Submitted by Annette Bowen
Leonly Stuart Will, Jefferson County Probate Book C, page 761, 1845
I, Leonly Stuart of the County of Jefferson and State of
Mississippi, being of sound and disposing mind, do make and
constitute and ordain this my last will and testament.
First,
I desire that my executor herein after appointed shall as soon as
may be after my decease pay and satisfy all just and legal demands
against my estate.
Second, I devise and give to my son
William L. Stuart and to his heirs and assigns forever all the
lands and real estate I have in the county of Jefferson except such
as I may herein after designate being a part of the Mead tract lying
on the left hand side of the now road to Fayette bounded by the
lands of Jas. Clark Snr., Daniel Sillers, and the land devised by
James Stuart to said William L Stuart containing one hundred and
eighty acres more or less-I also give and bequeath to my said son
William L. Stuart my four Negro slaves viz. Jerry, Rachel, and her
child Jane, and William, and their future increase-but the foregoing
devise and bequest to my son William L. Stuart are on the terms and
with the restrictions and limitations hereinafter expressed.
Third, I give and bequeath to my daughter Roche L Stuart my five
Negro slaves namely, Mary, Alice, Ella, Owens, and Dave and their
future issue-but on the terms and limitations hereinafter expresses.
Fourth, I give and bequeath to my daughter Sarah A. G. Humphreys
my four Negro slaves namely, Sanford, Lucy, Albert, and Aron
together with their future issue also on the terms and limitations
hereinafter expressed.
Fifth, I give and bequeath to my
daughter Caroline Ann Sillers my five Negro slaves namely Bill,
Maryann, Martha, Ralph, and Van with their future issue. Also on the
terms and limitations hereinafter expressed-to wit, the devise and
bequests to my aforesaid four children William L. Stuart, Roche L.
Stuart, Sarah A. G. Humphreys, and Caroline Ann Sillers are each of
them on the conditions limitations and restrictions following, to
wit, that if any one or more of them shall die without children
shall go and revert in common property to the survivour or
survivours as the case may be and to their heirs executors and
assigns forever but such reverting share to be held on the terms and
limitations and conditions aforesaid.
Sixth, I give and
bequeath to my grandson Tulley B. Stuart, son of my son Wiley B.
Stuart, my Negro slave named Edmund to have and to hold to him his
heirs executors and assigns forever.
Seventh, I give and
bequeath to my son Thomas H. Stuart five dollars in money.
Eighth, I give and bequeath to my son Victor M. Stuart my entire
interest it being one half in a tract of land consisting of two
hundred and fourteen acres bounded by the lands of Wm. L Stuart,
William Harper, Stephen Terry, and Michael Trimble during the
lifetime of my said son Victor M. Stuart but on the following
condition, to wit, that should he not reside on it I then will and
bequeath the said land to my son William L Stuart. At his death said
interest in said land I will and bequeath said land to my son
William L Stuart.
Ninth, I will and bequeath to my daughter
Adaline M. Gibson my entire interest in the stock of sheep now on
the place where I reside.
Tenth, I will and bequeath all my
household furniture to William L. Stuart, Roche L. Stuart, Sarah A.
G. Humphreys, and Caroline Ann Sillers, to be equally divided among
them.
Eleventh, I will and bequeath to Leonly Stuart,
daughter of Victor M. Stuart, my Negro slave Polly, to her and her
heirs forever and desire that my hereinafter appointed executor
shall deliver said slave to the guardian of said Leonly Stuart as
soon as may be after my decease.
Twelfth, I will and desire
that the property aforesaid bequeathed with the exception of the
eleventh bequest shall continue and remain in the hands of my
executors hereinafter appointed until those to whom it is bequeathed
shall arrive at the age of twenty one years at which time he shall
deliver to them respectively as they arrive at that age the share
respectively allotted to them together with such increase and
profits as may arise from them.
Thirteenth, I do hereby
constitute and appoint my son Wiley B. Stuart executor of this my
last will and testament. I give, devise and bequeath whatever shall
remain of my estate real or personal after the payments of my debts
and the aforesaid legacies to my four children William L Stuart,
Roche L. Stuart, Sarah A. G. Humphreys, and Caroline Ann Sillers and
in my hand and subscribed my name this 17th day of March anno Domino
one thousand eight hundred and forty five.
Attest W. A.
Fogle Philip O Hughs Jno. H Duncan Jr.
Leonly x Stuart
her mark.