Will of Nathaniel Woodruff

Recorded in Bibb Co., Ala. 

Admr. Rec. Book D, Page 89

State of Alabama 

Bibb County

In the name of God, Amen.

I, Nathaniel Woodruff of the State and County aforesaid, being in perfect mind and memory and in good health and strength of body and intending to travel and not knowing whether I may live to return and for other good causes, do make this my last will and testament and do make and ordain it to be my will and none other heretofore written.

Item 1st

      As tutchin/(touching) the property that I have been blessed with in this life, all to be valued agreeably to law,

      and after all my debts is discharged and expenses paid.

      I give and bequeath unto my beloved wife Anny,  my negro man named Juley for her use and benefit during

      her natural life, and then for her to have the right of disposing of him as she may think proper.

      And I further give her my negro woman Winney for her use and benefit during her life and at her death the remain

      the property of my children, the lawful heirs of my body, to be divided equal among them, as every other fact of my

      property that will be hearafter mentioned.

      It is also my will that my wife Anny shall have one fourth part of all my stock such as cattle, horses, hogs and

      household furniture, and one fourth of the property of the cleared land, together with the mantion house and building,

      for her use and benefit.

      I now give and bequeath unto my three children; Newton, Henry and Martha Ann, all the remainder of my negroes, that is

      Ephraim, Cuft and Caroline, together with all the balance of my estate of whatsoever it may consist to be and remain in the

      possession of my beloved wife Anny for the use and benefit of my above named children as long as she may think proper

      to be their guardian and for her and them to have the benefit of the whole jointly as one family, and when she wishes to

      resign this charge or any part of the same, I wish Thomas Crawford, whether then officiating as Judge or not, to act for the

      children's benefit in keeping their estate in service and usery; this is to hire the negroes and keep all in service jointly for their

      benefit until the oldest child may come of age to act for himself and then to divide by lot equally as the law directs, but I do

      not wish the Negroes to be sold, but to remain in the possession of my children that may then be living as the law may divide

      them.

      But lastly and finally, if my three negroes within mentioned, that is Epriam, Cuff and Caroline, is alive when my within named

      children is of age to receive their dower my Will is for Newton to have Epriam  and Henry, Cuff and Mary Ann, Caroline

      and the balance if any to be equally divided as the law may direct. 

      I do hereby ordain and appoint my beloved wife Anny to be the sole executriz of this my last will and testament made this

      11th day of January 1830 signed, sealed and acknowledged in the presence of:

                                                                                                                            Nathaniel Woodruff

 Attest:

D. B. Boyd

N. L. McGuire

Probated 8 Jan. 1835