Georgia, Wilkinson County

In the name of God Amen! Know ye that  I Jesse Vaughn and sick at the time, though in sound mind and memory and calling to mind the mortality of my body and knowing that is is appointed for all men once to die; I recommend my soul to God and my body to be buried in a decent Christian manner at the expenses of my executors nothing doubting that I shall receive the same again at the resurrection of the great day-and as touching my worldly goods wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me with, I give and dispose of in following manner to wit-
-First I give and bequeath to my son John Vaughn, the Negro woman named Hannah to him and his heirs forever.
-Secondly I give unto my daughter Sally Belcher one Negro woman named Fanny to her and her heirs.
-Thirdly I give unto my son James Vaughn the Negro woman named Filly to him, his heirs and assign forever.
-Fourthly I give unto my son William Vaughn  tract of land in the County of Wilkinson in the Third District Lot no. 321 containing two hundred and two and half acres and two Negroes to wit Ben and Betty to him and his heirs forever
-Fifthly I give unto my daughter Betty Matthews one Negro woman named Amey to her and her heirs forever.
-Sixthly  I give unto my daughter Polly Low  one negro man by the (name)Tom to her and her heirs forever.
-Seventhly  I give unto my daughter Eliza Meredith one Negro man named Sam to her and her heirs forever.
-Eightly I give unto my Grand daughter Mariah McMillan one hundred dollars to be raised out of my estate.
-Nightly I give to my Grand son Alexander McMillan ten dollars to be raised out of my estate.
-Lastly  As there is a part of my property that I wish to be sold and disposed of in the following manner - the land where I now live, the land I bought of William Matthews, the land I bought of Jeremiah Mann and the island land in the river swamp - it is my wish and will for it to be sold to the highest bidders by my executors with all my stock of horses, cattle and hogs and also other description of stock whatsoever, and one Negro child named Sarah with all my household and kitchen furniture, all my plantation tools and the money arising from the sale of the  same shall be by my executors, decided in the following manner
Vix first in discharge of all my lawful  debts and the balance to be divided equally between the following children, named hereinafter, viz.,
John Vaughn, James Vaughn, William Vaughn,  Betty Matthews, Sallie Belcher and Eliza Meredith. It is furthermore my will and desire that my son John Vaughn, James Low and Thomas T. Prestwood be executors to my last will and testament. In witness whereof  I have hereto set my hand  and seal this tenth day of September 1825.
Jesse Vaughn (his mark)
Signed, sealed and delivered in the presence of Henry Shafner
Robert Wilburn
Thomas T. Prestwood JP

Thomas T. Prestwood, who after being duly sworn saith on oath that he saw Jese Vaughn sign, seal, publish and deliver the within writing to be & certain his last will and testament and at the time thereof he was of  sound sense and desposing memory  & that he did it freely and without compulsion to the best of his knowledge and that he saw Robert Wilburn and Henry Shafner sign and subscribe the same as witness. Signed and Sworn to before as in open court this 5th January 1829.
(s) Thomas Prestwood
James Neal
John F. Simmons
Solomon B. Murphey
John Hardie
(J.I.C.)

Wilkinson County, Ga. Record of Returns Book 1827 -1838
Page 13-14