Jonathan Ragan Will

Date: [unknown] [unknown]
Location: [unknown]

As transcribed in THE HILLS OF WILKES COUNTY, GEORGIA

Will of Jonathan Ragan, Sr.

Georgia, Oglethorpe County.

In the Name of God Amen: I, Jonathan Ragan , of the State of Georgia and County of Oglethorpe, being of sound and disposing mind and memory and knowing, that I must Shortly depart this life, do make and ordain this my last will and testament in manner and form following, (viz . )

Item 1 st . I give to my daughter, Polly Phillips , five dollars

also I lend her my negro girl , Creasey, now in her possession during her natural life and at her death I give the aforesaid negro girl and her increase to my two grand-daughters , say Nany Cynthia Phillips to them and their heirs forever.

Item 2nd . I give to my son, Nathaniel Ragan, Ten Dollars.

Item 3rd . I give to my son, John Ragan, one feather bed and furniture .

Item 4th . I give to my daughter, Nany Calloway, one negro girl , Zenah, now in her possession also Ten Dollars which She is to receive at my death.

Item 5th . I give to my daughter, Rebecca Calloway, one negro girl , n ow in her possession also Ten Dollars which she is to receive at my death .

Item 6th . I give to my daughter, Winney Calloway, one negro girl, Hannah, now in her possession also Ten dollars which She is to receive at my death .

"Item 7th . I give to my daughter, Abi Haynes , two negroes now in h er possession named Patience and Celea to her and her heirs forever .

Item 8th. I give to my daughter, Elizabeth Lumpkin, one negro girl , Cheney, now in her possession , also Ten dollars which she is to receive at my death .

Item 9th . I give to my son, Asa Ragan, Seven Hundred and Fifty Dollars , which he has received as a part of his cota Of my estate.

Item l0th . I give to my son , Jonathan Ragan , Six hundred dollars , which he has received as a part of his cota of my estate.

Item 11 th . I give to my son, David Ragan , Two Hundred dollars which he has received in a negro boy as a part of his cota of my estate.

Item 12th. I give to my son, Jehu Ragan, my negro man, Jack , which is to be appraised to him at my death as a part of his cota Of my estate .

Item 13th . I give to my six youngest sons, namely, Asa,

Jonathan, David , Jeremiah , Marcus B. and John Ragan, all the balance of my personal estate, including my nineteen negros Tobe, Cupit, Hal, Lewis, Lotte, Melle, Jordan, Delpha, Mosse , Mary, Silvah, Rhoda, Jared, Sinah, Judah, Hartwel , Sopha, Greenville, Vinah and their increases, together with my stock ,household furniture and plantation tools , all of the above named property to be sold and after paying all demands against said estate, be so divided as to form an equal division between my six last named children, including the several sums before mentioned that they have received and are to receive to them and their heirs forever.

Item 14th. I give to my two sons, Marcus B. and John Ragan, all that tract of land whereon I now live (containing five hundred and fourteen acres) to be enjoyed in union, or sold and the amount of the sale equally divided between them as they or my executors

think proper also the crop that has been last made or is making on the plantation at my death, to them and their heirs forever.

Item 15th . Lastly do make and ordain and appoint Jonathan Ragan and Thomas Rhodes my true and lawful executors to execute this my last will and testament made.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal , April 6th , 1813 .

his

Jonathan X Ragan , Sen. (Seal)

mark

Attest . Jas Rhodes

Wm. Adams

"Ruth Rhodes

Probate of Will .

You , Richard Rhodes and William Adams , do solemnly swear that you saw the within named Jonathan Ragan, deceased , Sign, seal , publish and declare the within instrument of writin g to be his last will and testament and at the time of his so doing he was of sound mind and memory to the best of your knowledge and belief. SO help you God.

Wm. Adams

Rich'd Rhodes , Sen .

Jas . Rhodes by interrogatories .

Sworn to and subscribed before me in open Court by two of the witnesses and the other by interrogatories and ordered to be recorded . March Term, 1 814 . Mathew Ramey, C . C . O . ‘

Research Notes

The transcribed verison of this at the source used "coto" several times. Viewing the original handwritten document, the word was "cota". In context, this may have been a misspelling of the word "quota" which Oxford defines as "a fixed share of something that a person or group is entitled to receive or is bound to contribute".