The Will of Abner Nash (1773-1834)

Date: [unknown] [unknown]
Location: [unknown]
Surnames/tags: Slavery Black_Heritage Nash

This space page features the 1832 will and 1834 codicil of Abner Nash (1773-1834).

Will

The State of Mississippi and Lowndes County.

In the name of God, Amen, I, Abner Nash of the county and state aforesaid being in health of body and of sound and disposing mind, Memory and understanding Thanks be given unto God. Calling unto mind the mortality of my body and knowing that it is appointed for all men to die I do make this my last will and Testament. That is to say principally and first of all I give and recommend my soul into the hands of God that gave it, and my body I recommend to the Earth to be buryed in a decent and Christian like manner at the discretion of my Executors. Item. I will that all my just debts be paid. For the ?? of the love and affection that I have for and towards my beloved wife Betsy Nash. I will land bequeath my Mantion house with all the building attached to it on four half quarter sections of land (viz) the NW Or [corner] of section twenty-eight in Township nineteen and Range seventeen west and the west half of the North East quarter, also a fraction of the South East Or (supposed to be thirty acres more or less) lying on the NW side of the creek running through the last named quarter. All of the land in the section township and Range above mentioned. Also the south half of the southwest qr of Section twenty-one (dividing ?? quarter section by a line running east and west) of Township and Range above named. Also all the Negroes (ten in number at this time) with their increase and all the stock during her life or pleasure.

Also for the benefit to her in raising and support of the family the East half of the North East qr of Section twenty-nine Township nineteen and range seventeen west, this last half qr mentioned my be sold or rented at her pleasure and the title made by my Executors and the proceeds divided between my children as directed below. Be it understood that if my Wife by her good economy and industry shall improve my Estate and accumulate more property than is now on hand (the increase of the negroes excepted) it is to be her own to dispose of as she may think proper.

Item. I will to my nine oldest children (namely) Alanson, Deidamia, Gabriel Eveans, William Whitfield, Julious Junious, Theodotia, Ryland Henry and Nimrod Newton and Esse Udoxy. First the advancements made to them previous to this time as will be seen as per receipts. Item. I will to my son Nimrod Newton the East half of the Northeast Or of section twenty-eight Township nineteen and Range seventeen W. I value the said land at two hundred and forty dollars. A negro boy named Bartley at four hundred and fifty dollars and a bed and furniture. I will to my daughter, Nancy Harrison A bed and furniture a Horse and saddle and two Negroes, Laury and Jasper. I value these two negroes at five hundred dollars. Item. I will to my son, John Abner Bunyon all the land (four half quarters and a fraction of a quarter supposed to thirty acres) and houses that I willed to my wife Betsy at her death or pleasure, one negro boy named Backeus worth three hundred dollars a horse and saddle worth one hundred dollars and a bed and furniture. I will that if he lives to grown manhood the he will Educated in an english education and due attention be paid to his raising by my Executors or his Guardian. Item. I will to my daughter Polly Ann Long two Negroes named Peter and Mariah worth five hundred dollars. I will that particular attention be paid her raising and schooling by her guardian. I will that if John A. Biunhon's negro boy, Backeus should die before a final division that he have a boy named Strother. Now be it fairly understood that it is my will that all my children, except John A. Bunyon (Eleven in number) share and share alike, them that have had least to be made equal to them that have had most at a final distribution. Item. I will that John A. Bunyon and Polly A. Long be supported and educated at the expense of the estate till they are sixteen years old. I likewise constitute make and ordain my three sons Alanson, Gabriel Eveans and William Whitfield Executors of this my last will and Testament and I do hereby utterly disallow, revoke and disannul all and every other Testament, wills, legacies, bequests and Executors by me in any wise before named, willed bequeathed. Ratifying and infering this and no other to be my last will and Testament.

I nominate and appoint my son Gabriel for my son John A. Bunyon and my son William W. guardian for my daughter Polly A. Long. Item. I will that Negroes be kept among the Eleven children and divided by lot appraisement or otherwise. I will that Polly A. Long have a horse and saddle and bed and furniture. In witness where of I have hereunto set my hand and seal this twelfth day of March eighteen hundred and thirty-two in the presence of us.^[1]

Codicil

Test Micajah Brooks G.A. Spencer Thos Brooks

Abner Nash October the 27 one thousand eight hundred and thirty-four.

Seal

I Abner Nash of the County of Lowndes and State of Mississippi Being sick in body but of sound and disposing mind having previously made my last will which is now in the hands of Micajah Brooks But now feeling a disposition to make some alterations in the same. First I did in my said last will did give and bequeath my negro boy called Bartley to my son Nimrod N. Nash. But now I want said Boy Bartly to fall back with the rest of my negroes for equal distribution. Also in said will I did will to my aforesaid son N. N. Nash The East half of the North East quarter of Section twenty-eight Township nineteen Range seventeen. But my will and desire is that this half quarter of land fall back with my other land where I now live and be disposed of as my other lands is directed to be in my last will. And again the East half of the North East quarter of Section twenty-nine Township nineteen and Range seventeen to fall in the same way as the other of my lands and be disposed as is directed for my other lands to be disposed of.

This is my codicil to my last will and Testament which was made in some time in the Spring of the year one thousand eight hundred and thirty-two and now I sign, seal, and publish this as my codicil to said will. Witness my hand and seal this 27 of October 1834.

In presence of

Abner Nash

John Halbert J.D. Palmer . N. (H?) Ferguson

Seal

The original of this will, in Abner’s own handwriting, is in file No. 80 in the Chancery Clerk's Office, Columbus, Lowndes County, Mississippi.^[1]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} This transcribed will and its codicil were shared on Ancestry.com by bolsonarg2012 on 19 Jun 2015. It is not complete in that it doesn't show witnesses and no source was provided. A PDF of the transcribed will and codicil can be accessed here. https://www.ancestry.com/mediaui-viewer/collection/1030/tree/39032128/person/19436757032/media/007663f8-1bbd-4097-997c-972ad48210d7?_phsrc=LxG1177&usePUBJs=true&galleryindex=2&sort=-created