Source: Wills--Wilkinson County--1817-1820-
Written: June 4 1820
Recorded: September 4 1820

Georgia, Wilkinson County--In he name of God, amen!
I, Joseph Porter, of the County of Wilkinson and the State of Georgia, being sick and weak in body, but of perfect mind and memory, thanks be to God, calling unto mind the mortality of my body and knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die, do make and ordain this my last will and testament.  That is to say:  Principally, and first of all, I give and recommend my soul in the hands of the Almighty God, who gave it and my body I recommend to the earth to be buried in a decent Christian burial at the discretion of my Executors.  Nothing doubting but at the generals resurrection but I shall receive this same again by the mighty power of God, and as touching such worldly estate, whereas it has pleased God to Bless me in this life:  I give, demise and dispose of the same in the following manner and form:
First:  I point out one hundred one and a quarter acres of land, part of the lot No. 359 in the 22nd District of Wilkinson County, together with the grist mill and to be sold at the discretion of JOHN F. PORTER, whom I likewise constitute, make and ordain the sole Executor of this my last will and testament, and the moneys arriving from the same to be appropriated to discharge my debts, also I give and bequeath to my daughters, MARY, ELIZABETH, and BETHELAND, a horse to each to be raised from my two mares, provided the mares live to raise the colts, and if not, to have the price of a good horse at the division of my estate which shall take place at the death or marriage of my beloved wife, ROSE PORTER.
I also give and bequeath unto my two sons, AMBROSE and RICHARD T. PORTER each, a bed and furniture, and all the rest of my worldly effects, I give and bequeath to my beloved wife, ROSE PORTER, by her freely to be possessed and enjoy during her natural life, or so long as she remains my widow and at the death or marriage, after all legacy is herein mentioned is paid off and the balance of my effects to be equally divided among my lawful heirs and I do hereby utterly disallow, revoke and dis-annul all every other form of testament with legacies, bequests and Executor by me in any wise before named willed and bequeat notifying and confirmng this and no other to be my last will and testament.
In witness whereof I hereunto set my hand and seal.  This fourth day of June in the
year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and twenty.

                                        /S/ Joseph Porter

Additional Comments:
The above will was typed from a copy.

*Joseph Porter md. Rose Taliaferro (dau. of Dr. John and Mary (Hardin) Taliaferro.
*     Their son:  Richard Taliaferro Porter md. Mary Collins Paul
*         Their daughter:  Eliza Ann Porter md. Alexander Stuckey

Source: * Historic Georgia Families (Originally Published Cairo, Georgia, pages 115,132,141,145--1925-1928),  reprinted, Genealogical Publishing Company, Baltimore, 1969.

contributed by and copyright  R. Elizabeth Brewer 2004