Amanuensis Monday~Last Will and Testament of William Davis, b. 1809

 Amanuensis Monday is a Web Blog theme started by blogger John Newmark. You can access his blog here.

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Today's Amanuensis Monday subject is the Last Will and Testament of William Davis, b. 1809, son of Samuel Davis, Sr. and Lucinda R. Munsey. ¹

Last Will

Transcription:

Page 602
Will
Estate of William Davis, Deceased
In the name of God, Amen;
I make this my last Will and testament, First, I resign my soul to Almighty God hopeing and believing in the remission of my Sins by the merits of Jesus Christ, my body I commit to the earth to be buried, with as little expense as possible.- I appoint my wife Priscilla Davis, my Sole Executrix, the 1st duties to pay all debts, which is unpaid. My Goods of every kind to remain in her possession, and under her control, and management So long as she remains unmarried for the purpose of raising and educating my children, Should any of my children get married my will is that my Executrix, give each one a negro and such an outfit as she may think proper, at a fair valuation of Eight per cent Interest, until the final division, at which time each one to have an equal share, no deduction for Board or Education. Should my lands prove insufficient for the benefit of the Heirs, my Executrix may sell or purchase more as she may think proper . No division of the property is to take place until my youngest arrives at the age of eighteen or married. At that time, I want each one to have their share.
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this the 28th March in the year of our Lord One Thousand Eight Hundred & Sixty one. 
Signed, sealed and declared}                 William Davis {L.S.}
By the said testor in the}
Presents <sic> of us, who at his}
request and in his presence}                    Harrison P. Donald
have subscribed our names}                    Robert S. Clark
as witnesses thereto. March 28, 1861}     Edwd. Davis
 
The State of Mississippi} In the Probate Court of said County
Attala County} At the May Term A,D, 1861
Probate of Will
In the matter of a certain instrument of writing purporting to be the last Will and testament of William Davis Deceased) Be it remembered that at a term of the Probate Court of the county of Attala in the Sate aforesaid begun and held at the Court House in and for said County on the third Monday (20th) in May in the year of our Lord, one thousand Eight Hundred and sixty one personally appeared in open Court  Edward Davis, Harrison Donald and Robert Clark, Subscribing Witnesses to a certain instrument of (pg 603) writing purporting to be the Last Will and testament of William Davis late of Said County deceased, bearing date the 28th March 1861, who having first been duly sworn, deposes and Said that Said William Davis, Signed sealed published and declared said instrument as his last will and testament in the presence of these deponents, on the day of the date thereof.That said testator was then in Sound mind and memory and more than twenty one years of age and that these deponents Subscribed said instruments as Witnesses thereto at the instance and request of said Testator, in his presence and also in the presence of each other on the day and year aforesaid.
Sworn to and Subscribed before]
Me in open Court this}                     Edw. Davis
20 day May A.D. 1861.}                   H.P. Donald
                   Sam Young}                  R. S. Clark
                              Judge}
Examined and ordered to be recorded May 20th,1861.
                                                           Sam Young, Judge
Recorder June 4th A.D. 1861
                    T.D. Sallis Clk
                    By S. E. Wilson Deputy

William Davis, born 1809, was a farmer and son of Samuel Davis and Lucinda Munsey. About 1818-1819, Samuel moved his family from South Carolina to Warren County, Tennessee. William was age 9 or 10 when this move took place. At age 24, William left Tennessee and migrated to Jackson County, Alabama. There between 1835 and 1845 he married his wife Priscilla.

William Davis died unexpectedly between 28 Mar 1861(Last Will Written & dated) and 17 May 1861 (Administrative Bond date for the William Davis estate).  

The last known location of his Widow was the 1880 Census for Limestone County, Texas.

1880 CENSUS: Freestone, Texas; Enumeration District:#056; Page#594 (Stamped), Line 6, Dwelling#533, Family#533; Prissilla DAVIS, Female, age 68, born in SC; Lucinda A. DAVIS, Daughter, age 38, born in AL and John DAVIS, Nephew, age 31, born in MS.

William Davis is buried in the Yockanookany Baptist Church Cemetery, McVille, Attala County, Mississippi. No record of Priscilla's death or burial has been found. 

William Davis is my 1st Cousin 5X Removed.