Will of John Sandidge
In the name of God, Amen: I, John
Sandidge being of sound mind and memory but bearing in mind the
uncertainty of this life, do make publish and declare this my
last will and testament hereby revoking and annulling all other
wills whatsoever, which I have heretofore made and published. In the first place it is
my desire that all my just debts be paid by my Executors
hereafter named out of my money, I may leave, or such other part
of my estate as they may deem expedient. Item. It is my will
& desire that all the property real and personal of which I
may die seized and possessed after the payment of my debts and
other charges on my estate, shall be divided into ten equal parts
and disposed of as follows. I give and bequeath
to my friend, John Barrett and my son, Dabney Sandidge and the
survivor and the heirs of the survivor, one equal tenth of my
said estate in trust nevertheless, that the said John Barrett and
Dabney Sandidge and the survivor and the heirs of the survivor
shall dispose of rent hire and put to use and profit according to
their discretion the said tenth part of my estate, and apply the
profits and proceeds thereof to the sole separate use and benefit
of my daughter, Lucy Higgason and her children during the life of
the said Lucy's husband and after the death of her said husband
it is my will that the legal estate in and to the property hereby
devised to the said John Barrett and Dabney Sandidge in trust as
aforesaid shall be by them or the survivor or the heirs of the
survivor conveyed in absolute property to the said Lucy & her
heirs if she shall survive her husband and if not to her children
& their heirs forever--- I also give and
bequeath to my friend, John Barrett and my sons John W. Sandidge
and Meicajah C. Sandidge and the survivor or survivors and the
heirs of the survivors one equal tenth part of my estate, in
trust that the said John Barrett, John W. Sandidge and Micajah
Sandidge and the survivors or survivor and the heirs of the
survivor shall dispose of, rent hire and put to use and profit
according to their discretion the said tenth part of my estate,
and apply the proceeds and profits thereof to the sole and
separate use and benefit of my daughter Sarah Lasly and her
children, during the life of the said Sarah's husband, and after
the death of her said husband, it is my will that the said tenth
part of my estate hereby devised to the said John Barrett, John W.
Sandidge and Micajah C. Sandidge in trust as aforesaid shall be
by them the survivors or survivor as the heirs of the survivor
conveyed in absolute property to the said Sarah and her heirs if
she shall survive her said husband and if not, to her children
and their heirs forever. And I give and
devise the other eight equal tenth parts of my estate to my
children Ann Edwards, Pleasant Sandidge, Henrietta Golder,
Christopher Sandidge, Aaron B Sandidge, Dabney Sandidge, Meicajah
C. Sandidge and John W. Sandidge to each one tenth part. To
have and to hold to each of them and their heirs respectively
forever. Item. It is
my desire that if my estate can in the opinion of my Executors,
be divided in kind according to the provisions of this will
without inconvenience or disadvantage, then it is to be so
divided without the sale of land or slaves, but if in the opinion
of my executors it shall be for the interests and advantage of my
legatees that the property should be sold, then the whole of my
estate except the six slaves hereinafter named is to be sold on
such credit as my executors shall deem espedient, and the
proceeds be divided as aforesaid and paid to the legatees
respectively subject to all the trusts, limitations and
provisions hereinafter specified. Item: Whereas
six of my slaves, namely Cooper, and Dinah his wife, Joshua,
Sousy, Betty and Hannah have been long faithful servants to me
and are now somewhat advanced in years, it is my will and desire
that the said six slaves shall each of them have the privilege of
choosing Masters among my six sons and my son or sons to whom
said slaves or any of them shall fall by such choice and
selection shall receive such slave or slaves at valuation to be
fixed by appraisers appointed by the County Court, toward his or
their proportionate part of my estate but if such slave or slaves
shall be adjudged to be of no value, then the said appraisers are
to fix the sum requisite for the support and maintenance of each
slave so considered not valuable in which case my son or sons who
may be selected as Master or Masters of such slave or slaves as
may not be valuable, shall receive out of my estate the sum or
sums fixed as aforesaid for the support and maintenance of such
slave or slaves and it shall be the duty of my son or sons
receiving the said sum or sums fixed by the appraisers as
aforesaid and provided for the support and maintenance of such
slave or slaves respectively during life--- Item Having already
advanced to some of my children property and money to the amount
of $1096.88 for the purpose of avoiding the necessity of my
legatees bringing their advancement into hotchpot and the
perplexities that might thence result, I have made equal
advancement to all my children by executing to such of them as
had received less than the aforesaid sum in property and money,
my notes in writing for money and property sufficient to make up
the difference so that in making the equal distribution provided
for in this will no advancement made in my life time are to be
taken into view or regard, except that my Executors are to pay
and satisfy out of my estate the property and money mentioned in
any nnote in writing or due bill given by me as aforesaid which
may be left unsatisfied at my death. I do hereby
nominate, constitute and appoint my sons, Pleasant Sandidge,
Christopher Sandidge, and Aaron Burr Sandidge, Executors of this
my last will and testament. In testimony
whereof I have hereunto subscribed my hand and affixed my seal
this 25th day of February, 1827. Signed, sealed and
published in the presence of us.
His
John Sandidge (Seal)
Mark
(He was blind) Tut C. Tompkins Stephens Biggs Barthlomew Curry Henry Vanover Reuben Boston I, John Sandidge,
do declare and publish as an addition and codicil to my last will
and testament this day executed and published, that it is my will
and desire that forty yards of ground including the graves of my
wife and mother on the farm on which I now live shall be reserved
in making the division of my estate for the purpose of a burying
ground for my family and all the members thereof. In
writing, I have hereunto set my hand and seall this 25th day of
February, 1827
His
John / Sandidge (Seal)
Mark Witness: Stephen Biggs Bartholomew Curry Henry Vanover Reuben Boston C. Tompkins