October Term 1834
State of Mississippi
Hinds County
Whereas I William Porter Sr. being seriously afflicted in body but of sound
& disposing memory doth make and publish this my last Will & Testament
hereby revoking all others.
First I do give will &
bequeath unto my beloved wife Gracy a certain negro woman named Clara about
twenty years old and her girl child named Eliza about six months old and
a certain negro woman named Lucy between forty & fifty years old to
have & to hold the same during her widowhood & no longer-and in
case of her intermarriage with another the said negros I wish equally divided
amongst my legal heirs.
I likewise give will
& bequeath to my wife a horse saddle & bridle upon the same
terms & conditions above specified.
I likewise give her two
hundred dollars worth of household and kitchen furniture forever allowing
her to select such furniture as she may choose & then have the same
valued by appraisers- I likewise give unto my wife forever one third part
of my stock meaning cattle hogs goats etc. I likewise give unto my
wife during her lifetime one third part of my lands to be laid off according
to law & to include the dwelling house & to exclude the Gin.
Second: I give will &
bequeath unto my step son John S. Lawson a horse saddle & beidle
to be worth one hundred dollars and one half eighth of land which was entered
by Josepj Pervis upon condition that he the same John S. Lawson shall deed
to my heirs a certain half eighth of land entered by him and adjoining
to the plantation I now occupy-
To my step son Isaac
Lawson I give will & bequeath a horse saddle & bridle
to be worth one hundred dollars-
To William H. Lawson
my other step son I give will & bequeath a horse saddle & bridle
to be worth one hundred dollars. To my beloved step daughter Mary
Ann D. Lawson I give will & bequeath a horse saddle & bridle &
to the aforesaid W.H. Lawson on his becoming of age and to the aforesaid
Mary Ann on her becoming of age I give each one eighth of land to
be entered by my executors for them. And to the said Mary Ann I also give
a bed & bedding to be valued at fifty dollars and two cows and calves
to be worth twenty dollars to be paid when she becomes of age.
To my beloved daughter
Julia Ann Nitty[Ritty?] the wife of Blanton Chrisler I give will &
bequeath a certain little negro girl aged about three years named Charlotte
and likewise an equal part with my other heirs after paying all my lawsful
debts. The remainder of my property I give will and bequeath to my
children to be equally divided by lottery as is the custom in such cases.
And I William Porter Sr.
do hereby appoint my beloved son William Porter Jr. my lawful executor
and require him to carry the foregoing will into effect so soon as the
debts are paid to effect which if necessary he will keep the horses together
& raise another crop.
And I do further appoint
my beloved wife Gracy guardian to the minor heirs of my estate and charge
her of the love she bears me to deal justly by them. My body I commit
to the care of my family & friends to be decently intered and my soul
to him who gave it the great author of our being.
In testimony whereof I have here unto affixed my hand & seal this 23rd
day of August 1833 in the presence of the subscribing witnesses
William Porter {Seal}
August 23rd }
1833
}
witness-- Samuel
M. Puckett}
Thos. Shippe }
