Samuel Otterson Will
The following is a transcription by Janice Roden from a copy of the
original record obtained at the Greene County Court House in Eutaw, Alabama.
Will of Samuel OTTERSON
Green County, Alabama
dated 2 May 1837-probated 8 Jan 1838
In the name of God Amen,
I, Samuel OTTERSON of the State of Alabama & County of Greene, being in good
health and perfect mind & memory, blessed be God therefor, do this second day of
May in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty seven, & sixty
first year of American Independance, make and publish this my last will &
testament in manner and form following, that is to say, Imprimies (?) I commend
my soul into the hands of God who gave it to me: my body to the earth to be
buried in a plain christian like manner at the discretion of executors: & as for
the worlds goods & estate wherewith it has pleased God to bless me I dispose
thereof as follows,
First, It is my will & desire that all of my lawful debts be paid out of my
estate.
Second, I give & bequeathe to my son in law Amos LAY, one negro woman now in his
possession named Tena together with all other property I ever put into his
hands.
Third, It is my will and desire that each of my grandchildren by my daughter
Sarah LAY, viz. Samuel O. LAY, Mary Ann CLINTON, Thomas G. LAY, James J. LAY,
Vincent LAY, Elizabeth ESTERS, Judy J. COOK, Jesse LAY, & Sarah E. LAY, have
fifty dollars paid them by my executors out of the proceeds of my estate.
Fourth, I give and bequeath to my daughter Rebecca WRIGHT a negro woman named
Luce with all her increase excepting those otherwise disposed of & all other
property I have ever put in her hands.
Fifth, I give and bequeath to my daughter Ruth OTTERSON, one negro man named
Joseph and one negro woman named Chaney & another named Jane & also another
named Tena & her child named Ephras & two feather beds & bedsteads & furniture &
two cows & calves, also one negro man named William.
Sixth I give and bequeath to my daughter Nancy OTTERSON a negro woman named
Alice with her seven children, viz, Flemmen, Derry, Lindy, Sampson, Jeremiah,
Sarah (?) & Mary & two feather beds & bedstead & furniture & two cows & calves.
Seventh, I give and bequeath to my daughters Ruth OTTERSON & Nancy OTTERSON
jointly & in equal right three pieces or parcels of land, viz. The west half of
the southeast quarter of Section eighteen, township, Twenty three Range, two
east & the east half of the Southwest quarter of section eighteen township,
twenty three range two east and the east half of the north west quarter of
section nineteen township twenty three range two east: also my gray mare Fly &
her two fillies & also my waggon & four pair of _____ with as many of my farming
utensils as may be necessary for their use, to be selected at the discretion of
my executors & also all my stock of hogs & also a supply of all things necessary
for housekeeping & provender for their stock until the November next ensueing
after my decease & also all my household and kitchen furniture not otherwise
disposed of.
Eighth, I give and bequeathe to my son James OTTERSON a negro boy names Pleasant
& one feather bed, bedstead and furniture & one cow & calf & also a piece or
parcel of land being the east half of the southeast quarter of section eighteen
township twenty three range two east, together with all other property that I
have ever put into his possession, and believing as I do that the above named
James is not of a sound mind, I hereby appoint my friends Henry WALKER, Sen., &
R. W. B. KENNEDY as his guardians: whose names signed by themselves at their own
discretion, shall be necessary to any transfer of any of the above named or
described property from the personal use of the above named James.
Ninth, I give and bequeathe to my son in law Henry WALKER & his wife Mary
WALKER, a negro woman named Hannah now in their possession, together with all
her increase and all other property I have ever put into their possession
Tenth, I give & bequeathe to my son in law Anthony MAYES & his wife Cynthia
MAYES, a negro woman named Cele, now in their possession, together with all her
increase & all other property I have ever put into their possession.
Eleventh, I give and bequeathe to my son Thomas OTTERSON the sum of two hundred
dollars to be paid out of my estate & also one note executed by him to me some
time in the last year.
Twelth, I give and bequeathe to my daughter--dnah SAVAGE one negro woman named
Meriah to be for her only proper use & benefit & not transferable during her
natural life, together with all other property I have ever put into her hands.
Thirteenth, I give and bequeathe to my son Samuel OTTERSON six hundrd dollars to
be paid out of my estate & one feather bed & furniture with all other property I
have ever put into his hands.
Fourteenth, I give and bequeathe to my son John OTTERSON a negro man named
Robert & one feather bed, bedstead and furnitures & one cow & calf with all
other property I have ever put into his hands.
Fifteenth, I give and bequeathe to my son in law Benjamin W. JOHNSON & his wife
Mathane, ____ a negro woman named Eliza with all her increase now in their
possession, and all other property I have ever put into their hands.
Sixteenth, I give bequeath one hundred dollars for the support of the Gospel in
Hebron Church to be apportioned in installments at the discretion of my
executors.
Seventeenth, It is my will and desire that any property owned by my negroes
their right being established, by the testimony of my son John OTTESON or any
other competent witness be appropriated to their individual use.
Eighteenth, It is my will and desire that the following named property be
exposed to sale by my executors according to law, viz, a negro man named
Washington & one piece or parcel of land, viz, the west half of the northwest
quarter of section nineteen township, twenty three range, two east, together
with all my other property not otherwise disposed of;
Lastly I make and ordain (?) my daughter Nancy OTTERSON, Executrix & my friends
Benjamin LOVE & R. W. B. KENNEDY executors in trust of my estate & desire that
they be paid out of my estate for their trouble in settling the same.
In witness where I the said Samuel OTTERSON have hereunto set my hand and seal
the day and year above written.
Samuel OTTERSON (his mark)
Signed, sealed, published and declared by the said Samuel OTTESON in & for his
last will & testament in prosence of John BOUCHILLON, John DAVIS, Edward COLVIN
THE STATE OF ALABAMA
GREENE COUNTY
Orphans court, Regular Term, Monday January 8th, 1838, Present the Honourable
William B. STREET, Judge of said Court.
This day, the Last Will & Testament of Samuel OTTERSON, Decd, was presented by
Robert W. B. KENNEDY, one of the Executors named in said Will and the court
being satisfied that the heirs have had notice to appear and shew cause why the
same may not be admitted to probate & registration. And no objections being
offered the Court proceeded to examine Edward Colvin one of the ___ being
witnesses thereo touching the legal execution of said Will under oath, and being
fully satisfied from his testimoney it is therefore ordered that said Will be
received established &
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