James Brooks Last Will and Testament, January 1883

Source: Mary Esther Smith

State of Georgia, County of Washington
I James Brooks, being of sound and disposing mind and memory, do make and publish the following as my last Will and Testament, hereby revoking any Will here to fore made by me.

Item 1-I will and direct that all my just debts to be paid as soon after my death as it can be done.

Item 2- I will and desire that after my death all my personal property be sold, and from the proceeds of such sale, there shall be paid by my Executors hereinafter named, to my daughter Mary Ann Ellis, Fifty dollars, to my son James F. Brooks Fifty dollars, to my son Solemon Brooks Fifty dollars, to my son Edmond Brooks Fifty dollars, to my daughter Sarah Yates Fifty dollars, to my son Tom Brooks Fifty dollars. My above named sons and daughters having already received a sufficiency from me to make them equal to my other children.

Item 3- I give and bequeath to my son Silas N. Brooks, my daughters Nancy Brooks, Amanda Brooks, Ella Brooks and Eliza Brooks, my Home place containing Four Hundred and seventy acres of land of which I am now possesed to be divided equally and have share alike.

Item 4- I give and bequeath to my grandson Robert Brooks the tract of land containing Thirty nine acres and known as the Sylvan tract and should his mother Amanda Brooks survive him the said Robert Brooks, then said Sylvan tract of land shall revert to her.

Item 5- I further will and direct that if any surplus remains in the hands of my Executors after the bequests enumbered in Item second (2nd) are paid, such surplus shall be equally divided between all my children named in the Will.

Item 6- I nominate and appoint my friends Doct. A. Mathis and George D. Warthen Executors of this my last Will and Testament.

In testimony whereof I have here unto set my hand and seal this fifteenth day of January 1883

James Brooks (signed with an X)
Recorded in Book B
Page 386 and Probate recorded in Book D minutes page 531, 532