I Henry Alford of the State & county aforesaid knowing that it is appointed unto all men
to die yet being uncertain when such an event may happen to me & being now of Sound and
disposing mind and memory do make and declare this my last will and testament hereby
revoking all former wills and testaments heretofore made by me.
Item 1st I give unto my son in law Levi D. Waller in trust the following property to wit.
Olly a negro woman and her child Squire and the future increase of the woman Olly (Should
there be any) for the Sole & Separate use of my daughter Alletha M. Waller wife of the
Said Levi D. for and during her natural life the Said property is in no event to be taken
for or on account of the debts or habitition of the Said Levi D. and at the death of the
Said Alletha M. I give the said negroes with their increase to all the children of my Said
daughter Alletha which may then be in life excepting her children by her first husband
David Melton.
Item 2nd I give and bequeath to my friend William B. Carter in trust for my granddaughter
Sarah Elizabeth Melton and her children (should she have any) a negro boy named Wiley &
Should my Said granddaughter die not having a child or children living then the Said negro
to go to my children & be equally distributed to & amongst them upon the terms limitations
& restrictions mentioned in the first item of this will & which will hereinafter be
repeated.
Item 3rd I give and bequeath unto my grandson John Henry Melton a negro boy named Mitchell
but Should my Said grandson die without having a child or children then the Said negro boy
Mitchell is to be distributed to and amongst my children upon the terms limitations H.
(?, &C) mentioned in the Second item hereof.
Item 4th I give and bequeath to my son-in-law George W. Waller in trust and upon the Same
limitations conditions & uses as are specified in the bequest to Levi D. Waller, Mitchell
a negro man and his wife Lucy to have and to hold the same for the Sole and separate use
of my daughter Alvira Ann Waller wife of the Said George W. during her natural life & at
her death to go to her Surviving children.
Item 5th I give and bequeath unto my daughter Avy A. Mezell and her children a negro girl
named Visey, a woman named Charlotte, a boy named Julius & a woman named Joney.
Item 6th I give unto my Son Henry William Alford all the land of which I am now possessed
the Same being Subject however to the payment of the debt I owe to Lacy Williams & with
which debt I charge the Said land & I also give and bequeath unto my Said Son a negro
woman named Tilsy & her child Sonya Jane, a boy named Jack & one named George also the
bedsteads, ______ ? & other furniture designated and Selected for him by his mother during
her life the same being known to my daughter Avy A. Mezell also a horse to be worth ninty
dollars & a Saddle & bridle, two cows and calves first choice out of my Stock, one Sow &
ten Shoats, the chest called Thomas chest & provisions for himself & negroes for one
year after the division of my property.
Item 7th I give in trust to William B. Carter for my daughter Mary Jane (& her children
Should She have any) the following negroes with their increase "to wit" Mary,
Martha, Charles, and Curry, & the bedstead & other furniture Selected for her by her
mother during her life the Same being known to my daughter Avy A. Mezell, two cows and
calves second choice out of my stock a horse worth ninety dollars, a Saddle and bridle
and the large chest & Should my Said daughter die without child or children then the
property given for her use to go to and--distributed to and amongst my children upon
the terms limitations & restrictions mentioned in the first item hereof.
Item 8th I give & bequeath to my daughter Almanda E. Wyche (?) & her children a negro
woman named Tilsy & her two children Isabella & Eder with their increase.
Item 9th It is my will that my negro woman Patience Should select her owner among my
children. I therefore give and bequeath her to whichever she may thus select & commend
her to their care and Kindness as she has been a faithful servant.
Item 10th I hereby appoint my friend Lacy Williams guardian of the person and property
of my son Henry William Alford.
Item 11th I hereby appoint my son in law Allen Mezell, guardian of my daughter Mary Jane.
Item 12th I direct that the whole of my estate be Kept together for one year after my
death unless I should die near the end or beginning of a year & in that event I direct
that the crop on hand made or being made be gathered under the superintendance of my
friend Lacy Williams whom I desire shall receive reasonable compensation therefor,
after such crop is made and gathered it is my will that all of my property not herein
specifically disposed be sold and the proceeds applied first to the payment of my debts
& the remainder if any to be divided equally between my children share and share alike
upon the terms limitations and restrictions already mentioned.
Lastly, I appoint my friends Nuridn (?) Kendrick & William B. Carter the executors of
this my last will and testament. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and
seal this the 26th day of January 1850.