Will of Joseph Meriwether
Greene County, Alabama
Book B, page 175
July 16, 1836


In the name of God Amen
I Joseph Meriwether of State of Alabama, Greene County, knowing that it is appointed for man once to die and being in perfect mind and memory do make and ordain this my last will & testament.

Item 1.    I give and devise to my son James M. Meriwether a negro man named Jack to him his heirs and assigns forever, also I give unto my son Williamson Meriwether a negro man named Allen to him his heirs and assigns forever. Also I give to my son John J. Meriwether a negro boy called little Gib to him his heirs and assigns forever also I give to my daughter Elizabeth a negro girl called Violet to her her heirs and assigns forever.

Item 2.    The balance of my negroes I wish to be appraised by three or four disinterested persons and be lotted off into ten equal lots and be drawn for and the lot that may be drawn for my daughter Sarah R. Wolstenholm decd I wish to be kept in the hands of my Executors of the use the heirs of my deceased daughter and as they become of age or get married each one so becoming of age or getting married shall be entitled to draw its share.

Item 3.    It is my wish and desire that my sons James M. Meriwether, Williamson Meriwether and John Meriwether shall each have one hundred dollars to purchase them a horse apiece.

Item 4.   It is also my wish that those of my children that I have not given a feather bed to shall have one.

Item 5.     It is also my wish and desire that Waller L. Meriwether shall keep the half quarter of land upon which he now lives if he may choose to do so by accounting to my estate for the purchase money, five hundred and fifty dollars.

Item 6.    It is my wish that the balance of my land including my buildings be sold to the highest bidder upon a twelve months credit, provided Waller L. Meriwether should not wish to keep the half quarter of land upon which he lives that it shall be sold with the above land.

Item 7.     It is my wish and desire that all the rest of my property (that is to say) my household and kitchen furniture my stock of all kinds except my cream horse shall be sold upon a twelve months credit.

Item 8.    It is my wish and desire that my sister Doritha Conner shall have my cream horse.

Item 9.    It is my wish and desire after my just debts a(torn)   that the balance be equally divided among my children.

Item 10.    It is my wish and desire that my executors shall cause a vault to be constructed for me including the grave of my wife to be neatly covered in.

Lastly, I do hereby appoint and ordain my three sons Willis Meriwether, Waller Meriwether and James Meriwether Executors to this my last will and testament. In witness thereof I have hereto set my hand and seal this 16th day of July in the year of our Lord 1836.

           
                                                                                                Joseph Meriwether (seal)

Signed, Sealed, published and declared
as and for last will & testament of the
above named Joseph Meriwether in
presence of us

D. McGehee (seal)
Esther McGehee (seal)
Mary A. Yearr (seal)