| Notes |
- !BIRTH: Family Bible record "Thomas Powell......" It is believed thatWilliam
was born in Brunswick, VA. The family lived in Brunswick (and possiblyPrince
George County), Lunenberg, Bedford, Pittsylvania and Henry County. William
presumably had his eye on Zelley at an early age. She was 10 yearsyounger than
he was-so that may account for his waiting until he was 27 to marry. Hisbible
lists all of his children and a couple of notes on some in-laws butnothing on
an earlier marriage. The marriage date is not given, but is estimated c.Dec
1772. Some of the family began to move out of VA to GA aroung 1778-80.William
and his father remained on the VA tax records. My March 1784 John andElizabeth
(his parents) had decided to move to GA, and in 1785 probably moved.William
completed taking care of his father's business and selling his lands. Itis
believed that William moved to GA 1790, as he received a headright grant12
July 1790 for 300 acres in Wilkes (Wilkes Grant Bk. TTT, p736, 300 A.1790)
This land on the waters of Millstone Creek and was part of Wilkes thatwas soon
cut off to for Oglethorpe.
Will of William Hardman.. the name of God Amen. I, William Hardman of the
County of Olgethorpe and State of Georgia, being in bad health of body,yet of
sound mind and memory, thanks be to God for the same, and calling to mindthat
it is appointed for all men to die, and considering the mortality of mybody,
do make, constitute and ordain this to be my last Will and Testament.That is
to say principally and first of all, I give and recommend my soul unto the
hands of God who gave it and my body I recommend it to be buried in a
Christian-like manner, at the discretion of my Exeutors hereinafter named,
nothing doubting but at the general resurrection I shall receive it againby
the power of Almighty God. And as toughing such worldly property as it has
pleased God to bless me with in this life, I give, will and dispose of itin
the following manner, that it so say, First, all debts be paid.
Item. I give and bequeath all of the negroes I am in possession of atthis or
may die possessed of, unto my beloved wife, Zelley Hardman and all their
increase during her widowhood, or her natural life with the plantation Inow
live on, with all my stock, household and kitchen furniture, plantationtools,
and etc. during the same period of time and whenever the said ZelleyHardman my
wife, shall feel incumbered with said negroes or any other property of any
kind, it is my will that my wife Zelley call three disinterested personsto
value said property of what kind soever and at the valuation of saidproperty
to be equally divided among my children, share and share alike.
Item. I will and bequeath to my son, John Hardman, all of the propertythat I
have given him in my lifetime, to hold free from any encumbrance, andequal
share and share of all other property when division is made except theland I
now live on which will be disposed of as hereafter mentioned.
Item. Patsy Barnett, wife of Benjamin Barnett, I give and bequeath all the
property I have given them in my lifetime, free from all encumbrance, andthe
land I now live on at the death of my wife, Zelley, the land to be soldand
equally divided amongmy five daughters, viz, Patsy Barnett, Fanny Pool,Nancy
Floyd, Betsy Brooks and Sally Huff, and my son John Hardman is not tohave part
in the division of this piece of land, but in all other divisions equally.
Item. Fanny Pool, wife of Wm. Pool, I give and bequeath all of theproperty I
have given them in my lifetime, free from all incumbrance, said Fanny,wife of
said Pool, both of them to have no more of my estate than is above namedwith
the negro I gave him a bill of sale for instead of a deed of gift.
Item. I give and bequeath to Betsy Brooks, wife of Thomas Brooks, all ofthe
property I gave them in my lifetime, free from all incumbrance. I gavesaid
Brooks a negro girl named Manerva, which I gave him a bill of sale for,which
gives it the appearance of a sale made by me to said T. Brooks, I gavesaid
negro and now bequeath said negro to him.
Item. I give and bequeath to Nancy Floyd, wife of Robert Floyd, all of the
property I gave them in my lifetime, free from all encumbrance exceptthree
hundred I gave him as lent, which money he has to pay no interest on andsaid
Floyd, if he pays the money, then he is to have his share equal. If notpay the
money, my wife Zelley or my Executors that will be appointed hereafter,to stop
until they are all equal.
Item. I give and bequeath to Sally Huff, wife of Robert Huff, all theproperty
I gave them in my lifetime free from any incumbrance,
I do ordain and constitute this to be my last Will and Testament,revoking all
other Wills and Testaments whatsoevr and I appoint my wife, ZelleyHardman and
Robert Huff sole Executors to this my Last Will and Testament, April 22,1824
We have affixed hereunto hands and Seal. Signed, sealed in presence of us:
James MaCoy, Davis Colley, Wm. Hardman
GA Oglethorpe Personally appeared in open Court James MaCoy, DavidColley, and
William Hardman, the witnesses to the within Will, and after being dulysworn,
deposeth and saith that they saw the within named William Hardman,deceased,
sign, seal, publish and declare the within instrument of writing to behis last
Will and Testament and at the time of his so doing he was of sound mindand
memory, to the best of our knowledge and belief, So help us God. Sworn toand
subscribed in open Court at July term 1824 Mat Rainey, C.C.O. Recorded 12July
1824
Submitted by Caroline W.Chapman McGowan, CMS 894, and others. Updated Oct. 2000.
|
1745 - 1824 (78 years)
