Last Will and Testament of Meret Etheridge

Georgia Wilkinson County }
         In the name of God, Amen, I, Meret Etheridge, being now in a low state of health, and knowing that I cannot agreeable to nature have long to remain in this world, and feeling desirous to make a distribution of what property God has blessed me with, and being of Sound mind and memory, I make this my last will and testament, renounceing all others.
     ITEM 1st.  After my deceased, I wish my body to be Interred in a decent manner, my Soul I give to that God who gave it.
     ITEM 2.  In the first place it is my will and desire that my Executors re-pay all my Just debts.
     ITEM 3.  I give and bequeath to my beloved wife Hopey Ethridge, one lot of land whereon I now live, being part of lot no. 144 one hundred & forty four and no. 145 one hundred & forty five, containing Two hundred acres, more or less, during her natural life, after her death to go to and become the property of my Sons, Joseph Ethridge (married Fannie Branan), and Harris Ethridge (married Elizabeth Branan).  I also give and bequeath to my beloved wife, Hopey Ethridge, one Negro
man named Parker, one Gray horse, two cows & calves, ten head Stock hogs together with all my household and Kitchen furniture except what is hereinafter named, during her natural life, then to be Sold and equally divided between my daughters, namely Tabitha Hooks (married Archibald Hooks), Demarius Wheeler, (married John Wheeler), Nancy Fleetwood (married LeRoy Fleetwood), Rebeckah Jones (married Francis M. Jones) and Amelia Ethridge, (married George W. Tarpley.)
     ITEM 4.   I give and bequeath unto my Grand children, the heirs of Son William Ethridge, (married Nicey Underwood), all the demands I hold against him, the Said William Ethridge.
     ITEM 5.  I give and bequeath unto my Daughter Tabitha Hooks, all the demands I hold against her Husband, Archabald Hooks.
     Item 6.     I give and bequeath unto my Daughter, Demarius Wheeler, one bed and furniture, one cow & calf and five Dollars in cash.
     ITEM 7.     I give and bequeath unto my Grand children, children of my Son, Wiley Ethridge (married Nancy Peacock), one tract of land whereon Wiley Ethridge now lives, called the Jackson Tract, containing One Hundred and Ten acres and Rifle Gun to be equally divided between them when the youngest becomes of age and to remain in his possession until then.
     ITEM 8     I give and bequeath to my Sons, Joseph Ethridge and Harris Ethridge, my Gin and running Gear and Packing Screw.
     ITEM 9.    I give and bequeath unto my Rebeckah Jones one feather Bed & furniture and one cow and calf.
     ITEM 10.    I give and bequeath  unto my Daughter, Amelia Ethridge, one bed and furniture, one cow & calf and one loom.
     ITEM 11.    I give and bequeath unto my Daughters, Tabitha Hooks, Demarius Wheeler, Nancy Fleetwood, Rebeckah Jones and Amelia Ethridge, one tract of land, Known as lot no. 130- one hundred and Thirty and Sixteenth district in Dooley County to be Sold and equally divided among them.
     ITEM  12.     The balance of my property not mentioned in this will I wish my Executor to Sell, pay all my just debts.  The balance, if any, to be equally divided between all my children.
     ITEM 13.       I hereby nominate and appoint to this my last will & Testament, my Two Sons, Joseph Ethridge and Harris Ethridge, to be my Executors. Signed, Sealed and delivered before us, this 10th day of March 1849.  Read, Signed, Sealed and delivered in presence of us. (signed) Samuel Beall, William Mackey & Edmond Hancock, Witnesses.
Saml. Beall                  }   Meret Ethridge Sr.
William X Mackey (his mark)  }
Edmond X Hancock (his mark)}
Robert Ethridge      }
 

Recorded in Estate Accounts of Wilkinson County 1838-1850, page 607-608.

This copy of  Meret Etheridge's will is on Page 95-96 of a book on microfilm  titled " Wills and Cemeteries of Wilkinson County, Georgia  1817-1920.  By Jas. M. Maddox.
Author’s Note: This Meret Etheridge is said to be the son of Isaac Etheridge.  Information  not supported here.
 

Page 609.

Wilkinson Court of Ordinary May Term 1849 }
             }  Personally appeared in open Court, William Mackey, Edmond Hancock and Robert Ethridge who being Sworn Say that they Saw Meret Ethridge in his life time Sign, Seal and deliver the forgoing two pages of writing as his last Will and Testament and for the purpose therein concerned and that they Subscribed the Same as witnesses at his request.
       William X Mackey (his mark)
       Edmond Hancock (his mark)
       Robert Ethridge

The foregoing having been proven properly as the last will and Testament of Meret Ethridge deceased.  It is ordered that the Same be admitted to record in terms of the law.
Test.       Saml. Beall
E.J. Gilbert Clk.     G.B. Burny
       James C. Bower
 

Wilkinson  County, GA. Ordinary Court Minutes, microfilm pg. 77

Voucher 5 Recd of Harris & Joseph S. Ethridge, Admrs of Merit Ethridge, Decd., Sixteen and 17/100 Dols. With the will annexed for my part in full of the crop for the year 1857.   Leroy Fleetwood

Voucher 6 Recd of Harris & Joseph S. Ethridge, Admrs of Merit Ethridge, Decd., Sixteen and 17/100 Dols. With the will annexed in full of my part of the crop for the year 1857.   F.M. Johns

Submitted by Keith Stevens