Will of Gilbert D. Greer, dated March 22, 1852 State of Georgia
Coweta County
In the name of God, Amen! I Gilbert D. Greer, of said county
being sick & weak of body, but of sound mind and disposing memory, considering the certainty of death, & the uncertainty of the time thereof, to the end that I may be the better prepared to leave this world when it shall, please my God to call me hence, have now determined to direct what disposition, shall be made of my property, after my decease; and after maturely considering the circumstances & condition of all those among whom as my heirs at law or the objects of my gratitude or affection, in my judgement my estate should be distributed, I do make publish and declare this to be my last will & testament hereby revoking & making null & void all former, last wills & testaments & writings in the nature of last wills and testaments by me heretofore made.
Item 1st After my decease it is my desire that my body shall be decently buried; & that my funeral charges & just debts, shall be paid by my executor herein after named.
Item 2nd It is my wish, that my daughter Mary W. Hill, shall immediately upon my decease take into her posession & enjoyment to her & her heirs absolutely the five following, named negroes, to-wit, Sidney & her infant child; Nancy, Hetty & Daphny together with their increase if any, which said five Negroes, I have heretofore verbally given to my said daughter, but have never delivered them. I also bequeath to my Daughter my Piano.
Item 3rd It is my will & desire that my wife Sarah A.L. Greer shall have absolutely to her & her heirs & independently of any bequest, or devise herein after made the following named Negroes to-wit, Vina, Joe, Andy, Ellen, Alfred, Lea, Phillis, Ellick, Ben and Felix, together with their increase.
Item 4th I furthermore bequeath & devise to my said wife for & during her natural life the whole of the residue of my estate both real & personal not herein before disposed, comprising the remainder of my negroes- my homestead & all other Lands. Plantation utensils, stock, waggons, carts my family Carriage, provisions, household & kitchen furniture to remain & be right together, used and enjoyed by my said wife in the same way as though I were living; and at the death of my said wife it is my will & desire that the whole of the above mentioned residue of my estate, result to and vest absolutely in fee simple in my Daughter Mary W. Hill if then living & her issue if any, but if my said Daughter, should at that time be dead without issue or afterwards die, leaving no issue then & in either of said events, it is my desire & will that the said residue of my estate, as above mentioned at that time remaining be equally divided among the lawful children of Thomas & Jane Mangum deceased-the lawful children of James A. Greer deceased the lawful children of William D. Greer deceased and the lawful children of Nathaniel H. Greer, who is now living.
Item 5th I furthermore give and bequeath to my beloved wife, Sarah A. L. Greer after the payment of all my just debts, as aforesaid, to be used and enjoyed by her, as pleases, & without accountability all of my present crop of cotton, on hand, cash on hand, notes, bonds, accounts, & money demands of every description that may be due or oweing to me at the time of my decease.
Item 6th It is my will & desire that my executor hereinafter named shall & do have the right & privilege of incurring any expenses that he may deem necessary to incur, in the management of the affairs pertaining in anywise to my estate- said expenses to be defrayed by him out of the assets of my estate; and furthermore it is my desire & will that my said executor be exempt from the necessity & legal obligations of making annual returns, as, executor of this my last will & testament, in relation to my estate aforesaid, as he would otherwise, by law, be required to do. – leaving him free to consult his own time & convenience as to making any such returns, and entirely optionary with him, as he may see cause whether he shall make any such at all or not.
Lastly- I do nominate & appoint my friend Andrew B. Calhoun of said County, & State, to, be the sole Executor of this my Last Will & Testament.
In testimony whereof I the said Gilbert D. Greer, have to this my last will & testament here, subscribed my name & affixed my seal this 22nd day of March in the year of our Lord One thousand Eight Hundred and fifty two.
G. D. Greer
Signed sealed and declared by the Said Gilbert D. Greer to be his last Will and testament, in presence of us, Who at his request, & in his presence Have subscribed our names as, Witnesses hereto.
H. Brewster
A.R. Wellborn
G.W. NeelyThe words “to her & her heirs”, absolutely
---- interlined at the 4th, & 11th, lines from
bottom of first page before, signed & published
(Gilbert Dunlap Greer died 23 Mar 1852)
SOURCE: Georgia, Coweta County Magistrate office
Transcribed for the Genealogy Forum by Greer Westover, immjag@charter.net
With the following note:
I came across the will of William D. Greer on your website:
http://www.genealogyforum.com/files/AL/WilliamDGreerWill1840.htm
and thought that by the two being brothers, Gilbert's would make a nice addition.
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