Chickasaw County Wills

Will of Samuel Williams on file in the Probate Office at Houston, Mississippi
The State of Mississippi -- Chickasaw County -- In the name of God, Amen. I Samuel Williams of the State of Mississippi and the County of Chickasaw, being sick, but of perfect senses and memory, do make constitute and ordain this my last will and testament in manner as follows viz. I give unto my son, Hutson H. Williams, a negro woman named Genney and a negro girl named Charity, which the said Hutson H. Williams has in possession. And I also give unto my daughter, Polly Henry, a negro named Charity, and at the death of said Polly Henry said negro Charity be sold and equally divided among all of her lawful heirs. And then after all of my just debts are paid all the rest of my estate and personal property to be put in 9 lots and equally divided between the following named heirs, to wit: Easther Williams, my beloved wife, James S. Williams, Benjamin T. Williams, John McD. Williams, Samuel C. Williams, Milley Speed, Martha Irby, Richard Williams, Nancy Jane Martin. Said lots of property to be appraised by three suitable persons to be appointed for that purpose by the Judge of Orphant Court. Then said lots and property to be put in a box or a hat and each heir's name written and when the appraisers have apraised the 9 lots of property, then the appraisers to write down each of the 9 heirs named and their names called and a suitable person to draw a lot of the appraised property to be good unto them, their chldren and their children's children. At the time of the death of my beloved wife, Easter Williams, the property willed to her to be equally divided between the following named heirs: James S. Williams, Benjamin T. Williams, John McD. Williams, Samuel C. Williams, Milly Speed, Martha Irby, Richard Williams and Nancy Jane Martin. And I do appoint, constitute and ordain my worth friends James S. Williams and Samuel C. Williams my lawful executors of this my last will and testament this 18th day of Sep A. D. 1856.
Samuel Williams
Test:
Thomas B. Reid
J. R. Broome
O. V. Stewart
John B. Holloday

Will proved in Probate Court August Term 1858
In June 1867 a committee was appointed to divide the estate of Samuel Williams. The estate was appraised at about 860 acres of land, 19 slaves and stock at the time of his death. In 1867 Samuel's daughter, Nancy had died and left 2 daughters, Mary and Serena Martin. Samuel Clement Williams applies for remuneration for guardianship of the Martin children. In 1867, Martha is wife of Thomas J. Barker, having remarried after the death of her husband (Irby). Polly Henry is dead, having died 8 JUL 1858. She left the following heirs: Wilson Henry, William Henry, Washington Henry, Martha Henry, James Henry, John Henry and Presley Henry. Benjamin lived in Greensboro, Green Co., Ala and in Perry Co., Ala. Benjamin Speed and wife, Milly, lived in Loundes Co., Miss. James S. Williams lived in Octibbaha. All other children are living in Chickasaw Co., Miss. In 1864 Samuel C. Williams testifies that Benjamin T. Williams resides in Greensboro, Green Co., Ala. By 1866 Nancy Martin's daughter, Mary has died.

Samuel Williams' Will Dispute
There is a court fight that goes on for years. James S. and John McD. Williams think that Samuel C. Williams had sold some land that he is not declaring in the estate. The court records read that during the war when the people of Houston heard that the Yankees were at the edge of town, they gathered up all the court records, burying what they could and burning what they couldn't. Some of the records having to do with the sale of the land of Samuel Williams were in part of the records that were destroyed. The petition did not stand up -- at least they couldn't prove that the claim was valid. The battle went on for many years before the estate was settled.

From Fayette Co., Tx -- Power of Attorney -- Sarah Williams, wife of J. M. D. Williams, deceased; Lucy Vansil, by husband P. A. Vansil; Fannie Williams; Lizzie Williams; Mattie Keller by husband, J. H. Keller; Esther Collier by husband, J. W. Collier; surviving heirs of John McD. Williams of Fayete Co, Tx appoint John Williams of Fayette Co, for us and in our names place instead, dispose of 175 acres of land in Chickasaw Co., Miss. owned by J. M. D. Williams, dc'd. Land located E 1/2 of N E 1/4 Sec 10 & 11 Range 3 E 65 acres of N E of W 1/2 of N E 1/4 of Sec 10 and 13 range 3 E. S. W. and John Williams also heirs of John McD. Williams.
(Note: The above will is the last will and testament of my great-great-great-great grandfather, Samuel Williams who was born in Anson Co, NC in 1781.)

(Note: The above will is the will for the Great-great-great-great-grandfather of Jackie Rhodes and submitted in the hope that someone might find the information useful in their research. . If you find any helpful information on your ancestoral family, I would appreciate a note.)