Transcribed Will of John Buce

Date: 12 Feb 1853 to 9 Apr 1855
Location: Tallapoosa, Alabama, United States
Surnames/tags: Buce Ward

This free-space page is the transcription of John Buce's will with slight spelling and grammatical modification by Wesley Miller.

John Buce's Will

In the name of God amen. I John Buce, being weak as to [bodily] health but sound in mind and being desirous of securing to my beloved wife, Ruth Buce, all the property that I may die seized and possessed of during her lifetime, do hereby constitute this my last will and testament.

Item 1st - My soul I give to God and my body to dust to be decently buried by my family.

Item 2nd - For and in consideration of the love and affection I bear to my beloved wife Ruth, I give and bequeath to her all the property that I now have or may have at my death, to have and to hold to her exclusive use and benefit during her lifetime or widowhood to act in all cases with the said property as she may deem fit best for the support and benefit.

Item 3rd - The above conveyance, will, and bequeath is intended to embrace all my personal, perishable, and real property that I now have or may have at my decease.

Item 4th - All the debts that I owe or may owe at my decease to be provided for and paid out of such of the property or effects as my wife may so let and deem most fit to dispose of for that purpose.

Item 5th - At the death or marriage of my wife all the property, lands, and effects that this will bequeath to her, it is my wish that and I hereby bequeath to the heirs of my body an equal distribution of the same.

Item 6th - I hereby constitute my wife Ruth as sole executrix to this my last will and testament with full powers to execute the provisions of said will or to delegate the same to whomsoever she may deem fit.

Given under my hand and seal this the twelfth day of February A.D. 1853. [mark of John Buce]

Witness: James D. Phillips and Elijah Ward

The State of Alabama, County of Tallapoosa - Personally appeared in open court, James D. Phillips, one of the subscribing witnesses to the foregoing will, who, after being duly sworn on oath, says that he saw John Buce, the testator whose name is signed to the foregoing will, sign the same in his presence and in the presence of the other subscribing witness; that he signed his name thereto in the presence of the said John Buce; that in the opinion of the said witness, the said John Buce was of sound mind and memory at the time of the execution of said will. - Jas D. Phillips

Sworn to in office to wit this 9th day of April 1855. Ordered that said will be admitted to probate and that the same be filed and recorded [on] April 9th, 1855. - M. Lyle Judge of Probate

Sources

• Tallapoosa County, Alabama Will Book 1, page 103, John Buce's Will, signed 12 February 1853, recorded 09 April 1855, accessed online at https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9V2-SWMX?i=180&cat=78207 on 08 February 2023.