James H. Ramsey
Will of
The State of Alabama
Coosa County
submitted by Betty Ramsey
I, James H. Ramsey of the county and state above written being in good
sound disposing mind and memory, calling to mind the uncertainly of human
life, and being desirous of settling my worldly affairs and directing how
the property with which it has pleased God to bless me with shall be disposed
of after my decease, do make and publish this my last will and testament,
hereby revoking and making null and void all other wills and testaments
by me heretofore made. And first I commend my immortal being to him who
gave it, and my body to the earth to be buried by my Executor hereinafter
named. And as to my worldly estate and all the property real, personal
or mixed, of which I shall die seized and possessed, I desire, bequeath
and dispose thereof in the manner forthcoming to wit:
First: I hereby constitute and appoint my two sons Thomas M. Ramsey
and James P. Ramsey to be sole executors of this my last will and testament
directing my said executors to pay my just debts and funeral expenses as
soon after my decease as shall be by them found consistent.
Secondly: After the payment of my said debts, and the said funeral
expenses, I give devise and bequeath all the residual I shall die seized
and possessed unto my children to wit: Thomas M. Ramsey, Sylvia Coleman,
James P. Ramsey, Francis M. Ramsey, Phaedra Thompson, Minerva Lett and
Rebecca E. Todd, in the manner following: to wit 1st To my son Thomas M.
Ramsey my son, I give a Negro boy named George. Second, I give to my daughter
Sylvia Coleman, now the wife of Thomas Coleman a Negro Boy Jim. 3rd, I
give unto my son James P. Ramsey a Negro boy named Sam. To my son Francis
M. Ramsey I give a Negro girl named Julia. To my daughter Minerva Lett,
now the wife of Robert P. Lett, I give a Negro boy named Jessy and a Negro
girl named Amanda. To my daughter Rebecca E. Todd, now the wife of Burton
Todd, I give a Negro boy named Tom and a Negro girl named Carian. To have
and to hold to my beloved daughter Rebecca E. Todd aforesaid and her heirs
and assigns forever for her sole and separate and exclusive use and benefit.
Third, the above named negro slaves I will and bequeath to my above
named sons and daughters respectively at their true and proper valuation,
and should either of my a forenamed sons or daughters die without a lawful
heir, then, in that case the Negro or Negroes given as above, is to be
[can’t read] back to and be equally divided among the surviving heirs,
share and share alike.
Fourth To my daughter Phaedra Thompson a forenamed, I will and bequeath
an equal share with the rest of her above named bothers and sisters, and
her share to be paid in cash, after deducting a note I paid as security
for L. B. Holeman. The said note calls for one hundred dollars with a credit
on the back of fifty dollars, and two school tuition receipts which I hold
also, and her account as she stands charged on my memorandum book for provisions
and sundry articles of merchandize (sic).
5th York a man, and Rachel his wife slaves, for and inconsideration
of their faithfulness, I will them the privilege of choosing who of my
above named heirs they are willing to go to and be the property of by paying
their valuation, to which they may be appraised, also their increase if
any I devise and bequeath them to either of my heirs who may be able and
willing to take them at their proper valuation as they may be appraised,
and not to go out of the family. The rest of my servants, I will them to
be put up and sold to the highest bidder at public out cry.
Sixth It is my will and desire that my executors sell the rest of the
property of every nature of which my die seized at public outcry on a credit
of twelve months and should my decease take place before or previous to
the end of the present year. I will and desire my said executors to sell
the cotton crop that my be made this present year as soon as consistent
after gathered, for cash and out of the proceeds if sufficient, to pay
the amounts of the notes given for a boy Jacob and all other debts. If
there be cash sufficient that may be by me unsettled or contracted for
the use of the family.
Seventh. I will and devise my said executors to sell my lands either
at public outcry or privately as they may think best. The lands are as
follows viz: The East half of section five and west half of section four
in Township eighteen and range twenty. Also the southwest ¼ of section
thirty three in township nineteen and range twenty.
In testimony where I have hereunto set my hand and seal and publish
and declare this to be my last will and testament, in the presence of the
witnesses named below, this 28th day of March A. D. 1856.
James H. Ramsey (seal)
Signed, sealed, and published and declared by the said James H. Ramsey,
as, and for his last will and testament, in the presence of us who in his
presence, and in the presence of each other and at his request have subscribed
our names as witnesses hereto.
Joseph B. Ledbetter
William Hales
James H. Nichols
State of Alabama Probate Court Register
Coosa County
Term July 14, 1856