Untitled
The following is a transcript copy of the WILL and ESTATE PAPERS for John Colley, husband of Sarah France.
Note that there is NO CHILD NAMED ABEL
The following was found at the US GenWeb Archives for Henry Co., VA
Source: Wilkes County Wills: 1794-1819 Roll # Rhs-370 Georgia State Archives
Written: May 30, 1815
Recorded: November 27, 1815
Last Will and Testament of John Colley, Revolutionary War Soldier, 30 May
1815, followed by the estate settlement 1816-1836. John Colley was born in
Lunenburg County VA, eldest son of Edward Colley and Mary Strong Colley, was
raised in Mecklenburg County, VA, fought in the Third Virginia Regiment,
Revolutionary War, after which he moved his family to Wilkes County, GA, where
he died. John married Sarah France, daughter of Henry France and Elizabeth
Jennings of Henry County:
Wilkes County Wills: 1794-1819 Roll # RHS-370 Georgia State Archives
Page 122: 1810-1816, Transcription by Marshall Styles, 2007.
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In the name of God Amen.
I John Colly of the county of Wilkes and State of Georgia being afflicted and
weak in body but of sound and disposing mind and memory do make and ordain
this my Last will and testament in manner and form following viz.
First I desire that all my Just debts be paid by my Executors.
Second It is my will and desire that there shall be a negro fellow of the value of five
hundred dollars be purposed for my son France Colly. I also Give him one bed
and furniture and a horse saddle and Bridle (the horse saddle and bridle
having been delivered) to him his heirs forever.
Third: It is my will and desire that my Executors purchase a negro fellow of
the value of five hundred dollars for my son Spain also one bed and furniture
horse saddle and Bridle I give to him & his Heirs forever.
Fourthly. I give and bequeath unto my Daughter Polly my negro woman named
Cherry and her two Children Chaney and Sophia one bed and furniture and one
horse saddle & Bridle worth one hundred dollars to her and her heirs forever.
Fifthly. I give and bequeath unto my Daughter Louisa my negro Violet and Mary
& horse saddle and Bridle at one hundred dollars and one Bed & furniture to
her & her heirs forever.
Sixthly. I give and bequeath unto my Daughter Betsey one negro woman named
Patsey Bed and furniture & horse saddle and bridle which she has already
received Also it is my will that my Executors purchase for my said daughter
Betsey out of the money Coming from my Father-in-Laws Estate in North Carolina
a negro woman of the value of two hundred and fifty dollars as soon as the
same can be conveniently done, to her & her heirs forever.
Seventhly. I give and bequeath unto my Daughter Nancy a negro woman named Rose
Bed & furniture & a horse saddle and Bridle which she has already received
also it is my will and desire that my Executors purchase for my said daughter
a negro woman of the value of two hundred and fifty dollars which purchase is
to be made out of the money due me from my Father-in-Laws in the state of
North Carolina to her and her heirs forever.
Eighthly. Having given my son Gabriel heretofore what I conceive to be equal
to what I have given to my other Children, and perhaps more, it is my will and
desire that at my wife's decease (if he should be then alive and not
otherwise) the sum of three hundred dollars.
Ninthly. I do hereby Lend unto my loving wife Sarah during her life or
widowhood whichever circumstance shall first happen all the balance of my
Estate both real & personal not heretofore bequeath and at her death the whole
to be sold on a credit of twelve months and the same after paying Gabriel
Colly the said sum of three hundred dollars (in case of his being alive & not
otherwise) to be equally divided between my son France my son Son Spain and
Daughters Betsey Polly Nancy and Louisa Share & Share alike but in case of the
Intermarriage of my wife my will is that she receive a child's part of my
Estate in Lieu of the property Loaned and the balance not specially bequeathed
to be equally divided as stated in the ninth Item
Tenth. I give and bequeath unto my grand daughter Lucinda C Tindal my negro
Girl Anacha and I also direct that the sum of three hundred dollars shall be
deducted out of my Daughter Betsey (the mother of said Lucinda) share or
dividend on the final dividend of my Estate after the death or marriage of my
wife the said Girl Anacha so given to the said Lucinda C Tindal.
It is my wish that the negro to be purchased for my son Spain be not delivered
to him untill two years from this time unless his mother and my Executors
shall find it convenient to do it sooner.
Lastly. I do hereby nominate constitute and appoint my son France and David
Terrell Executors of this my last will and Testament.
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & Seal this 30th day of May
1815. The words �and not otherwise� twice interlined before signed.
John Colley {Seal}
Signed sealed and acknowledged by the Testator in our presence to be his Last
will & Testament
J. Callaway, H. Terrell, D'd. Terrell
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Georgia Wilkes County Personally appeared in open Court Job Callaway Henry
Terrell and David Terrell the subscribing witnesses to the foregoing Will and
being duly sworn deposeth and saith that they Saw the said John Colley sign
seal publish and declare the foregoing instrument of Writing to be his last
will and Testament and at the time of his so doing he was sound and disposing
mind and that they signed their names to the same as Witnesses in the presence
of the testator and in the presence of each other and at his request
Sworn to in open Court David Terrell
this 27th Nov'r 1815 Henry Terrell
W Sansom J. S. C. Job Callaway
B Porter J. S. C.
Wm. Evans J. S. C.
~~~~~
John named as co-executors, "my son France and my son David Terrell
Executors..." That must be an error by the Clerk of Court, as David Terrell
was one of the subscribing witnesses, and therefore could not also be an
executor.
John Colley died 10 days after signing his Will.
~~~~~
Source: Wilkes County Ga Returns Book 1830-1836
Written: November 27, 1815
Estate Appraisal of John Colley, Wilkes County, Georgia, Returns Book 1830-
1836, pages 231 - 234; Son of Edward Colley & Mary Strong of Mecklenburg
County, Virginia
Copied at the Wilkes County Courthouse in Washington, Georgia, September 2006,
transcribed & [annotated] by Marshall Styles:
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We the appraisers have appraised the Estate of John Colly, deceased, agreeable
to a warrant and have now returned said inventory of the same to Francis
Colly, Executor of the Said Estate:
[Slaves and their value]
Julius $500;
Cain(?) $525;
Israel $600;
Cherry $450;
Jacob $475;
Lot $450;
Judge $325 [or $525];
Margueritt $400;
Nancy $400;
Abram $200;
York $100;
Guilford $100;
Cherry $450;
Sophia $100;
Chancey $100;
Billie $300;
Mary $275;
Aniky $150;
[Other] 1 white horse $30;
1 white mare $50;
1 bay mare $85;
1 bay horse $40;
1 Sorrell colt $40;
1 bay colt $25;
1 bay mare $10;
55 hogs and twenty one pigs $16;
1 yoke of Oxen $45;
12 head cattle $157;
1 waggon $11;
11 axes $11;
5 chisels and four augers $5;
1 lot of old tools $6.50;
1 lock chain $1.50;
7 pair buckskins;
1 odd lot of harrow hoes $3.50;
6 plows $4;
8 half-shear plows $2.50;
3 barn plows $4;
9 milking stands $9;
1 60-gallon still $47.50;
9 quarters cash $2.25;
1 lot plows $4.50;
5 cribbing hoes;
Seven beds and bed steads $980;
1 Side board $50;
1 Desk $30;
2 Side tables $55;
12 Windsor chairs $20;
10 common chairs $5;
1 Folding and three plain tables $12;
1 Shott Gun $10;
1 Large and Small Bible $6;
7 Books $6;
10 Tumblers & Decanters $6.25;
1 lot Crockery $10;
1 Sugar Canister $2;
1 lot Pewter $12;
1 Pine Side Board $5;
1 Looking Glass $2;
1 Loom $8;
1 Large Kettle $4;
1 Small Kettle $1.50;
1 Grind Stone $1.50;
1 pair Irons $1.25;
2 large Tin Pans $1;
1 Spitter [a spittoon?] $1.25;
1 Carding Machine [for cotton & wool] $25;
1 Coffee Mill $25.50;
2 Pots � Oven & Baker $7.50;
3 Saddles & Bridles $6;
1 Flax Wheel $2.50;
1 Shoe Hammer and Pincers $1;
1 Clock Reel $2;
3 Shovels and two pair of Tongs $3.75;
6 Spinning Wheels $12;
600 pounds clean cotton 7 1800 pounds seed $1156;
12 bushels of Wheat $12;
1 Jug $1;
2 pair of Fire Dogs $4;
80 Barrels Corn $150;
Four thousand pounds fodder $30;
1 pair Stretchers & Spade $2;
1 Jug & 2 Bridles $3;
1 Broad Axe $3
Total $7566.25
November 27th 1815
{Signed}Isaac Callaway; R.T. Foster; Job Callaway; Joseph Callaway; Peter B.
Terrell