Bradley County, Arkansas Wills


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Will of Lewis Belin


In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court
at office this the 19th day of Nov. A.D. 1860.
                 W. Y. McCammon, Clerk

State of Arkansas}
County of Bradley}  I, W. Y. McCammon, clerk of the Circuit Court and Exofficio 
Recorder within and for said County do hereby certify that the annexed and foregoing
instrument of writing is now duly Recorded in Record Book A for wills and testamnets
on pages 3  and 4

In testimony whereof I have herewith set my hand
as such Clerk and official the seal of said Court
at office this the 9th day of Dec. A. D. 1860                         
                                      W. Y McCammon, Clerk

Know all men by the presents that I, Lewis Belin of the County of Bradley and State
of Arkansas being in good health and of sound and disposing mind and memory do make
and publish this my last will and Testament here by revoking all former wills by me
at any time heretofore made.

    Item 1st   I hereby constitue and appoint John Haris and William H. Wheeler to 
be the Executors of this my last will.

    Item 2nd  For the purpose of the payment of my debts and expenses of settling
my estate and for the support of my family while my estate is being settle I direct
that my property shall be kept together on my plantation in charge of my executors
for the space of two years from my decease and longer if necessary for the payment
of such debts and expenses provided that such debts as may be owing to me shall be
first applied to the payment of such debts and expenses.

   Item 3rd.  I give and bequeath to my daughter Charlotte Rebecca Childs, the wife
of N. M. Childs the sum of five dollars.

   Item 4th.  I give and bequeath to Francis O. Belin the widow of my deceased son
John Belin and to her four children, William H. Belin, Nancy Belin, Jane Belin and
John Belin the sum of one dollar each.

   Item 5th.  I give devise and bequeath to my wife, Dorinda Ann Belin all of the
lands of which I may die seized and possessed and also all of my household and 
kitchen furniture except two feather beds and bed furniture. I also give and 
bequeath unto my said wife Dorinda Ann Belin all of my stock of horses, mules, 
cattle, sheep and hogs and also the use of my slaves and their increase so long
as she shall remain unmarried and my widow.
   
   Item 6th.  I give and bequeath to my daughters Margaret A. and  Sarah  H. Belin
each one feather bed and bed furniture.

   Item 7th.  I give and bequeath to my daughters Margaret A. Belin and Sarah H. 
Belin my son Lewis Belin and to any other children who may be born to me of my wife
Dorinda Ann Belin the reversive remainer of my slaves and their increase share and
share alike from and after the decease or my marriage of my said wife and if either
of said children shall die before arriving at lawful age or marrying, the share of
such child shall vest in the survivor or survivors of them and if all of said 
children shall die without issue then said slaves and their increase shall vest
absolutely in my said wife Dorinda Ann Belin.

   Item 8th.  If there be any estate not hereintofore mentioned and remaining as a
residue I give the same to my said wife Dorinda A. Belin.
    
     In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand and seal and publish and declare 
this to be my last will and testamnet in the presence of the witnesses named below,
this First day of May A. D. 1860
                                                               Lewis Belin   {seal}

Signed sealed and published and declared by the said Lewis Belin as and for his last
will and testament in presence of us who in his presence and in the presence of each
other and at his request have subscribed our names as witnesses hereto this 1st day
of May, A.D.  1860                                           
C. A. Slaughter
J. Gould
State of Arkansas}
County if Bradley}

The above and foregoing instrument of writing  was deposited in the office 
of the Clerk on Monday the 22nd day of April 1861 and opened by me.

attest  W.Y. McCammon, clerk

Before the Clerk in Vacation
                                                    April 25th 1861
Now on this day comes C. A. Slaughter one of the attesting
witnesses whose name appears upon the above and foregoing instrument of writing who
bring sworn  according to law deposes and says that he saw Lewis Belin the testator
in the above will subscribe his name thereto in the presense of both the attesting
witnesses who acknowledged and declared the instrument so subscribed to be his will
and testament and that he and the other attesting witness both signed their names 
thereto at the bequest of the testator.

C. A. Slaughter
Subscribed and sworn to 
before me W. Y. McCammon, Clerk

(Bradley County, Arkansas Will Book B, Page 5)

Transcribed for the Bradley County Wills page by Ann Ragsdale and made available by Peggy Bowman who went to the courthouse and copied it, and Jann Woodard who shared it.


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