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

John Sorrell’s Estate and Will Records

06-02-1841  (proved 12-03-1841)

Sorell/Sorrell, John

Daughters - Celia Cooper         (Charles Cooper)

                   Nancy Browning    (Robert Browning)

                   Rebecca Adams     (Henry Adams)

                   Mary Webb            (Robert Webb)

                   Margaret Pylant      (James Pylant)

Sons  - Wiley J. Sorell

            Seaborn J. Sorell

            John M. Sorell

            James M. Sorell

            Thomas B. Sorell

Heirs of  Catherine Barnes      (decd. wife of John E. Barnes)

              James E. Barnes

              Lloyd W. Barnes

              John _. Barnes

             Martha E. Barnes

             Thos. S. Barnes.

Extr. Jas. M. Sorell  and  s.i.l. (son-in-law)  Henry Adams

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From R. Briggs – 2001

Will of John Sorell/Sorelle

In the name of God Amen,

I, John Sorell of the County of Dallas and State of Alabama do make and declare this my last will and testament in manner and form following, viz:

     1^st       After the payment of all my just debts and funeral expenses, I desire bequeath and direct as follows             

     2^nd       I give and bequeath my daughter Celia Cooper and her bodily heirs for their own use andbenefit all the property heretofore loaned 2  negroes, a boy and a girl known by the name

                 of Sant and Caroline; a horse, two cows and calves and two beds and furniture which brings her upon a to her to wit level with what my other children have heretofore had.

     3^rd       I give and bequeath all the remaining part of my estate, real, personal and perishable to my children, namely

              my sons –

                       Wiley J. Sorell

                       Seaborne J. Sorell

                       John M. Sorell,

                       James M. Sorell and

                       Thomas B. Sorell and to

              my daughters –

                      Matilda Webb

                      Nancy Browning

                      Rebecca Adams

                      Mary Webb

                      Celia Cooper,

                      Margaret Pylant and the bodily heirs of Catherine Barnes, late the wife of John C.Barnes and now deceased to be divided among  them equally. Subject however, to the

                             restrictions and conditions following as regards my sons – Wiley J. and

Seaborne J. Sorell viz:             

Wiley J. Sorell to have an equal share after deducting what I have paid for him, to wit two thousand eight hundred and fourteen dollars ($2814.00) paid in the Gantley case and others. Seaborne J. Sorell to have an

equal share after deducting the amount I have paid for him to wit about five thousand dollars ($5000.00). The shares of my daughters to go to them and the heirs of their bodies and shall either of them die without

bodily heirs then her or their share to descend and be equally divided amongst her brothers and sisters or their legal heirs.

I hereby revoke all other former wills by me hereto fore made. Lastly I nominate, constitute and appoint my son (James M. Sorell) and my son-in-law (Henry Adams) executors of this my last will and testament.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal

A.D. 1841

Recorded 16^th day of December 1841

John Sorell  (seal)

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08-16-1843         Book O, Page 129

Person Davis of Talladega Co. to Kerenhappuch Sorrell,  wife  of  James M. Sorrell   of  Dallas Co. Natural love and affection to her who is his daughter sold slaves  Thom and Sal  and their children (King, Aaron,

Charles, Jack, Ellen and Ann) and a negro woman (Mirna) and her children (Lines). All these negroes were purchased by Davis from one Henry Adams.

02-16-1843

deeds -

James Sorrell to Henry Adams