|
|
|
| In the name of God Amen. I John Colson of the county of Gadsden and
Territory of Florida being sick and weak in body but of sound mind, memory, & understanding, Considering the certainty of death and the uncertainty
of the time thereof, and being desirous of settling my worldly affairs and thereby the better prepared to leave this world when it shall please
God to call me home- do therefore make & publish this my last Will and Testament in manner and form following that is to say. First and Principally
I commit my Soul unto the hands of God and my body to the earth to be decently buried at the direction of my executors hereinafter named and after named
and after my just debts and funeral charges are paid I give and Bequath (sp) as follows-
Item First- I give and devise unto my son John James Colson & his heirs lawfully begotten all that parcel or tract of land on which I at this time reside with all the improvements thereon containing about 640 acres to him, his heirs and assigns forever. Item Second- I give and devise unto my daughters Sarah Ann Eliza &Maria Charity Stephens Colson two certain tracts or parcels of lands lying on So. Mosquito Creek in the county of aforesaid containing about 160-00/100 acres also four certain tracts or parcels of land lyin (sp) on Flat Creek County aforesaid containing about 482-50/100 acres to be equally divided between them & their heirs and assigns forever. Item Third- I give and bequeth unto my son John James Colson and my daughters Sarah Ann Eliza and Maria Charity Stephens Colson the following negro slaves Viz, Allen, Big Jacob, Levi, Sam, Little Jacob, Shade, Alexander, Joe, Big Henry, Little Henry, Jim, Frazer, Big Charlotte, Bridget, Marinda, Chloe, Rachael, Phillis, Little Charlotte, Kate, Harriet, Esther, Evelina, James, Martha, Eliza, Chancy, Milley, Nancy, Mary Ann Mathew, Enoch, Burket together with the increase of the said female slaves to them their heirs and assigns forever - to be equally divided between them the said John and my daughters aforesaid when my son John arrives of lawful age. Item Fourth- I give and bequeth unto my son John James Colson and my daughters Sarah Ann Eliza & Maria Charity Stephens Colson all my stock of horses, cattle, hogs, &c to be equally divided between them and their heirs sd. stock to remain on the plantation until my son John arrives of lawful age. Item Fifth- I give and bequeth unto my son John James Colson, Sarah A. Eliza Colson, Maria C. S. Colson & Emily E. W. Horn all my household and kitchen furniture to be equally divided between them and their heirs sd. furniture to be kept together until my son John arrives at lawful age after allowing E. E. W. Horn her proportional part. Item Sixth- My will and desire that the negroes heretofore given to my son John and S. A. Eliza and M. C. S. Colson be kept together on the
plantation heretofore devised to my son John J. Colson until my son John arrives to lawful age and that the proceeds thereof be equally divided
between them the aforesaid son & daughters until the said John arrives to lawful age.
Item Sixth- my will and desire is that in the case of the death of my son John or either of my aforementioned that the property heretofore given
or devised such to such deceased minor be equally divided between the remaining heirs allowing to Emily E. W. Horn her equal share of said real or personal
estate.
Item Seventh- my will and desire that my executors have my children educated in a proper manner.
Item Eighth- I give and bequeth unto my son William Colson and Mary Fulcher ten dollars each to be paid to them by my executors hereinafter
named.
Item Ninth- my will and desire is that negro women Judy, Katy, Abbey & Edward the three last named children of sd. Judy be sold for the
purpose of paying certain demands against me as Guardian for Emily E. W.
Horn in case the sd E. E. W. Horn or her Guardian will not receive them at fair valuation.
And lastly I do hereby constitute and appoint my friends John C. Love,
William Forbes, and Daniel McLauchlin executors to my last Will and Testament until the said John James Colson S. A. E. Colson & M. C. S. Colson
arrive of lawful age revoking and annulling all former wills by me heretofore made & confirming this and none other to be my last will and testament-
in testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed my seal this 21st day of July 1832. John Colson (seal)
Signed sealed and declared by John Colson as & for his last will and testament in the presence of us at his request in his presence and
in the presence of each other have subscribed our names as witnesses thereto.
Arch Smith
Territory of Florida
Gadsden County personally appeared before me this 30th day of July AD 1832. Archibald Smith Senr., Daniel McLauchlin
& John G. Gunn subscribing witnesses to this will who after being duly sworn deposeth and saith that they signed as
subscribing witnesses.
Sworn to & subscribed before me
Joseph McBride, P.J.G.C.
The above named John C. Love an (sp) William Forbes personally appeared
before me this 11th day of August 1832, and were duly qualified as executors
to this will.
Joseph McBride, P.J.G.C.
|
| John Colson's Will Part 1 |
| John Colson's Will Part 2 |
| John Colson's Will Part 3 |
| John Colson's Will Part 4 |
 |
