AAFA Wills
WILL OF GUILFORD ALFORD

State of Georgia

Columbia County

In the Name of God, Amen! I Guilford Alford, believing that I must shortly die, and having a desire to arrange the distribution of the substance a Kind Providence has blessed me with among my children, do make and ordain this my last will and testament in relation thereto.

Item 1st. I direct that all my just debts be paid.

Item 2nd. I give and bequeath unto my son James H. Alford, my negro man Harry (called Harry Briscoe), his wife Mariah and their three children Dick, Harry & John, also my four negro men Ned, Primus, Wiley, and Shop Harry, also a woman Caty and her two youngest children Ann and James, & I hereby confirm unto my said son the gift of two negroes Johnson and William heretofore made.

Item 3rd. I give and bequeath unto my daughter, Henrietta A. Wimberly, my three Negro boys Bob, Washington and Isaac (called young Isaac), also a woman named Lucy and a girl named Florinda, for the use of said daughter and her children, free from the disposition of her present or future husband. I also confirm unto the said daughter the gift of six negroes Joe and his wife Patience, and their four children, heretofore made.

Item 4th. I give and bequeath unto my daughter Mary Ann Barnett my negro woman Moll and her child Frank, a negro girl named Lavinia, and my negro man Aaron, for the use of said daughter and her children, free from the disposition of her present or any future husband. I also confirm unto the said daughter the gift of six negroes, a negro man Buck and a negro woman Amanda, and their four children heretofore made.

Item 5th. I give and bequeath unto my daughter Caroline Augusta Alford my negro woman Lucinda and her four children viz: Benjamin, Eliza, Allen and Mary, also negro woman Julia and her two children Jane and Dilsey, a negro girl named Selina, a negro man named Obe, and old Isaac, for the use of said daughter and the lawful issues of her body; should the said daughter marry, said bequeath property to free from the disposition of said or any future husband. And I hereby constitute and ordain my son James H. Alford Master for said property.

Item 6th. As it is my desire that all of my children shall share equal in my property, I direct that my Executor hereinafter named shall appoint three men as appraisers to value the property bequeathed to each of my children including the Negroes mentioned as before given to said children and upon a comparison of the expressed valuation of the present given to each, he, my Executor, shall make up the difference to such as may have received less than others, out of the residue of my estate hereinafter described.

Item 7th. I direct that my Executor hereinafter named shall dispose of the residue of my property (including the negroes not bequeathed) and all the real and personal property I may be possessed of at my death, using his own discretion, as to disposing of the negroes and lands at public or private sale. And the balance of my property, after the settlement of my debts, and necessary expenditures, and after carrying out the provisions contained in the preceding Item, I direct shall be equally divided among my four children.

Item 8th. I appoint and constitute my son James H. Alford Executor of this my last Will and testament.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 17th day of September 1856.

G. Alford

Signed, sealed and declared to be the last will and testament of Guilford Alford, in the presence of said testator and of each of us this 17th day of September 1856.

Joseph H. Stockton

Thomas S. Harrison

James S. Jones

Georgia

Columbia County

Personally came into open court Joseph H. Stockton and James S. Jones two of the subscribing witnesses to the within will & testament, who being duly sworn say that they saw the testator sign & seal the same, declaring it to be his last will & testament; that he was of sound mind & memory; that they signed the same at the request of & in the presence of the testator, & of each other, that Thomas S. Harrison also signed the same at the request of testator & in his presence & in the presence of affiants.

In Open Court Oct.7th 1856

N. Colvard or

J. H. Stockton

Jas. S. Jones

Recorded 17 Nov 1856.