Abraham Womack Will, Hancock County Georgia

This will is also abstracted here: http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/w/o/m/Glenn-D-Womack-KY/FILE/0006page.html

See also, Ann McDonald's site: http://womackhunter.homestead.com/

I have photocopies of the will from GA State Archives.

Note that Abraham Womack does not mention all his children in his will. In particular, he does not mention some of his daughters from his first marriage to Martha Mitchell. He does mention all his children by second wife Martha Watkins, as well as all sons by his first wife, and daughters Susannah Glenn (wife of Clement Glenn), and Mary Coleman (wife of Francis Coleman) by his first wife.

Apparently, Abraham knew he was dying and disposed of much of his property before he wrote his will.

Hancock Co, GA Deed Book B, p.475 - 25 May 1797, Abraham and Martha Womack sold 75 acres to Francis Coleman

Hancock Co, GA Deed Book B, p.545, 6 Apr 1796, Abraham Womack to Mansel Womack for love and affection, negro girl Winney, witnesses Stephen Lawrence and David Womack.

Hancock Co, GA Deed Book B, p.546, no date but immediately after deed above, Abraham Womack for love and affection to daughter Lucretia Howard - Jiny and her children Jon and Harry; to daughter Cissley McFarland - Sell and her children Lucy, Chany and Jim; to daughter Nancy Stone - Phillis; witnesses Stephen Lawrence and David Womack.

Cissley McFarland and Nancy Stone are not mentioned in Abraham's will, but their husbands, James H McFarland and William Stone, are mentioned. Lucretia Howard is not mentioned, but her daughter, Martha "Patsey" Howard, is. I am quite sure Lucretia's husband was Hiram Howard. Hiram Howard witnessed a deed (DB C, p.10, 25 Nov 1784) for Abraham Womack in Caswell Co, NC (the part which is now Person Co, NC). Also, Hiram Howard witnessed two consecutive deeds in Wilkes Co, GA (DB MM, p.85 & 87), both on 20 Feb 1793, where Abraham and Martha Womack of Green Co, GA (from which Hancock was formed in 1794) sold 150 acres each to Mansel Womack and "James Harris McFarland".

Will of Abraham Womack, Hancock County, Georgia Will Book A, page 219, signed 2 Jun 1797.

In the Name of God Amen
I Abraham Womack being weak in body but of sound memory blessed be God, do this day, June the second in the year of our Lord A.D. 1797, make and publish this my last Will and Testament in names and form following (vizt):

First, I give my body to the earth to be buried in a decent manner, and my spirit I Recommend to God who gave it.

Secondly, I lend unto my loving wife Martha Womack two negroe women Jude and Hannah during her natural life and after her decease for the said two negroes Jude and Hannah and their increase to be equally divided between my five youngest children Elizabeth Sarah Lucy William And Jesse. And should either of them die under age or before marriage for the survivors to divide equally.

I also lend unto my wife two other negro women Doll and Nann while my son
John becomes of age and after he arrives at the age of twenty-one years for them and their increase from this date to be equally divided between my three sons-in-law William Stone, Clement Glenn and Francis Coleman.

I also give unto my wife her bed, square table and walnut Chest. I lend unto my wife my young bay mare until she has three folds [sic, foals], the first for my son John, the second for my son William, and the third for my son Jesse and then the said mare to remain the property of my wife forever.

I lend my wife one hundred & twenty five acres and during her natural life, beginning at a hickory corner John Reeds line, running along Colemans line to a pine corner, Rogerss line, thence down my old line to Frazers line, thence across to said Reeds line including half of my present dwelling house, Spring and priviledge of other out houses.

I give unto my son John one hundred acres of land adjoining his brother
Shearward and my wife and after her decease I give and bequeath all my track of land containing two hundred and twenty acres unto my son John with all and singular their rights and appertainnances in any wise belonging including my present dwelling house, orchards, household, kitchen furniture, plantation tools and work horses. I also give unto my son John one feather bed, also one negro boy named January which is to remain with my wife until he arrives at the age of twenty one years and then he is to receive him and the hall and the stair room should he want them and the hundred acres of land before mentioned.

I give unto my five youngest children, five little negroes (to wit) David, Isom, Sam, James, and Amy to be divided as they become of age, I give unto my three daughters Elizabeth Sary and Lucy all my black walnut in my kitchen loft to be equally divided.

I give unto my son Shearward Womack my Folding table, also one negroe man named Bill to be received the twenty-fifth day of December 1798. Also my coat to be taken at my death.

I give unto my son David Womack one negroe man named Walt to be received the twenty-fifth day of December 1798. Also my mixed coat at my death.

I give unto my son Mancil Womack my green hand [?] cloth coat at my death.
I also give him Eighty five dollars and seventy cents to be paid the twenty-fifth day of December 1798.

I give unto my daughter Susannah Glenn one negroe girl named Chancy, also one feather bed...also Eighty five dollars and seventy five cents to be paid the twenty-fifth day of December 1798.

I give unto my daughter Mary Coleman one feather bed, one hair trunk, also one negroe girl named Cealey, also Eighty five dollars and twenty five cents to be paid the twenty-fifth day of December 1798.

I give to my granddaughter Patsey Howard Eighty five dollars and seventy five cents to be paid the twenty- fifth day of December 1798.

The work horse, wagon, and plantation tools, houses and kitchen furniture to remain on the plantation for the support of the family. The stock of meat cattle and sheep to remain on the plantation until December 1798 and equally division to take place between the children and as far as the young children's part, I trust my wife to take them and keep and give off as they become of age.....

If my son John should die under age his property must be equally divided between my sons Shearward Womack, Mancil Womack & David Womack.

I do appoint my sons Shearward Womack, Mancil Womack, & James H McFarland Executors of my Last Will and Testament to take care and see the same be performed according to my true intent & meaning. In Witnesses whereof I here unto set my hand and seal the day and year above written.

Signed, Sealed and Delivered in presence of
John White
Thomas Lightfoot
Waller Brown.

Abraham Womack
Martha her + mark Womack

[Will followed immediately by inventory]

An Inventory of the goods and chattels of the Estate of Abraham Womack late deceased

ABSTRACT:
Slaves Bill, Nann, Doll, four small boys, Hannah, January, Jude, Cealy, Walt
225 acres oak and hickory land
3 horses, 23 meat cattle, 25 hogs
Various farm equipment, household furniture, harvested crops (mainly tobacco and corn), etc
Total $5154.14

Taken 1 Sep 1797 by John Rogers, Ajondobas [?] Reed, Peter [cannot read last name].