ENPages
1
Will Book "D" - 1841-1846 INDEX Allen, Mary Jane, (minor heir of J. Allen) ~ 66 Allen, Mary Jane ~ 71, 170, 171, 513 Allen, M.J., (inventory, receipts,reports and vouchers) ~ 66, 76 Allen, Mary Jane, (minor heir of J. Allen) ~ 170, 171, 291-292 Armstrong, Asa, (dec., adm. bond) ~ 188-190 Armstrong, N.J. & R.J., (dower) ~ 298 Allen, Mary Jane ~ 418, 420, 565-566
Bowdon, Samuel, Will ~ 1-4 Commissioners report ~ 4-6 Bowdon, Samuel, (executors bond) ~ 7 Bowdon, Samuel, (inventory of estate) ~ 10-11 Bevell, William, (will) ~ 36 Bailey, Joel, (will) ~ 171-175 Benson, M.W. ~ 84, 88, 112, 114, 235, 538, 561, 590 Brown, R.S., (dec.) ~ 108 Benton, Jesse, (dec.) ~ 146, 151, 248, 252 Benton, James & William, (minors) ~ 305, 417-418 Benton, Lucinda, (minor) ~ 322, 417-418 Bearding, Loving (dec., inventory) ~ 403-405 Blaxton, Beverly, (dec., Emley's adm. bond) ~408-409 Bowdon, Robert, (dec., sale bill) ~ 415-416 Benton, Jesse, (widows dower) ~ 539-540 Butcher, Ann, (guardian of Joseph) ~ 552-559
Canterberry, R.C, (bond for guardian Elijah Lindsey's children) ~ 50 Calaway, B.F., (dec.) ~ 161, 227-231 Crow, Manerva, (William Condon guardian) ~ 122 Cothern, L., (dec.) ~ 136-137 Condon, Sarah E., ( infant) ~ 208 Crump, J.P. ~ 211, 213, 227 Cothern, Eveline, (infant) ~ 270-280, 321, 330 Crim, Zachariah, (dec.) ~ 271 Condon, William, (dec.) ~ 294-296 Crow, William, (estate and will) ~ 517-518, 27, 28, 29 Cothern, William P. ~ 408, 551
Dickerson, Griffeth, (dec.) ~ 252-255, 568-69
Elliot, Cornelius, (dec.) ~ 103-104 Elliot, Amos, (dec.) ~ 134, 135, 168-169
Evens, G.B. ~ 206-207, 297, 413-414, 551-552 Elliott, Parthenia, (widow) ~ 273-275 Ellliott, -, (minor heirs) ~ 321 Edwards, M.A., (dec.) ~ 319-320 Edwards, -, (minor heirs) ~ 552, 53, 59, 60, 64, 66
3
Samuel Bowdon's last will and Testament
{No 265} In the name of God - Amen - I Samuel Bowdon of Shelby County Alabama being feeble in health but of Sound mind and memory do make this my last will in manner and form following that is to say.
Imprimis--my will is that all my Just debts and funeral charges shall by my executers herein after named be paid out of my estate as soon as after my decease as shall by them be found convenient - to effect which payment It is my will that my executors sell my present growing crop and the following two negroes - Viz - Isam a negro man and Becca a negro woman aged about sixteen and so much of the stock of horses, cattle, hogs, and sheep as may be necessary for the purpose aforesaid all or such portion at the discretion of my executors as may be by [illegible strikethrough] deemed expedient -- Item - it is my will that all my real estate of every description be the property of all my children to be sold at the discretion of my executors at such time and manner as they shall judge most conducive to the interest of all interested and till sold said lands to remain in the care and management of my executors either to be rented out or cultivated by the negroes belonging to the children herein after named-Viz-Elbert William, Nancy, Samuel, Sarah and Mary --
Item- It is also my will that in case the negroes belonging to my children above named be employed on the plantation then my executors to account to each for the value of the services of said negroes for such time as the may be so employed and also account to each of the heirs for their respective Shares of the rent or profits of the land --
Item- It is my will that all my negroes (excepting the two herein before named if sold and if not sold then also to be included) be divided amongst my children to be appraised and divided by three commissioners to be appointed for that purpose by the Judge of the County Court of Shelby County [page torn] in case any difficulty should arise in [page torn] distribution just and equal the
4
said distribution to be made as far as practicable and the residue to be sold and the proceeds of such sale to be divided to make the distribution equal
Item- It is also my will that before any distribution of my estate there be deducted and set apart the sum of sixteen hundred dollars to be divided equally among his four children Elbert Samuel Sarah and Mary in addition to their distributive shares which sum may be raised out of the sale of my personal property herein before authorized to be sold if the same shall be sufficient after the payment of my debts and if not then out of my other property at the discretion of my executors - which sum to be due and payable at the expiration of four years from this date
Item- It is my will that in the distribution of my slaves there be included a negro boy already given by me to my daughter Caroline McHenry that her share be assumed to the value of said negro boy so as to make her share equal with the others
Item- I acknowledge to be indebted to my son Lewis in the sum of four hundred dollars which it is my will be paid by my executors with my other debts
Item For the better education and nurture of my infant children Elbert William Nancy Samuel Sarah and Mary I give and dispose of the tuition and custody of them till my sons attain the age of Twenty one years of age and the daughters attain the age of Eighteen years or marry to my executors and It is my will that they have good education and the sons to have liberal education if they so desire and my executors shall judge best to be paid for out of their repective shares
Item It is my will that my executors have the sole care and custody of the respective shares of my infant children till the boys attain the age of twenty one years and the daughters attain the age of eighteen years or marry and they are hereby authorize to invest the money which [page torn] belong them in the pruchace of other property [page torn] shall judge
5
better than to loan the same -- Item It is my will that my household furniture tools farming tools and all other property not before mentioned be sold or retained for the use of the family as my executors shall judge best after so much has been sold as shall be sufficient to pay all my just debts --
I nominate and appoint us two sons Franklin W Bowdon and Lewis Bowdon to be the executors of this my last will and testament Giving to them hereby full power to execute fully this my last will and testament and full power and authority in case of the sale of any of my real estate to execute titles in fee simple to the same and all other power necessary to effect the object of this my will - And to make distribution to each of my heirs Viz my two executors Caroline McHenry, Elizabeth Moody and the six infant children herein before named Each to have an equal share excepting the sixteen hundred dollars set apart for the four infant children before named - and this is to be in addition of their equal shares and also excepting the negro boy Manuel given to Caroline McHenry whose share is to be assumed by the value of said boy
In witness where of I have hereunto set my hand and affirxed my seal this 12th day of September 1841 Samuel Bowdon [seal] signed sealed published and declared by the said Samuel Bowdon as and for his last will and testament in the presence of us, who in his presence and in the presence of each other and at his request have established our names as witnesses hereto -- September 12th 1841 Robt Bowdon JH Cunningham BM McHenry The State of Alabama } Special Orphans Court Shelby County } October 11th 1841
This day personally appeared in open Court Robert Bowdon and Barnabas M McHenry who after