Will of Susannah Harvey McElveen Burnsides Bragg

 

Submitted by Barbara Beasley 

Georgia- Bulloch County

 

                        In the name of God, Amen.  I Susannah Bragg being of Advanced age and knowing that I must shortly depart this life deem it right and proper both as respects my daughter, my son and myself that I should make a disposition of the property which a kind providence has blessed me with.  I do therefore make this my last will and testament hereby revolking all others made by me.

 

1st Item           I desire and direct that my body be burried in a decent and Christian Like Manner.  My soul I hope should return to rest with God who gave it.  I desire that all of my just debts be paid by my Executors herein after appointed.

 

Item 2nd          I give and bequeath and devise to my Beloved Daughter, Delila Ann Hughes, and my son, James E. Burnsides and their children Ten tracts of land containing five hundred and forty acres in said county lying on the waters of

Merril (?) and Ashes Branch about 30 acres of which is leased and in cultivation to be divided equally as they may seem proper with all the rights, members, and appertainances to said tracts on parcels of land in anywise belonging to said plantation of every description whatever and also horses, cattle, hogs, and sheep also whatever I may be p_____ed of at my death.

 

Item 3rd           I hearby constitute and appoint my beloved sons John D. McElven  and William E. McElven Executor of this my Last Will and Testament this the 12th day of A.D. One Thousand Eight Hundred and Sixty-One. 

                                                                                         her 

                                                                        Susannah (x) Bragg (L.S.)

                                                                                        mark

 

 

Signed, sealed and delivered  published by Susannahh Bragg as her Last will and Testament in the presice (sic) of us the suscribers who suscribed our names

thereunto in the presince (sic) of Said Testatis = at her special instense and request and of each other.                                                              January 12, 1861

                                                                                    B.J. Wise

                                                                                    Rebecca E. Strickland

                                                                                    Margaret A. O. Strickland

 

State of Georgia

Bulloch County

 

John D. McElveen appeared in open court and produced the Will of Susannah Bragg with Bridger J. Wise one of the witnesses to said Will who after being duly sworn saith that he saw Susannah Bragg sign, seal, and deliver the written (?)

Instrument as the Last Will and Testament and that the Said Susannah Bragg was at the time in sound and disposing mind and memory and that he signed the same as a witness and saw Rebecca E. Strickland and Margaret A O Strickland do so likewise.

Sworn and Suscribed before me.

This 4th Day of February 1861                                               B.J. Wise

               William Lee  Ordinary

 

 

State of Georgia    I John D. McElveen do solemnly swear that this writing contains

Bulloch County      the true last will of the within (?)named Susannah Bragg,

                                Deceased, so far as I know or believe and that I will well and

                                truly Execute this same by paying first the debts and then the

                                Legacy contained in said will as far as her goods and matters will

                                thereinto extend and the Laws Charge me and that I will make                                 a true and perfect Inventory of all such goods and matters so

                                help me God.

 

                                Sworn and Subscribed before me          John D McElveen                           This 4th day of February, 1861

                                William Lee Ord.

                                Recorded this 5th day of February, 1861

                                                                        David _____________________                   

                                   

 

 

 

Transcribed from a 1970' s photocopy of will recorded in Bulloch County.

Handwriting was difficult to read.  In a few cases I placed a (?) when word was very difficult to interpet.  I attempted to follow spelling in document.  Barbara Beasley, great, great, great grandaughter of Susannah Harvey McElveen Burnsides Bragg.

 

(note- p. 139 Bulloch Co. GA. Genealogical Source Material -  Peter Strickland made his annual return as gdn. of of James, Elias and Deliann Burnsides, minor heirs of Edmond Burnsides, dec' d.  It is probable that the comma should not have been placed between the James and Elias and this child is James Elias.  May 2001).

 

NOTE:  Susannah, one of ten children born to Richard Harvey and Elizabeth Morell, early settlers of Bryan County was born about 1788.  She married William E. McElveen in 1807 and they had 7 children.  After William' s death (1826) she married Edmund Burnsides, the father of the two children mentioned in the will, and moved to Bulloch county.  After Edmund' s death (probably early 1834), Susannah married William Bragg.  Bragg died in 1838.  On the 1850 Bulloch County Census, Susannah was listed at the home of her daughter, Delila Burnsides Hough.  She was living with her son, John D. McElveen, in 1860.