AAFA Wills
WILL OF HENRY ALFORD

Georgia State Putnam County

In the name of God amen.

I Henry Alford of the State & county aforesaid knowing that it is appointed unto all men to die yet being uncertain when such an event may happen to me & being now of Sound and disposing mind and memory do make and declare this my last will and testament hereby revoking all former wills and testaments heretofore made by me.

Item 1st I give unto my son in law Levi D. Waller in trust the following property to wit. Olly a negro woman and her child Squire and the future increase of the woman Olly (Should there be any) for the Sole & Separate use of my daughter Alletha M. Waller wife of the Said Levi D. for and during her natural life the Said property is in no event to be taken for or on account of the debts or habitition of the Said Levi D. and at the death of the Said Alletha M. I give the said negroes with their increase to all the children of my Said daughter Alletha which may then be in life excepting her children by her first husband David Melton.

Item 2nd I give and bequeath to my friend William B. Carter in trust for my granddaughter Sarah Elizabeth Melton and her children (should she have any) a negro boy named Wiley & Should my Said granddaughter die not having a child or children living then the Said negro to go to my children & be equally distributed to & amongst them upon the terms limitations & restrictions mentioned in the first item of this will & which will hereinafter be repeated.

Item 3rd I give and bequeath unto my grandson John Henry Melton a negro boy named Mitchell but Should my Said grandson die without having a child or children then the Said negro boy Mitchell is to be distributed to and amongst my children upon the terms limitations H. (?, &C) mentioned in the Second item hereof.

Item 4th I give and bequeath to my son-in-law George W. Waller in trust and upon the Same limitations conditions & uses as are specified in the bequest to Levi D. Waller, Mitchell a negro man and his wife Lucy to have and to hold the same for the Sole and separate use of my daughter Alvira Ann Waller wife of the Said George W. during her natural life & at her death to go to her Surviving children.

Item 5th I give and bequeath unto my daughter Avy A. Mezell and her children a negro girl named Visey, a woman named Charlotte, a boy named Julius & a woman named Joney.

Item 6th I give unto my Son Henry William Alford all the land of which I am now possessed the Same being Subject however to the payment of the debt I owe to Lacy Williams & with which debt I charge the Said land & I also give and bequeath unto my Said Son a negro woman named Tilsy & her child Sonya Jane, a boy named Jack & one named George also the bedsteads, ______ ? & other furniture designated and Selected for him by his mother during her life the same being known to my daughter Avy A. Mezell also a horse to be worth ninty dollars & a Saddle & bridle, two cows and calves first choice out of my Stock, one Sow & ten Shoats, the chest called Thomas’ chest & provisions for himself & negroes for one year after the division of my property.

Item 7th I give in trust to William B. Carter for my daughter Mary Jane (& her children Should She have any) the following negroes with their increase "to wit" Mary, Martha, Charles, and Curry, & the bedstead & other furniture Selected for her by her mother during her life the Same being known to my daughter Avy A. Mezell, two cows and calves second choice out of my stock a horse worth ninety dollars, a Saddle and bridle and the large chest & Should my Said daughter die without child or children then the property given for her use to go to and--distributed to and amongst my children upon the terms limitations & restrictions mentioned in the first item hereof.

Item 8th I give & bequeath to my daughter Almanda E. Wyche (?) & her children a negro woman named Tilsy & her two children Isabella & Eder with their increase.

Item 9th It is my will that my negro woman Patience Should select her owner among my children. I therefore give and bequeath her to whichever she may thus select & commend her to their care and Kindness as she has been a faithful servant.

Item 10th I hereby appoint my friend Lacy Williams guardian of the person and property of my son Henry William Alford.

Item 11th I hereby appoint my son in law Allen Mezell, guardian of my daughter Mary Jane.

Item 12th I direct that the whole of my estate be Kept together for one year after my death unless I should die near the end or beginning of a year & in that event I direct that the crop on hand made or being made be gathered under the superintendance of my friend Lacy Williams whom I desire shall receive reasonable compensation therefor, after such crop is made and gathered it is my will that all of my property not herein specifically disposed be sold and the proceeds applied first to the payment of my debts & the remainder if any to be divided equally between my children share and share alike upon the terms limitations and restrictions already mentioned.

Lastly, I appoint my friends Nuridn (?) Kendrick & William B. Carter the executors of this my last will and testament. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this the 26th day of January 1850.

Henry Alford (Seal)

Test Thomas Rocpess (?) William Garrard Isaac R. Waller