Will of Mary Poythress, 6 Sept 1854

State of Georgia ) In the Name of God ! Amen!

Troup County ) I Mary Poythress of said State and County knowing that is appointed for all mankind to die I being of sound mind and disposing memory to make and

Sconstitute (sic) this my last Will and Testament hereby revokeing [sic]all Wills heretofore by me

made___________________________________________________________________

Item the 1st I Will my soul to God who gave it me and my body to it’s Mother Earth to be by my Executors desently [sic] buried and a suitable Tomb Stone placed over my grave and that of my son John Hardaman.

Item 2nd It is my Will and desire that my two sons William B. and Francis A. Poythress have my house and lot where I now live in the Town of LaGrange together with all of the furniture household and Kitchen for and during their natural lives and should either of said sons die then said House and Lot together with the furniture to remain with the survivor to dispose of the same to whom he may think proper by Will________________________

Item 3rd It is my Will and desire that my son Francis A. shall have all my real estate and that my son William B. shall keep his negroes on the same and have the use thereof or a sufficiency of the same to work his negroes on___________________________________

Item 4th It is my Will and desire that my said son Francis A. have all of my negroes together with their increase also a Girl Lucy claimed by Daniel Ware which I had loaned him heretofore, she is my property and it is my Will that my said son Francis A. shall also have her. It is further my Will should my son Russell K. Poythress or my daughter Sarah Jane Poythress have or meet with any misfortune and become needy it is my Will that my said son Francis A. should make a liberal provision for them out of what I have herein given him ______________________________________________________

Item 5th It is my Will that my said son Francis A. Poythress have all my mules, horses, carriage, buggy and all my stock on the plantation of every kind whatsoever the same may consist also all my cash on hand as well as my notes accounts and all evidences of debt of whatsoever the same may consist_____________________________________________

Item 6th It is my Will and desire that my said son Francis A. Poythress shall have any growing crop of corn, cotton and every thing else also that he shall have the residue of my estate be the same of whatsoever character it may consist, In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal and declared this to be my last Will and Testament in the presence of———-

Having forgotten to name my Executors to carry into execution this Will it is my Will & desire that my two friends Samuel Cartright & and Henny Long be and they are hereby nominated my Executors to Execute this my last Will & testament. It is further my Will & desire that the property herein before given to my said son Francis A. Poythress be held by him for and during his natural life not to be subject in any manner whatever to be taken from him for the payment of debts nor to be disposed of by him in any manner whatever except by Will, and it is my Will that he have the power over the same to dispose of the same by Will In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal and declared this to be my last Will and Testament this the sixth day of September Eighteen Hundred and fifty four in the presence of

Louis Harris Mary Poythress (seal)

Albert E. Cox

W. A. Pallen

(Note: the extended straight lines following each will “item” are the style of the will writer and are not to imply missing or illegible wording)

Transcribed 17 Feb 1998

Georgia Dept. of Archives & History

Microfilm Drawer 156/ roll 4

Troup County Georgia, Court of the Ordinary

Estate Records, Will Book B, 1848-1888, page 90

Compiler: John Maynard Poythress