Transcription of the will of Thomas Cooper provided by descendant Janet (Baugh) Hunter. The Will of Thomas Cooper Georgia, Hancock County. In the name of God, Amen! I Thomas Cooper of Green County and State of Georgia being in perfect health and sound mind calling to mind the mortality of the body do make and constitute this my last will and testament. First, - I give my soul to god who gave it to me, and my body to the grave to be decently buried in hopes of a resurection to eternal life through the merits of Jesus Christ. I give to my loving wife Sarah Cooper one negro woman named Winney, one horse and saddle, one feather bed and furniture and two cows and calves to her and her heirs forever. I lend to my during her life two negroes named George and Hannah. I lend by wife one other negro named Judah until my youngest daughter comes of age or marries. I lend to my wife during her widowhood, the trace of land whereon I now live together with the mill thereon and it is also my will that by the consent of my wife my executors shall dispose of the land whose title shall be valid and with the money purchase a tract of land northerly where I wish my wife and family to remove to and further it is my will that after my wifes decease or marriage the above willed land shall be sold and equally divided between all my surviving daughters. I give to my daughter Elizabeth, two negroes Rachel and Charles. I give to my son Joseph, two negroes Milly and her youngest child together with a tract of land lying on Logden Creek, containing two hundred and seventy acres. I give to my daughter Agnes, two negroes Vinney and Toney. I give to my son Thomas one negro named Will, one feather bed and furniture, two cows and calves together with my upper tract of land on Logdam Creek containing two hundred and seventy acres. I give to my daughter Polly, two negroes Boland and Davy. I give to my daughter Penelope four negroes, Jim, Biddy, Thency and Benn, one feather bed and furniture, one horse and saddle and two cows and calves. I give to my son John, one negro named Sam, one horse and saddle one bed and furniture, two cows and calves. I give to my son Micajah, one negro named Nelly, one horse and saddle, one feather bed and furniture and two cows and calves. I give to my daughter Sarah, four negroes, Theny Frank and John, when she marries or comes of age and after my wifes death or marriage a negro named Judah. I give to my two sons John and Micajah my two bounties of land on Sand Run to be equally divided by my executors, having respect to quality and quantity, and it is further my will that my mill Logan Creek together with a lot of land containing 30 to 35 acres be sold to the best advantage, ten pounds of which money I give my son Joseph and ten pounds to my son Thomas, the balance to be equally divided between my two sons John and Micajah and it is further my will that all my just debts be paid and all my estate not herein bequeathed shall be at the disposal of my executors to purchase a tract of land and make the improvements etc for my wife and family should she choose to move Northwardly and it is further my will that after the decease or marriage of my wife, the property purchased with my estate shall be equally divided among all my children. I do constitute and appoint as my executors, Thomas Stoval, John Dillard, Joseph Cooper, Jr., Thomas Cooper, Jr., George Hamilton and Henry Graybill for this my will and testiment, making all former wills void. Witness my hand this twentieth day of August, seventeen hundred and ninety-three. Thomas Cooper Witness. B. Anthony, Josiah Carter, Joseph Cooper State of Georgia, Hancock County. Probated 13 Feb 1796 by the oath of Josiah Carter and Joseph Cooper, Sr., two of the subscribing witnesses. Joseph Cooper, Jr. And Thomas Cooper Jr. Qualified as executors. Estate of Thomas Cooper Sr., of Hancock County, Georgia The following records establish the fact that Sarah Cooper, daughter of Thomas Cooper, Sr., married Thomas Lancaster of Georgia. Thomas Cooper, Sr., having come to Greene Co., Ga., from Virginia, just after the Revolution, found himself a citizen of Hancock County, when his lands were cut off in that county in 1793. The will of Thomas Cooper was signed Aug. 20, 1793 in Greene Co., proved in Hancock County Feb. 15, 1796. In the will, Thomas Cooper bequeaths to his daughter Sarah, three slaves when she marries and after his wifes death another negro named Judah. Records of executors returns on this estate supply the evidence that Sarah married Thomas Lancaster. Thomas Cooper, Sr., deceased Joseph Cooper and Thomas Cooper, executors. An account registered of the receipts of Legatees and others of said estate by Joseph and Thomas Cooper, executors, Jan. 10, 1798 1. Jas.Nesbit, recp't for property willed to him by Thomas Cooper, Sr., dec'd. 2. George Hamilton's rec'pt for the property willed to him by said deceased. 3. John Weeks recp't for the property willed to him by said deceased. 4. Thomas Lancaster's recp't for fifty dollars as part of a legacy bequeathed by said deceased. 5. Thomas Lancaster's recp't fo four negroes willed to him by the said deceased. (Remark: Thomas (wife Sarah) was not to receive the fourth negro until the death of wife of decedent according to the will. A married daughter could not receive her share, but her husband. (Ga. Law)) 6. George Hamitlon's recp't for fourteen dollars part of his legacy. 7. John Cooper's receipt for fourteen dollars part of his legacy. 8. James Cooper's receipt for fourteen dollars as part of his legacy. 9. Thomas Lancaster's receipt for fourteen dollars as part of his legacy. 10. John Weeks receipt for fourteen dollars as part of his legacy. 11. Joseph Coopers Ditto Ditto 12. James Coopers receipt for $tp as part of his legacy. 13. John Cooper's receipt for 1 negro named Sam, cream colored mare at $43.00, cow and calf, furniture, etc. as part of his legacy Record Book A A page 40 Vounhers registered by the Estate of Thomas Cooper dec'd - the 7th of Jan'y, 1799 James Nesbits receipt for %50, being a Legatee..........$50.00 H. Holt recpt for tax, 1797 6.201/4 Joseph Cooper, guardian for Micajah Cooper (minor) recp't for 1 negro womand child being part of the property willed to him by Thos.Cooper dec'd. Jos. Coopers recp't as above................... 131.00 Augustine Thomas, and Joseph Stovall attorneys for John Waller, recp't for fourteen dollars..............14.00 Ellet Woods proven acct. for half (?) illegible - Pound sign l - 8s -8d and 3s sterling 5.39 One Letter of Attorney to Joseph Stovall and Augustine Thomas of Virginia to Collect the legacy of John Waller, a Legatee of the Estate of Thomas Cooper, dec'd lodged in my office by the executors of said Estate Jan. 7, 1799 Martin Martin's recp't for costs Wm. Lawson against Thos. Cooper, Ex 77.25 Nov. 1801 J. C. Waltons recp't for fees in the above suit 4.00 Henry Graybill (atty) receipt 2.50 Micajah Coopers receipts for attendance as witness 2.85 S. Abercrombies receipt for tax 12.1/2 From these records, together with the numerous charts found in Virginia historical Magazines of Thomas and family, and the deed in Hancock County attached thereto, the fact that Sarah Cooper married Thomas Lancaster is established. Record Book A A, page 41. Hancock County , GA. Thomas Cooper, Executor of the Estate of Thomas Cooper, dec'd. Received of Moses Going, for the said estate, Oct. 15, 1801 $132.39 « An account of moneys paid out of estate of Thomas Cooper, dec'd: Thomas Lancaster Receipt $27.00 George Hamiltons ditto 27.00 James Nesbits ditto 27.00 John Weeks ditto 27.00 Micajah Coopers ditto 27.00 Joseph Coopers ditto 27.00 John Coopers ditto 27.00 John Matthews ditto 8.00 Myles Greens ditto 1.75 Andrew Baxters note 19.36 Further notes from the DAR application: Thomas A. Lancaster was born April 27, 1812 Thomas A. Lancaster died about 1890 or '91 at Hondo, Texas Thomas a. Lancaster and Harrit Franklen were married November6, 1832. Harriet Franklin Lancaster died about 1871 at Nixon, Texas Joseph Thomas Lancaster (son of Thomas A. Lancaster and wife Harriet Franklen Lancaster) was born October 27, 1836 Joseph Thomas Lancaster and Artemessa Jane Smith were married January 11, 1860. Joseph Thomas Lancaster died November 3, 1977, at New Castle, Texas. TO WHOM it MAY CONCERN: I, Mrs Mary Letitita Lancaster Williams, of the City of Beaumont, Texas, do certify that the foregoing records are a true and faithful copy of the records as given in the Family Records now in my possession. Witness my hand this 20th day of November 1941 Followed by signatures of Mary and witness Maxine Hebert. In Beaumont, Jefferson Co TX.