"In the name of God Amen I William Hooper of the State of Georgia and County of Franklin being very sick and weak but in perfect mind and memory thanks be given to God. Calling unto mind the mortality of my body and knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die, do make and ordain this my last Will and Testament. This is to say principally and first of all I give and recommend my Soul to God that gave it and my Body to be buried in Christian order at the discretion of my executors. Nothing doubting but at the general resurrection, I shall receive the same again by the mighty power of God, and as touching such worldly estate wherewith it has pleased God to bless me in his life, I give and demise and dispose of the same in the following manner and from. First of all it is my will that my well beloved wife, Joice, shall be in possession of my property during her life or widowhood or mariage. It is my will that my sons, namely, William, Joshua, Obediah and Richard shall have all the land whereon I now live to be equally divided amongst the same and it is my will that my wife Joice and Joshua my son do act as my executors, and it is also my will that pay all my just debts and equally divide the ballance of my property amongst all my children. Signed, sealed and published an delivered by the same William Hooper as his last Will and Testament in the presence of us who in his presence and in the presence of each other have hereunto subscribed our names this Seventeenth August 1815. Test William Hooper (his mark) Wm. Edwards John Cleveland |