers who subscribed our names hereto in the presence of said testator (at her special interest and request) and of each other this twenty sixth (26th) day of May 1851.
W. C. Handley
J.J. Parker
William Dunham
Georgia, Liberty County } Personally appeared Joseph Parker who being duly sworn deposeth and saith that he is a subscribing witness to the foregoing will, that he say the testatrix sign and seal the same as her last will and testament and further that he saw the other subscribing witness do the same in [?] of himself and in presence of each other and that said testatrix appeared to be in her perfect senses.
Sworn to in the presence of the Court this 12th January 1852. [Signed] J.J. Parker
Recorded 19 Feby 1852
J.S. Bradwell
Ordinary
Find the original will at: “Georgia Probate Records, 1742-1990,” images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-993T-XYD7?cc=1999178&wc=9SB7-6T5%3A267679901%2C268014801 : 20 May 2014), Liberty > Miscellaneous probate records 1850-1863 vol C and L > image 49 of 703; county probate courthouses, Georgia.