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James Standley’s Will & Probate Records Henry County, Alabama
Transcribed from microfilm of the original records by
one of his g-g-g-grandsons Joe Mack Walker.
James Standley was
probably born in NC around 1790 and
migrated to Henry County, Alabama around 1820. The name
of his first wife has been lost but the
records shows that by 1840 had
fathered at least nine children with
his first wife, James B., Nancy Jane,
Cynthia Ann “Kitsy”, Barnabas, Needham, John W., twins Daniel &
Samuel and Marion.
The 1840 census of
Henry County, AL shows a female age 40 to 50. This must have
been his first wife who probably passed away
giving birth to son Marion sometime sometime after the
census was taken.
On March
18, 1841 James Standley married Mahala Corley and they
had two children, Jerimiah born 1843 and Malisa Ann born
1845.
In 1846 James Standley
died leaving a widow and five minor children. It took six years to
probate his Will and final settlement was not made until
1852. The following pages contain copies
of his will and the probate records.
The original will was
lost but the clerk of the Court was required to copy it into the
records just as it was written. In early Henry County probate matters were
handled in the "Orphans Court".
Transcript of Records
Henry County, AL Orphans
Court Records
Book D pg 513
The State
of Alabama }
In the name of God, Amen
WILL Henry
County } know all men by these present
that
I James Standley
of the state and county aforesaid, being
low in health but in my proper senses and knowing
the uncertainty of life and the certainty
of death , do make this my last will
and testament.
Article first.
I will my soul to God who gave
it, and my body to
be decently buried after my death.
Article 2.
I will to my wife Mahala the
forty acres of land I now life on ,
during her natural life or widowhood and
at her death or marriage, to be returned back ___
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