Will of Anderson Franklin Cato
of Washington Co. AL - 1844
Know all men by these present that I Anderson F. Cato of the County of Washington and the State of Alabama being of sound mind but feeble body and trusting in the inscrutable ways of an all wise providence do make and declare this my last Will and Testament and hereby revoking all others.
In the first place I constitute and appoint my beloved wife Joyce E. Cato the sole administratrix of my estate hereby requesting and empowering her to sell and dispose of all my goods and chattles together with all land rights and hereditament that I may seized and possessed of on the east side of the Tombigbee river in the County of Clarke and State of Alabama at such times and places as she may deem best and further request of my administratrix my beloved wife Joyce that all my just debts may be paid as soon as may be for the interest of all concerned, and I more over request that a certain negro girl a slave belonging to me named ADELINE born on the eighteenth of September in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty two may be sent to the State of Connecticut there to be freed and that an honest and trusty agent be there appointed as her guardian and that the sum of six hundred dollars be paid over to him for her use and maintenance and education. With regard to my land on the west side of the Tombigbee river in the County of Washington. I give and bequeath to my beloved wife Joyce for and during her natural life, and regard to my negroes with the exception of the girl Adeline heretofore mentioned it is my will that they be equally divided between my wife Joyce and my children - the children to receive their parts when they become of age or marry; but it is my request that a certain negro man named Dennis be sold and appropriated to the use and benefit of my estate and in addition it is my will and request that a certain negro man named Jacob be never divided amongst my children but belong wholly and solely to my wife Joyce and when he arrives at an age when he is unable to labor that he may be supported and provided for as a faithful servant. In testimony where of I have signed this my last Will and Testament on this the twentieth day od September in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty-four.
Signed in the presence of
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S. G. Stone Anderson F, Cato X SEAL X
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Geo Lister
P. L. Lister
The State of Alabama ) Orphans Court
)
Washington County ) October 31st 1844
Personally came into open court Sardine G. Stone a subscribing witness to the Will of Anderson F Cato late of said County deceased who being first duly sworn upon his oath saith that the instrument as his last Will and Testament in his presence and the presence of the other subscribing witnesses and this deponent - further saith that testator was of sound mind and disposing memory at the time of subscribing the same.
Sworn in open court - October 31st 1844
Attest H J Y Moss Clk
Recorded October 31st 1844
Attest H J Y Moss Regr.
Washington County Alabama Wills 17th July 1827 --- 12th August 1889 pg. 133-134
Original Book Pages 111-112
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