Last Will and Testament
John
Cobbs
Columbia
County, Georgia
26
December 1796
(This transcription has received a minimum of editing for grammar and punctuation.)
State of Georgia
In the name of God Amen.
I, John Cobbs Jr., of the
County and State aforesaid, being of sound mind and memory, tho in a low State
of Health, certain of death and the same time uncertain of the time of its
approach, do hereby make and publish this my last will and testament in the manner
and following to wit.
I most earnestly recommend
my soul to that almighty God who gave me birth and in whom I put most implicit
faith –
1st- I will
that after all my just debts are paid that my real and personal estate be
divided in manner following to wit:
I lend unto my beloved
wife Elizabeth Cobbs, half the tract of land I now live on for her use
including the dwelling house and during her life, also three negroes to wit
Isaac, Cresey, and Thine, and at her death the land lent to her as aforesaid I
give to my son Lewis Cobbs ( --- ) and (the) negroes I desire may divert to my
estate and with their increase be equally divided between each of my children
as hereafter named to wit; Polly Dixon, William Cobbs, Thomas, Lewis Cobbs and
Catherine, Elizabeth Cobbs.
It is my will and desire
that the remaining half of my land be given to my son William Cobbs to him and
his heirs.
It is my will and desire
that the residue of my negroes be kept together until my son William Cobbs
comes of age or marries, then for the negroes to be equally divided between my
four youngest children to wit; William, Thomas, Lewis, and Catherine, and after
my son William draws his proportion I desire the residue to remain together
until the next child comes of age or marries and so on, and in the same manner
unto the last child.
Note it is my will and
desire if any of the above named children tho of full age dies without issue, I
direct that their part of my estate heretofore divised in this will revert to
my estate again and be equally divided among the surviving children last
named.
It is my desire that the
monies arising from my estate until the last division take place after
schooling and supporting my children be laid out in the purchase of a tract of
land for my son Thomas Cobbs which I desire may be if the profits of the estate
(amounts ?) of the same to be equal in value to either of my other sons, and if
it is not then and in that case the difference is to be made up to him by sons
William and Lewis as the children come of age or marries it is my desire that
they be furnished with a feather bed and furniture the proportion of stock that
each child draws as they come of age or marries is left to the discretion and
direction of the executors to this will.
Item, I hereby constitute
and appoint Thomas Cobbs the Elder, William Beckham, and Howell Cobbs Executors
to this my last will and testament utterly revoking all former wills made by
me.
In witness whereof I have
hereunto set my hand and seal the twenty sixth day of December 1796.
Signed sealed published John Cobbs (seal)
And acknowledged in
Presence of
Th. Napier
B. Jones
Jno. Benning
Jn. Cobbs
John de –amperd (sic)
Georgia, Columbia County
Personally appeared John
Cobbs and John Benning, two of the subscribing witnesses to the last will of
John Cobbs deceased who being duly sworn made oath that they wre personally
present and saw the testator John Cobbs deceased sign and seal the above instrument
and acknowledge it and publish the same to be and contain his last will and
testament and that he was of sound mind and disposing memory to the best of
their knowledge and that they signed their names as witnesses to the said will
at the request of the testator and in his presence and in the presence of each
other and that they also saw Thomas Napier, Basil Jones, and John de Yampert
(sic) sign their names to the said will as witnesses also.
Sworn before me the 20th Jn. Cobbs
Day of May 1797 Jno.
Benning
Lewis Gardner R.P.
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