In the name of God, Amen - I Phebe Talbot of the County of Wilkes and State of Georgia, widow, being in bad health but of sound and disposing mind and memory do make publish and declare this to be my last will and testament.
First, I commit my soul to the God of all mercy and the Governor of all worlds, trusting and hoping that at his hands through the merits of a Blessed Redeemer, I shall secure the Blessed Inheritance of the life eternal and request that my body be buried in the Meeting House lot as near the grave of my dear deceased husband, John Talbot, as it can be conveniently placed and as to my worldly Estate, I will and dispose of in [the] following manner, to wit -
As my said affectionate husband [?] his life time thought proper to give to each of the eldest of children of such of our sons and daughters as were then married, one Negroe and as our son, Matthew Talbot, has married since the death of my said husband, I give and bequeath to his daughter, Euphonia West Talbot, one Negroe girl called Lucy, the daughter of Lucky, to her and her heirs forever. And as my grand daughter, Mary Garlington Walker, has had the misfortune to lose the girl given her by her deceased Grandfather, I give and bequeath to my said grand daughter, Mary Garlington Walker, wife of Freeman Walker, one Negroe girl called Satira, the daughter of old Molly, to her and her heirs forever.
I give and bequeath to my grandson, Samuel Creswell, one Negroe boy called Lewis, son of Lucky, to him and his heirs forever also one Bed, Bedstead, & furniture which is called his little bed.
I give and bequeath to Mrs. Martha Arthur the sum of one hundred dollars. I give and bequeath to Miss Martha Arthur the sum of fifty dollars, those legacies to be paid as soon as my Executors can collect any money that may be due me. I give and bequeath to my old acquaintance, Mrs. Mary Doss, twenty five dollars to be paid in the same manner.
I give and bequeath to my [son] Matthew Talbot & his heirs forever, five beds, bedsteads and furniture also one half of my cow fodder and the grain that I may have at the time of my death also fifteen hundred weight of bacon also one half of my kitchen furniture & dairy furniture also the whole of my cooking[ing] glasses, glassware & earthen ware also my knives and forks also my part of the chairs & harnesses which my said son and my self hold in copartnership.
It is my will and desire that all the rest and residue of my Estate of what nature or kind soever it may be and wherever found may be divided into five equal lots or shares by three or more disinterested person as soon as convenient after my death, one of which said equal lots or fifths part of my said Estate, I give and bequeath to my son Thomas Talbot and his heirs forever, one other of which equal lots or fifths part of my said Estate, I give and bequeath to my son Matthew Talbot and his heirs forever, one other of which equal lots or fifths part of my Estate, I give and bequeath to my daughter, Mary Triplett, the wife of William Triplett to her and her heirs forever., one other of which said equal lots or fifths part of my said estate I give and bequeath to my daughter, Elizabeth Walker, widow, and her heirs forever, and the other remaining equal lot or fifths part of my said estate, I give and bequeath to my grand children, Mary Garlington Walker, the wife of Freeman Walker, John Talbot Creswell, Phebe Creswell, Elizabeth Creswell, Zulemia Creswell, and Samuel Creswell, the children of my deceased daughter, Phebe Creswell, to be equally divided amongst the said grand children, share and share alike in such manner as my Executors hereinafter named may find convenient and for the interest of the said grand children an their and each of their lots or shares to be paid or delivered to them respectively as they arrive at the age of twenty one years or marrys. And it is my will that this latter fifth part of my said estate herein divided to my said grandchildren be and remain in the hands and possession of my sons Thomas Talbot and Matthew Talbot or under their directions to be hired out by them as guardians and trustees for these my said grandchildren so as to produce as much advantage and emolument to the said grand children as may be found practicable and most to their interest either by loaning their money or laying it out in the purchase of other Negroes.
Where as [in conversion] may arrive in a division of part of my estate such as stock, tools, stills, plantation tools, waggon cart & gear, real estate, household and kitching furniture [of leaven]??, it [is] in the power of my Executors to sell such articles as they may think proper so as to enable them better to make a division. {the Negroes excepted}
From the respectful regard which I have for my old and faithful servants, old Sue and old Judy, it is my request and desire that they be not considered as a part of my estate but that they be free and suffered to live with any of my children which they may think proper to remain with.
I constitute and appoint my said sons, Thomas Talbot and Matthew Talbot, Executors of this my last will and testament.
Signed, sealed, and acknowledged this twelfth day of April 1806.
{also my knives and forks}--------------------------------------------------------------------------------Phebe
Talbot {Seal}
{interlined before signed}
In the presence of us
Massa Thomas
Nathaniel M. Cox
Robert {his mark} Jackson
As there are accounts standing in my books and debts due me from my children and sons-in-law, I do here by relinquish and [alquit] claim to all debts & book accounts due me from Thomas Talbot, Matthew Talbot, David Creswell, William Triplett, Elizabeth Walker and the estate of George Walker, Deceased, that are now due or may be due me at the time of my death. witness my hand this 12 day of April 1806.
Massa Thomas}----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Phebe
Talbot
Nathaniel M Coy}
Robert{his mark} Jackson}
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Georgia}
Wilkes County}
Personally appeared in open court Massa Thomas, Nath M Coy, the subscribing witnesses to the foregoing will and being duly sworn saith that they saw the within named Phebe Talbot sign seal and acknowledge the foregoing instrument of writing to be her last will and testament and that at the time of her so doing she was of sound and disposing mind and memory and that Robert Jackson subscribes as a concurring witness to the same.
Sworn to in open court}---------Massa Thomas
this 6 August 1806}---------------Nathaniel M Coy
D. Terrell, Clk
Recorded Jany 20th 1808
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RECORDED: WILKES COUNTY, GEORGIA--20 JANUARY 1808---WILL BOOK 1806-1808--PAGE
137