Slaves Named in the Will of Joanna Minter, Dallas County, AL, 1832
Joanna (Rutherford) Minter was the widow of Morgan Minter that died in Jones or Washington County, Georgia in 1806. She was the daughter of Robert Rutherford, Sr. and Dorothy Ann Brooks and it is believed that she was born in Hobbs Hole, Essex County, VA in 1756. Joanna (Rutherford) Minter died in Burnsville, Dallas County, AL in 1832 and is believed to be buried on the estate of her son, Anthony Morgan Minter which is located off Mulberry Creek near Burnsville in Dallas County, Alabama.
The Minter family owned many slaves in the Dallas County, AL communities of Burnsville, Tyler, Pleasant Hill and Selma.
Will is written in old English and is transcribed as written.
Transcribed by Sonja Graham
January 25, 2010
Submitted by Sonja Graham
Joanna Minter
Last Will and Testament
Dallas County Alabama
Probate Court
Will Book A, 1821-1849
Pages 80-81
Probate was taken on the last will and testament and the said
will ordered to be recorded (See minutes B page 231 which is in the
words and figures following - to wit - I Joanna Minter of Dallas
County State of Alabama calling to mind that I must Some time
die; do make and ordain this my last Will and Testament as to my ear=
thly goods and revoke all other wills and legacies by me heretofore made,
viz, 1st I desire that my body be decently buried as conveniently as may
be to those about me at the time and that all of my just debts
and funeral expenses be paid. 2nd I give and bequeath to my Son
Anthony Minter one negro boy named Julius to him and to his heirs
forever. 3rd I give and bequeath to my Daughter Nancy Cullen two negro
men by names Bob & Ben to her and her heirs forever. 4th, I give
and bequeath to my Son, Robert R. Minter one negro man named
Peter to him and his heirs forever. 5th I give and bequeath to my grand
Daughter Joanna Graves my negro girl Viney, to her and her heirs forever.
6th I give and bequeath to my grand Son Lewis Morgan Barnes Five
hundred dollars in money also a bed and its firnature to be paid
over to him after the division of my Estate. 7th I give and
bequeath to my Son William Minter the tract of Land
known as fsection two Township Sixteen and Range ten
on the East Side of the Alabama River where I now live & cultivate
also a negro woman named Rachel also one bed and its firnature also half
Doz chairs and also all the kitchen firnature and also all the plantation
tools to him and his heirs forever. 8th I give and bequeath to my grand
Daughter Joanna Nolly one bed and its firnature to her and her heirs
forever. 9th My will and desire further is that after my death all
the balance of my Estate not herein disposed of Shall be Sold or lotted
off in Six parts by my Executors, both real and personal, and
nett proceeds there of to be divided into six equal parts by my execu=
tors of which my Son Anthony Shall be entitled to and receive one
part. My Son Robert R. by deduction out of his part Five hundred
dollars for monies paid to him heretofore is to receive one part
my Daughter Polly Gardner one part, my Daughter Sally
Brantley one part. and my Son William one part and my
Daughter Fanny Nolly one part. The two parts which I intend for
my Son, Robert R, and my Daughter Fanny it is my wish, direct=
ions that it shall be kep by my Executors in their hands and under
their directions for the use of my son Robert R. and my Daughter
Fanny for their use and the use of their heirs. 10th after a division
of my property into Six parts Should each Division amount to more than
one thousand dollars it is my wish and directions that my daughter
Nancy Cullen Shall come in and receive one twenty one part of the
Surplus over the thousand which each one of the six Legatees has received
which is Specified in the ninth Section above referred to; Lastly I
hereby nominate and appoint my Sons Anthony Minter and William
Minter Executors to this my last will and testament. In testimony
whereof I have hereunto Set my hand and Seal this Fifteenth day of
March One thousand eight hundred and thirty one.
Signed Sealed published and delivered {Signed} Joanna Minter (Seal)
in the presence of the witnefses who have been named
witnefses at the request of the Testator and in presence of each
other Josephus D. Echols, John H. Miller, Jos Pickens,
The State of Alabama Dallas, County Personally appeared in Open
Court the above named Joseph Pickens one of the Subscribing
witnefses to the foregoing last will and testament, who being duly
Sworn on oath Saith, that he Saw the above named Joanna
Minter the Testator whose name is hereto Subscribed, Sign Seal and
execute the Same as and for her last will and testament, that
She was of Sound mind and disposing memory at the time of exec=
uting the Same, that he Signed the Same in presence and at the
Request of the Testator and that he Saw Josephus D. Echols and
J H Miller the other Subscribing witnefses Sign the Same in presence
of and at the Request of the Testator on the day and year therein
named. (Signed) Jos Pickens
Sworn to and Subscribed in open court
the 9th January 1832 Attests James D Craig clk
Recorded 6th June 1832 James D Craig clk