Will of Stephen Reaves
Lauderdale County, Alabama
Will Book B p 115-116
2 Oct 1871
Transcription
Know all men by these presents that I Stephen Reaves of the County of Lauderdale And State of Alabama Considering the uncertainty of this life, And being of Sound mind and Memory, do make and declare this my last Will and Testament.1st, first I give and bequeath unto my Beloved wife Eliza Jane Reaves Eight head of hogs, Ten 10 head of Sheep, One Cow & Calf. And also Four Hundred Dollars worth of Notes on John Lindsey which was given for lands
2d, Second, I also give and bequeath, to My Beloved wife Eliza Jane all of My Household and Kitchen furniture and every other article or property, belonging to me at the time of My decease To have and to hold the Same to her and her Executors and Administrators and Assigns forever –
3d, Third, I do Nominate, And Appoint My wife Eliza Jane to be My Executrix, of this my last Will and Testament
In Testimony whereof I have to this my last Will and Testament, Subscribed my Name and Affixed My Seal, this the 2nd day of October in the year of our Lord One Thousand Eight hundred and Seventy One 1871,
Stephen (his x mark) Reaves (Seal)
Signed Sealed declared And Published by the Said Stephen Reaves as his last Will in the presence of u s who at his request And in his presence And in the presence of each other have Subscribed our names as witnesses hereto } James H. Smith (Seal)
Andrew Faires drawer } Witnessed By } David his x mark Dowdy (Seal)
The State of Alabama } Probate Court February the 28th AD 1873
Lauderdale County } This being the day Set to hear and determine as to the Probating of the last Will and Testament of Stephan Reaves deceased, late of Said State & County aforesaid – And it appearing to the Satisfaction of the Court, That due Notice of the time place and day; had been given to the Widow and Next of King residing within the State of Alabama, By Notices being Served on each by the Sheriff of Said County And also Notice Having been given the Non Residents by Publicationin the Times Journal A Newspaper Published in the Town of Florence Alabama for three Successive weeks And Noone Appearing of the parties interested, in Said Will to Contest the Same. The Court lthen proceded to hear the Case. When Personally Appeared Before Me James H. Smith and David Dowdy, The two Subscribing Witnesses to Said Will, And After being first duly Sworn by me, deposeth and Says upon their Oaths That the Testator Stephen Reaves, was at the time of his death of Sound Mind and disposing memory, and that he Signed Said Will, as witnesses in the presents of And, at the request of the Testator, Stephen Reaves, in the presencs of each other.
Given under our hands an Seals this the 28th day of February A D 1873
James H Smith (Seal)
David (his x mark) Dowdy (Seal)
Sworn to and Subscribed Before me
On the 28 day of February 1873
T T Allington Judge of Probate
Witness to David Dowdys Mark. F. G. Lambeth –
I Certify that the foregoing is a true & Correct Copy of the
last Will and Testament of Stephen Reaves filed And Recorded
in My office on the 1 day of March 1873
T. T. Allington Judge of Probate Court