The Will of William Burford - 17951403

State of Georgia } By the Grace of God Amen.
Greene County } Know all men by these presents that I William Burford
of the county & State aforesaid being at this time in
my perfect health & memory do make this my last Will & Testament.

Item - I leave to my loving wife Grissel Burford the whole & sale use of the land & plantation whereon I now live during her widowhood together with all my household & kitchen Furniture & working tools & crop that may be on the plantation with four of my Negroes which she may choose.

Item - I lend to my daughter Nancy Comer during her natural life, a negro Girl now in her possession named Phillis, it is my Will & desire further that the said Negro & her increase be equally divided among my daughter Nancy Comer's children at her decease - Item - It is my Will & desire that my sons Solomon Burford, Mitchell Burford and Leonard Burford have three cows & calves each or the value thereof.

Item - I lend unto my son Daniel Burford all that tract of land whereon he now lives containing three hundred & ninety two acres during his natural life & it is my Will & pleasure, I further desire that the said land after my son Daniel Burfords children.

Item - My will and desire further is that one negro Girl named Milley, about eight or nine years old be lend to my Daughter Lucy Brassfield during her natural life & after that my will is that the aforesaid negro Girl (Milley) return to my Estate to be divided with her increase if any among my five sons, namely William Burford, Daniel Burford, Solomon Burford, Mitchell Burford & Leonard Burford.

Item - It is my Will & desire further that my daughter Aggatha Peek have one negro woman named Amey during her natural life & after that, that she & her increase be equally divided among my daughter Aggatha Peek's children.

Item - I give and bequeath unto the heirs of my daughter Christian Stephens, dec'd, twenty shillings Sterling to be equally divided among them.

Item - My will and desire further is that all the rest of my Estate not already disposed of & after my lawful debits are paid be appraised by two discreet persons chosen by the court & qualified for that purpose if the heirs cannot agree without & I further will & desire that after said appraisement of my Estate it shall be made into five lots as nearly equal as possible by my Executors & the choice of lots drawn for by my five sons namely, wiliam Burford, Daniel Burford, Solomon Burford, Mitchell Burford & Leonard Burford, except the land & Improvement whereon I now live which I do give unto my my (sic) son, Leonard Burford at the Death of my wife Grizzel Burford.

Item - My Will & pleasure further is that what I have left to my loving wife except the land after her death be equally divided among my five Sons (to wit) William Burford, Daniel Burford, Solomon Burford, Mitchell Burford, Leonard Burford in the same manner as the rest of my Estate. And lastly I nominate constitute & appoint my trusty friends William Burford, Daniel Burford, Solomon Burford, Mitchell Burford & Leonard Burford Executors to this my last will & Testament making void all other Wills & Testaments.

Given under my hand & seal the Seventh day of April one thousand seven hundred & ninety five.

Wm Burford {seal}

Signed Sealed & acknowledged in presence of Wm Daniell, William Dobbins, John {his mark} Sanders.

State of Georgia } Appeared before me Majr William Daniell one of the
Greene County } subscribing witnesses to the within will & being duly
Register of probate office } sworn on the holy evangelist of Almighty God disposeth
that he saw the within named William Burford sign,
seal, publish & declare the within to be his last will & testament: and that at the time
of his so doing he was of sound, perfect & disposing mind & memory to the best of his
knowledge & belief: and that in the presence of the testator & in his the deponents
presence & in the presence of each other the other two subscribing witnesses signed the
same, all at the testators request. Done before me this 25th day of Septr 1798 -

Wm Phillips R.P.

The executors were all sworn, Mitchell Burford excepted.

State of Georgia } The within subscribing witnesses to the within will
Greene County } appeared as also the legatees. The probate was objected
to by part of the legatees, and a caveat entered by
Ellis West, John Comer Peek & William Browning.
4th Septr 1797 (sic) Wm Phillips R. P.
Recorded -
We the Jury find and agree that William Burford was of sound mind & Judgment at the time
within Will was executed. We therefore establish the said Will - Jas. Nisbet - Foreman -