Will of George Brown, 1842 Washington Co., Illinois.
A number of people have expressed an interest in seeing the Washington County Illinois will of George Brown. My transcription of the actual will (a copy of which was thoughtfully submitted to me by Lois Shoupe) is posted below. The will was written in 1838 and recorded in 1842.
This George Brown is a member of DNA Group No. 69 of the Brown Society DNA Project. According to his Revolutionary War Pension application he was born in 1752 in Chesterfield County, Virginia. Our research shows he was the son of George Brown Sr. (b. abt. 1720, Henrico Co., VA) and unknown. He was a nephew of my direct ancestor, Daniel Brown Sr. who died in Bedford Co., VA in 1797. Our common ancestor was George Junior's grandparents, William(d. 1737) and Ann Brown of Henrico. If anyone is descended from George Brown and would like more information about him or his DNA Group, please contact me through this forum.
Justin Sanders.
Note: All parenthetical references are from the text of the document; notations in brackets are my own.
In the name of God Amen,
I George Brown of the County of Washington being weak in body but of sound mind and memory do make ordain and establish this to be my last will and testament hereby revoking all others, and I do hereby appoint Joseph Whittenberg and Nathan Davis to be executors of this my last will and testament.
It is my will that all my just debts be paid, that sufficient of my personal property be sold for that purpose, after the payments of all my just debts and funeral expenses, I do hereby devise and bequeath to Betty my house keeper the farm and improvements thereon, on which I now live containing six hundred and twenty acres (to wit) the South East quarter of Section no [number] nine in Township no two South of Range no two West except fifty acres off of the east side deeded to George Herod on the 19th day A.D. 1837 to her and her heirs and assigns forever.
To Indiana Mulatto girl I give one cow & calf.
To Cyntha [sic] Mulatto girl I give one cow & calf.
To Artemesa Mulatto girl I give one cow and calf, and the bed and furniture I now lie on.
To George McArthur Moore Mulatto boy I give one bed and furniture.
To my son William G. I give one dollar.
To my son George I give one dollar.
To my son John I give one dollar.
To my son Collier I give one dollar.
To my daughter Sarah I give one dollar.
To my daughter Nancy I give one dollar.
To my daughter Bidzy I give one dollar.
To my daughter Patsey I give one dollar.
The balance of my personal property after paying the bequest made above I give and bequeath to Betty my house keeper.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and afixed [sic] my seal this 31st day of August (A.D. 1838) eighteen hundred and thirty eight.
Signed and acknowledged before us,
George Brown [his X mark]
Demsey Kennedy
Nathan Davis.
State of Illinois, Washington County. Washington County probate Court.
Personally appeared before undersigned probate justice of the peace of said County Demsey Kennedy and Nathan Davis the subscribing witnesses to the foregoing will and testament and after being duly sworn testify that were personally present and saw the testator sign the said will and that they believed the said testator to be of sound mind and memory at the time of signing the same.
Witness Z.H. Vernor probate Justice of the Peace at his office at Nashville this 25th day of March A.D. 1842.
[Signed] Z.H. Vernor probate Justice of the Peace.
Source: Washington County Courthouse (Nashville, Illinois),
Probate Records: Box 13.
More Replies:
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Re: Will of George Brown, 1842 Washington Co., Illinois.
Freddy Brown 2/03/12
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Re: Will of George Brown, 1842 Washington Co., Illinois.
justin sanders 2/05/12
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Re: Will of George Brown, 1842 Washington Co., Illinois.
Freddy Brown 2/06/12
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Re: Will of George Brown, 1842 Washington Co., Illinois.
justin sanders 2/06/12
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Re: Will of George Brown, 1842 Washington Co., Illinois.
Freddy Brown 2/07/12
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Re: Will of George Brown, 1842 Washington Co., Illinois.
justin sanders 2/07/12
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Re: Will of George Brown, 1842 Washington Co., Illinois.
Freddy Brown 2/09/12
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Re: Will of George Brown, 1842 Washington Co., Illinois.
Freddy Brown 2/09/12
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Re: Will of George Brown, 1842 Washington Co., Illinois.
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Re: Will of George Brown, 1842 Washington Co., Illinois.
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Re: Will of George Brown, 1842 Washington Co., Illinois.
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Re: Will of George Brown, 1842 Washington Co., Illinois.
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Re: Will of George Brown, 1842 Washington Co., Illinois.
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Re: Will of George Brown, 1842 Washington Co., Illinois.