[NOTE: Sowerby apparently a resident of East Florida but this will was recorded in Liberty County, Georgia.]
[Begin Transcript]
In the Name of God Amen. I Henry Sowerby of the Province of East Florida aforesaid Planter, being in perfect health, and of sound, disposing mind, memory and understanding, but considering the certainty of death, and the uncertainty of life, I am willing and desirous to leave that small estate and fortune, which God of his infinite mercy and goodness, hath been pleased to bless me with, in as much peace and union as may be, and that nothing of this transitory world may incumber my thoughts at my going out of it, Do make and declare this to be my last will and Testament in manner following, that is to say, First and principally I recommend my soul into the hands of Almighty God, my creator hoping and assuredly believing by and through the alone merits of my blessed Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ to obtain full pardon, and free remission of all my sins, and to have a joyful resurrection of life eternal in Heaven, and my body I commit to the ground to be decently interred at the discretion of my Executors herein after named.
Item it is my will and desire that all my just debts, and funeral expenses be fully paid and satisfied, as soon as conveniently may be after my decease. Item I give and bequeath unto my dear wife Arementia [alt: Aramintha, Araminta] Sowerby, all my household furniture, plate, and linen of every kind whatsoever.
Item I give and devise unto my good friends James Habersham and John Houston, both of Savannah in the State of Georgia Esquires, and their Heirs, and to the survivor of them, and to the Heirs of such Survivors forever, all my messuages, Lands, Tenements, and Hereditaments whatsoever, and also all my negro, and other slaves, stock, and utensils of every kind and other my personal estate not herein before given and bequeathed, upon this special Trust and Confidence and to the intent and purpose that they the same James Habersham, and John Houston or the survivors of them, or the Heirs of such survivor, do and shall with all convenient speed after my decease, sell and dispose of all my messuages, Lands, Tenements, and Hereditaments whatsoever, with the appurtenances, and also all my Negro, and other slaves, and all other my personal estate, (except what I have herein before given and bequeathed to my said wife) first taking a just and perfect Inventory and appraisement thereof, to the best purchasor or purchasors…[NOTE: perhaps something missing here]…declare this only to be my last WIll and Testament. In Witness whereof, I the said Henry Sowerby, have to this my last will and Testament, contained in three sheets of paper, fixed together at the top, to the last sheet have set my hand, and seal, and to the other two sheets thereof, my hand only, this fourteenth day of January, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty four.
Signed, sealed, published and declared by Henry Sowerby the above named Testator, as and for his last Will and Testament in the presence of us, who at his request, in his presence, and in the presence of each other, have subscribed our names as witness thereto. Rich’d [Richard] Sill, [illegible name], Wm. Jones.
[At the bottom of the page]
Memorandum This 19th Day of November 1785
[rest cut off]
[End Transcript]
For original copy of will, see: “Georgia Probate Records, 1742-1990,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-89QM-JYQL?cc=1999178&wc=9SBN-827%3A267679901%2C267998301 : 20 May 2014), Liberty > Estates 1775-1892 Shumatt, William-Stevens, Joseph > image 473-5 of 1207