Last Will and Testament

John Barnes

Last Will and Testament

John Barnes

Georgia Wilcox Co.

In the name God, amen, I John Barnes of County & State aforesaid being of advanced age  knowing that I must shortly depart life deem it right 7 proper both as respects myself & family that I should make a disposition of the property of which a kind Providence has blessed me, I do therefore make this my last Will & Testament, hereby revoking & annulling all others heretofore made by me.

Item 1^st
I desire & direct that my body be buried in a decent & christianlike manner suitable to my circumstances & conditions in life, my soul I trust to God who gave it as I hope for eternal salvation through the blessed Lord & Savior Jesus Christ, whose religion I have professed & enjoyed for a long while, I humbly trust.

Item 2^nd

I desire & direct that all my just debts be paid without delay by my executors hereinafter mentioned & named as I am unwilling my creditors should be delayed of their rights especially as there is no cause for delay.

Item 3^rd

I Give & bequeath to my beloved wife Lucretia Barnes, with whom I have lived in the strictest quiet & love for eleven years, lot of land no. 91 in the first district of originally Irwin now Wilcox County containing one hundred acres more or less also one half of the lot of land no 92 of the first district of originally Irwin now Wilcox County, containing two hundred & forty five acres, more or less, also one horse & buggy & one Jersey wagon one cart & stears four cows & calves all my sock, hogs, household & kitchen furniture farming tools of my place.

Item 4^th

I devise to my son James H. Barnes parts of lots of land nos. one hundred & thirteen & one hundred & fourteen all in the fourth district of originally Dooly now Pulaski County, also lot or part of lot No. 8 in the fifth district of originally Dooly now Pulaski County containing in the agregate one hundred & sixty seven & one half acres, more or less with all the rights members & appurtenances to said lots & parts of lots of land in anywise appertaining & belonging forever, also lot of land no. one hundred & thirty one in the first district of originally Irwin now Wilcox county, containing four hundred & ninety acres more or less with all the rights members & appurtenances to said lot of land in any ise appertaining & belonging forever, also cow & calf, one heifer & one bull.

Item 5^th

I bequeath to my two step grandchildren William A. Ball & Martha J. Ball one heifer apiece to their proper use & benefit.

Item 6^th

I bequeath to my four stepchildren Mary E. Wilson, twenty-five dollars; Nimrod Renfroe, twenty-five dollars, John W. Renfroe, twenty-five dollars, William A. Ball, Mary L.J. Ball twenty-five dollars all to be given or paid by my executors at the death of my wife Lucretia Barnes for their proper use & benefit.

Item 7^th

I give & bequeath to my own son William H. Barnes twenty-five dollars to be paid at the time of the above specified in the sixth item of this will for his own proper use & benefit.

Item 8^th

I give & bequeath to the Methodist Church that is to be built five hundred dollars & the preacher that attends said church $10.00 to by paid by my executor after my death if said amount is left in his hands after a final settlement of my estate.

Item 9^th

To my executor hereinafter named I give & bequeath one hundred dollars besides his commission for his trouble & expenses, to have paid him at the death of my wife Lucretia Barnes to have for his own proper use & benefit.

Item 10^th

I will that all the property of whatever kind at the death of my wife Lucretia Barnes shall be given to my son James H. Barnes free of incumbrances in any way whatever to have & to hold in his own right benefit & behoof forever.

Item 11^th

I constitute & appoint _____ (note: Item 11 was not finished, a line was drawn here)

John Barnes (L.S.)

Signed, sealed & delivered declared & published by John Barnes as his last Will & Testament in the presence of us the subscribers, who subscribed our names hereto in the presence of said Testator & of each other.

This May 12^th 1880

Hugh L. Barron

Henry T. Smith

David E. Smithharte

Georgia Wilcox Co.

November term court of Ordinary 1880.

In person came H. L. Barron, one of the subscribing witnesses to the Will of John Barnes deceased & say on oath that he signed said Will & that he saw John Barnes sign said Will as his Last Will & Testament.

H.L. Barron

Sworn to & subscribed before me

This December 1^st 1880

James C. Luke, Ordinary

Source: Will Book 1858-1957

Film No. 271348

transcribed by Janet Moore
to provide free research
to Wilcox County families.