GERMANY Family: John Germany Wills & Estate Papers
John wrote two wills. The earliest will is included in John Germany's estate file in the file of unbound estate papers in the Georgia Archives. The second will was recorded in will book H (1803-1821) in 1814 after he died. For some reason, the will was transcribed twice, once beginning on page 299 of will book H and a second time beginning on page 304 of the same book. The early will in the estate file bears John's original signature, while those in will book H are transcriptions.
1st Will of John Germany
In the name of God Amen. I John Germany of the County of Columbia and State of Georgia being now in an advanced age but through the goodness of God in good health and of sound and disposing mind and memory, Do make and declare this my last will and Testament. I recommend my soul to my merciful God and Labour in hopes of a blessed and happy immortality and my Body to the dust from whence it was taken to be buried in a decent Christian Burial. Of the Lands and other worldly estate with which it has pleased God to bless me I make the following Disposition. Imprimis I give to my oldest son William a negro fellow named James. Item, I give to my son John a negro lad named Absalom. Item, I give to my son Joseph a negro wench named Bett[.] ^Item, I give to my son James a negro boy named Joe[.]^ Item. I give to my son Robert a negro man named Larry[.] Item, I give to my son Samuel a negro Boy named Aaron. Item, I give to my son Washington a negro fellow named Gloster. Item, I give to my Daughter Mary Miller a negro wench named Nancy. Item, I give to my Daughter Ellender a negro girl named Sally. Item I give to my youngest son Benjamin a negro wench named Judah, also my large gold ring. As my Daughter Sarah Garnett has already received a mollato [sic] man named Bob, I give her out of the proceeds of my estate herein directed to be sold money sufficienty in the judgement of my Executors to buy herself a mourning suit. To my Dear and beloved wife Elisabeth I give and bequeath for and during her natural life, a negro man named Sam, also a negro wench named Phillis, also a molatto [sic] boy named Billy {marked out: also a negro Boy named Joe,} also a negro girl named Moll: but it is my will that after her decease my Executors shall make such a distribution of the said negroes, left to her as just mentioned ^together with their increase^ among my children before named, so as to make up for any losses or deficiencies which may have happed to what I have herein left to each of hem before that time, and the residue be divided equally among them, for it is my will to make the value of what I herein leave to each of my said children, at that time as nearly equal as possible.
It is also my will that after her decease, my Executors sell my land and stock, and other moveable estate, the proceeds of which after paying my just debts, and other expenses hereby incurred be equally divided among my children before named. And I hereby appoint and request my much respected friend James ____ & Chandler Norman and my son Robert to be Executors of this my last will and Testament.
Signed sealed and declared to be the Testator[‘]s last will and Testament this fourth day of May one thousand eight hundred & one before us who subscribe our names in the presence of the Testator and of each other this fourth day of May 1801.
John Germany
Abr Baldwin
Jeremiah Lamkin Jun
______ Lamkin
source: John Germany (1814) estate, Georgia Archives TRIM: RCB54901, RG-SG series 136-2-1, Box 7/1903-10 (Columbia County Probate Court - unbound estate records)
Link to copy of the original wills and estate papers
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