Documents

Will of Asa Cox
Will Book 2, pp. 137-178, Harris County courthouse, Hamilton, Georgia

I, Asa Cox of said state and County, being of advanced age and knowing that I must shortly depart this life, deem it right and proper both as respects my self-and family that I should make a distribution of the property with which a kind providence has blessed me. So therefore make this my last will and testament hereby revoking all others heretofore made by me.

I desire and direct that my body be buried in a decent and Christian like manner suitable to my circumstances and condition in life; my soul I trust shall return to God who gave it. I hope for eternal salvation through the merits and atonement of the blessed Lord and Savior, whose religion I have professed, and as I humbly trust have enjoyed for the last ten years.

I desire and direct that all my just debts be paid by my executors hereinafter named as I am unwilling my creditors should be delayed in their rights, especially, as there is no necessity for delay.

My will and desire that at my death all my estate both real and personal be sold on credit of twelve months and equally divided among all my children that is in life and to the lawful heirs of any that may be dead.

My will and desire is that my daughter Isabella Hill shall have at my death one Hundred Dollars more than my other children, which hundred dollars I desire shall be laid out by my Executors for her home, wherever she may wish or in any other property that she may wish.

My will and desire is now to give my son Thomas Cox, should he move to the State of Mississippi my Negro boy, Moses, which boy I only give a life-time estate in, and that the said Thomas Cox has no power to dispose of said boy in any way or manner whatever nor is said boy subject to the payment of any of the debts of the said Thomas Cox that may now or hereafter be contracted, and I do therefore appoint my son, William Cox of the State of Mississippi, as trustee for the said Thomas Cox, as far as relates to the above named boy.

My will and desire that my daughter Matilda Griffin and Isabell Hill shall have a lifetime estate in the amount that each one shall receive that each one of the above named daughters shall have the entire use and benefit of said estate during their natural lives and then to the lawful heirs of their body, not subject to any debts whatever; and I hereby appoint my sons James Cox and Jesse Cox as Trustees for the above named daughters.

My will and desire is that all that portion of my estate which I leave to my Daughter, Elizabeth Maynor, I give to her during her natural life not subject to any debts whatever and at the death of the said Elizabeth said property to go to the lawful heirs of her body, and I do herey appoint William H. Maynor, her husband, as trustee for said estate.

My will and desire is the portion of my estate which I give to my daughter Mariah Dorman, I give to her during her natural life and to the lawful heirs of her body at her death not subject to any debts whatever and I do hareby appoint Hiram Dorman, her husband, as trustee for said estate.

My will and desire is that the portion of my estate which I give to my daughter Mary Barnes, I give only during her natural life and then to the lawful heirs of her body not subject to the payments of any debts whatever, and I do hereby appoint Oscar Barnes as Trustee in said estate.

My will and desire that at my death that any of all of my children who may have received any portion of my estate be it little or much prior to my death shall in the language of the law throw it into hotch potch and account for the same without interest.

This the 30th day of September 1856

Asa Cox [Seal]

Signed, sealed, declared and published by Asa Cox as his last Will and Testament in the presence of us the subscribers who subscribed our name hereto in the presence of said Testator at his special request and of each other this 30th day of September 1856.

[s] Marshall Stevens
[s] Willard Whitehead
[s] William W. Stevens

CODICIL TO THE ABOVE

Harris County, in the State of Georgia, in the name of God, Amen. I, Asa Cox of the County and State aforesaid being feeble in body but sound in mind, having thought proper to add to my last will and Testiment this Codicil, embracing the following items to wit:

Item 1st
For as much as I, Asa Cox, did about the first of March last, give as a present fifty dollars to my children hereinafter named: Cary Cox, James Cox, Jesse Cox, Matilda Griffin, Isabella Hill, Mariah Dorman, Elizabeth Maynor and Mary Barnes. My will is that my other two sons William Cox and Thomas Cox of the State of Mississippi shall each receive the sum of fifty dollars out of my estate making them equal with my other children.

Item 2nd
In my last Will and Testament, I, Asa Cox, gave to my daughter, Isabella Hill, over and above an equal share in my estate One Hundred Dollars, but being dissatisfied, I have thought proper to give to the said Isabella Hill One Hundred Dollars more, making in all, two hundred dollars, which I leave in the hands of my sons James and Jesse Cox and Trustees for the said Isabella. The object of the above sum is to puchase for the said Isabella a home after my death and to further give to the said Isabella my buggy and also thirty dollars annually for her care of me. All of the above I give to the said Isabella Hill over and above an equal share in my estate, because she, the said Isabella, has broken up and taken care of me and my interest while I have been unable to take care of myself when all of my other children have been taking care of their own interest.

This the 28th day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred fifty seven.

Asa Cox

Test
Marshall Stevens & William H. Stevens

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