Transcription of the will and inventory of John Henry Starr (1812- 1875) located page 180-184, Spalding County, GA by Linda Sparks Starr of Norman, OK from copies obtained from microfilm located in GA Dept. Archives and History, Atlanta. Last Will & testament of John H. Starr State of Georgia This the 13th day of May Spalding County the year of Our Lord 1875 In the name of God amen. I John H. Starr make this my last will & testament revoking all others whatsoever Item 1st I devise & direct that all my just debts be payed. Item 2nd I will and bequeast for the natural love and affection of Ellen A. Starr my wife my Home place including the fol- lowing beginning at the corner between me and Mrs. Lucinda Chatfields Dower then North on the original line to the south East Corner of the Old field next to the creek then west with the old field to the top of the Hill then south to the House well through my dwelling by the west partition of the same thus along the road south to the line between us and said Chatfields the East to the beginning corner also my young Horse and Buggy one ox cart and Sheep Two Beds Bedsteads and Bed clothing for these the Bureaus in my room and Dining Table and crockery ware as we have and cooking stove one fourth of my stock hogs Two cows & calves also Sixty Bushels of corn and one thousand lbs of Fodder. I reserve the two small dwelling Houses in the north east cor- ner of my yard and the old smoke House and small corn crib to be removed off this to her during her natural life and my heirs in turn. [page 181] John H. Starr Will Continues Item 3rd I will and bequeast for the natural love and affection to my young daughter Rachel Rebeca Starr the west half of my home place beginning on the road in front of my house run- ning west between me and said Chatfields and Stopping twenty five Rods East of H. P. Ogletrees line then running north to a Pine clay root on the public road then directly on the north down the branch then through the field still north to a ledge of blue rock on the edge of big gully then down said gully to the branch thus down the branch to the corner of the woods then east to the top of the Hill thus along the south line to the well and House Item 4th I will and bequeast to my younger Sons to wit James William Starr, Joseph Ten Starr & Elijah Eleven Starr the tract of land on the road beginning at the pine clay root running south to Mrs. Lucinda Chatfields then running west to H. P. Ogletrees fence then north to the road then west to the rock corner then with the road to the creek then with the old original land line East to the big ditch then up said ditch south to the corner of the big woods then with the line south up to the Pine root in ___?___. then also to James William Starr my colt one cow and calf to Joseph Ten Starr and Elijah Eleven Starr my young mare bay One heifer Each one Bedstead and clothing for it for said these sons also one fourth of my stock hogs for theirs also fifty Bushels of corn and one thousand lbs of Fodder for the benefit of the hens also my plantation tools for my wife and her three sons by her. Item 5th I will that the forgoing property shall remain here with my wife and her children until the said four children become of age and if they make any thing over a Support it shall be divided between them as follows Ellen A. Starr to have Five dollars, James William Starr Four dollars Joseph Ten Starr Two dollars Elijah Eleven Starr Two dollars and Rachal Rebecca Starr One dollar Item 6th I will and bequeast for the natural love & affection to Rosetha Louise Starr my daughter One hundred acres of land it being the East half of lot No. one hundred and Eighty one also my mare Gucew one cow & calf one fourth of my stock hogs, one Bureau, one Bedstead and clothing one folding Table Twenty five Bushels of corn five hundred lbs of Fod- der. These to have during her natural life and heirs of her body the land in the Fourth District in Fayette County. Item 7th I will and bequeast for the natural love and affection Asa Floyd Starr my son Two hundred & Sixty six [page 182] John H. Starr Will Continued Item 7th acres of land lots no. Thirty six & thirty seven Second Dist Pike County also one mule worth Seventy five or Eighty dollars Item 8th I will and bequeast for the natural love & affection to Hilliard Blanton Starr my son the Sum of Five dollars Item 9th I will & bequeast for the natural love & affection to John Pike Starr my son Fifty acres of land more or less joining Lemeul McMillor and William Griffin lying in Spald- ing County also nine hundred dollars in currency Item 10th I will and bequeast for the natural love and affection to Silas Samuel Starr my son ninety acres of land more or less of No. Twenty one Third dist of Henry now Spalding County bounded as follows commencing at the gate post at the road then running north with the original line to the corner at Dupna then the original line to the big branch ditch then south up the ditch two rods then west so as to stricke the fince to the gate then south with the original land line un till you come to the road then East along the road to the gate post also the Gin Packing saw mill and whatsoever belongs to the Gin Item 11th I will and bequeast for the natural love and affection for Henry Clay Starr my son and my daughter Charlotte Ann Carter one Hundred & Seventy five acres of land also to my daughter Charlotte Ann Carter Side Board in my large room Item 12th I will bequeast for the natural love and affection for my daughter Mary E. Mathews nine hundred dollars in Currency Item 13th I will and bequeast for the natural love and affection for Nancy E. Miller [TB says "Mathews" but The Sun agrees with will] daughter the land whereon she now resides during her natural life and then to the heirs of her body Item 14 I will and bequeast for the natural love and affection to Martha Elizabeth Manley my daughter the East half of lot No. One hundred twenty six Excepting two or three acres in the north East corner of said lot the place where E. D. Con- ley now lives during her natural life and then to the heirs of her body Item 15th I will and bequeast for the natural love & affection to my Grand Children namely Lidy Penelopy Starr, Jesse H. Starr, Nora Starr and (Bennie) Starr all that Tract or par- cel of land lying between and joining Joshua H. Starr Ogletrees and Elders and a promisory note of two hundred & Eleven dollars on Martha Hicks deceased for purchase money for the [page 183 ] John H. Starr Will Continued land where they now reside and notes and accounts which I hold against the Estate of Benjamin Hartwell Starr Dec'd and plank and nails for the place where they now live. Item 15th I will and bequeast for the natural love and affection of Joshua Howard Starr and David Elder Starr my sons One hundred and ninety acres of land more or less it being on creek north of my home place being a part of lots Twelve Thirteen Twenty and Twenty one for them to divide at will. David Elder Starr's interest being Fourteen hundred dollars, Joshua Howard Starr's Twelve hundred dollars Item 16th I will and bequeast that all other property not here in mentioned and notes and accounts and cash on hand shall be sold and collected and the proceeds thereof be used to settle with the legatees Item 17th I wish further that if my Estate should fail to settle with my Twelve elder living children as herein provided that all equal deduction be made from each item of theirs and farther if an overplus be on hand an equal division to be made act___ the twelve living children Item 18th I will that Joshua Howard Starr David Elder Starr and Silas Samuel Starr be the guardians for the minor children of my estate Item 19th I will that my Executors sell the property of my es- tate privately or publicly such as I have not willed in this or for cash as they may see best a majority of the Executors shall rule in all cases concerning the estate Item 20 I will that Joshua Howard Starr, David Elder Starr and Silas Samuel Starr be and is hereby appointed my lawful Ex- ecutors of this my last will and testament Item 21 I will and bequeast for the natural love and affection to my Sons Joshua Howard Starr David Elder Starr and Silas Samuel Starr One hundred acres of land more or less lot No one hundred and Eighty one (181) lying in fourth district Fayette County also one Bay Horse named Bronza also one Cow & yearling one sow and four shoats one Bedstead, Bed and all proportioned bedcloths John H. Starr seal Attest Samuel E. Elder John H. Elder Robert B. Andrew (Continued next page) [page 184 ] John H. Starr Will Continued Spalding Court of Ordinary November Term 1875 The last will and testament of John H. Starr late of said county deceased having been produced in open court for probate by Joshua H. Starr, David E. Starr and Silas S. Starr the nominated Ex ecutors who have filed their petition to prove the same in common form and Samuel E. Elder, John H. Elder and Robert B. Andrews the three witnesses to said will having come into Open Court Each of whom being duly sworn says that they saw John Henry Starr sign seal publish and declare the within Will as his last will and tes- tament while of sound and disposing mind and memory and that they witnessed said will for him at his request and in his presence and in the presence of Each other and that the same was executed voluntarily and freely upon the day it purports to have been done. Sworn to & subscribed before me in Open Court the 1st of November 1875 F. D. Diswake Samuel E. Elder Ordinary John H. Elder Robert B. Andrews Georgia We Joshua H. Starr, David E. Starr and Spalding County Silas S. Starr of said county do solemn- ly swear that the annexed and foregoing Eight pages of Cap paper contains the true last will and testa ment of the within named John H. Starr deceased so far as we know or believe and that we will well and truly execute the same by paying first the debts and then the legacies contained in said will as far as the law charges us and his goods and chattels Land and tenements will therewith Extend and that we will make a true and perfect inventory of all such goods and chattles so help us God Sworn to & subscribed before me in Open Court This 1st day of November 1875 Fred D. Diswake Joshua H. Starr Ordinary David E. Starr Silas S. Starr Recorded November 8th, 1875 J. G. Bloodworth C CL [Inventory located on oversized pages 56, 57, 58, for Spalding County GA, Will Book ___] [page 56] Inventory of the Estate of J. H. Starr 1 note on R. A. Murphy Due Dec 1869 522.55 Credit Dec 1872 150.00 " Jauary 1874 69.00 " " 1871 105.00 " " 1875 25.75 2 crop Liens on J. F. Gray, H. M. Gray, J. W. Griffin & J. H. Starr Due Oct 1874 400.00 1 crop Lien on J. F. Gray, H. M. Gray and J. H. Starr Due Nov 1874 200.00 1 a/c on York Drewry for 1875 24.17 1 " " Henry Starr " " 14.88 1 " " Thomas Grisson " " 13.63 1 " " Roda Grisson " " 10.78 1 " " Joseph Drewry " " 28.68 Credit on Joseph Drewry a/c $4.00 1 a/c on John H. Atkinson for 1875 18.85 1 " " C. D. Johns " " 63.64 2 wheel Barrows 3.90 1 weaving Loom 1.00 141 lbs nails 7.70 1 mouse colored mule 70.00 1 corn shelor 4.00 We certify we have been duly sworn and that the foregoing is a just and true appraisement of the articles as presented to us by the executors. R. B. Andrews A. Ogletree J. H. Elder B. N. Miller 11 Bee Hives 15.00 1 40 Gallon Kettle 5.00 1 80 " " 10.00 1 Syrup mill 5.00 1 Center Table 2.00 1 Bedstead 1.00 1 ?rass Hook 1.00 The following is a list of the notes and a/c the appraisers cant say what they are worth 1 note on J. P. Starr Due Dec 1874 400.00 1 " " R. J. Mable Due Dec 1873 120.00 Credit Dec 1874 65.00 " Feb 1875 21.75 [page 57] Inventory of J. H. Starr's Est Continued 1 note on W. H. M. Gay Due Dec 1873 90.85 1 " on H. C. Starr Due May 1871 251.00 Credit May 1873 $150.00 1 note on D. E. Starr Due June 1872 200.00 1 " " Joseph Drewry " Oct 1873 92.00 credit Feb 1874 $30.95 1 note on M. G. Ridgedell Due Nov 1873 38.00 1 " " Seaso Fortson Due Dec 1873 50.00 1 " " J. R. Manly Due Dec 1875 10.00 1 " " J. H. Carley Due Dec 1872 21.85 1 " " C. Strickland & J. H. Starr cerity Due Dec 174 50.00 1 " " E. D. Cosley Due Dec 1873 115.00 4 " " R. J. Mable Due Dec 1875 Each 50.00 1 " " W. A. Canley & J. H. Starr Due Oct 1874 40.00 credit November 1874 $25.00 Inventory of Perishable Property of John H. Starr deceased as ap praised November 2nd, 1875 1 Dun Cow 12.00 1 " Heifer 10.00 1 Bell Cow & Yearling 15.00 1 speckle Bull 10.00 1 Dunn milly Heifer 6.00 1 Red " " 5.00 3 yearlings horned 10.00 1 yoke of oxen 50.00 1 ox waggon 25.00 1 Lot of " axles, wheels &C 5.00 1 Two Horse wagon without body 10.00 1 Set Blacksmith Tools 20.00 1 Black horse mule 75.00 1 old " " 30.00 1 Bay mare " 50.00 1 " 25.00 1 saddle 6.00 50 Bus corn more or less per bus 65 cts 32.50 1000 lbs Fodder $1.00 per hundred 10.00 195 cotten seed 12 1/2 pr Bus 15.621/2 15 Bush wheat 1.25 per bus 18.75 State of Georgia You, R. B. Andrews, John H. Elder, A. Ogle- Spalding County tree and B. N. Miller do swear that you will make a just and true appraisement [page 58] Inventory and appraisement of Estate of all and singular the goods chattels of John H. Starr deceased as shall be produced by Joshua H. Starr, David E. Starr and Silas S. Starr the Executors of the Estate of the said John H. Starr deceased and that you will return the same certified under your hand unto the said Joshua H. Starr, David E. Starr and Silas S. Starr executor within the time prescribed by law. R. B. Andrews J. H. Elder A. Ogletree B. N. Miller Sworn to and subscribed before me This Nov 2nd 1875 Joshua H. Starr J. P.