THE WILL OF SARAH ANN DORSEY

January 4th, 1878. BEAUVOIR, HARRISON COUNTY, MISSISSIPPI.

I, Sarah Ann Dorsey, of Tensas Parish, Louisiana, being aware of the uncertainty of life, and being sound in health of mind and body, do make this, my last will and testament, in the presence of three competent witnesses, as I possess property in the States of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Arkansas. I owe no obligation of any sort to any relative of my own. I have done all I could for them during my life. I, therefore, give and bequeath all of my property, real, personal, and mixed, wherever located and situated, wholly and entirely without hindrance or qualification, to my most honored and esteemed friend, Jefferson Davis, ex-President of the Confederate States, for his own sole use and benefit, in fee-simple forever; and I hereby constitute him my sole heir, executor, and administrator. If Jefferson Davis should not survive me, I give all that I have bequeathed to him to his youngest daughter, Varina. I do not intend to share in the ingratitude of my country toward the man who is, in my eyes, the highest and noblest in existence. In testimony whereof I sign this will, written with my own hand, in the presence of W. T. Walthall, F. S. Hewes, and John C. Craig, subscribing witnesses resident in Harrison County, Mississippi. ( Signed) SARAH ANN DORSEY. [Seal]. On July 15, 1879, the foregoing was duly declared the will of Mrs. Dorsey, by Judge A. L. Tissot, Judge of the Second District court for the Parish of Orleans, Louisiana.

source: Triangulating Peace: Democracy, Interdependence, and International Organizations - Page 233 1908

JEFFERSON DAVIS WILL

The will of Jefferson Davis has been filed for probate at Mississippi City, Harrison County. It is free from political allusions and is confined entirely to the disposition of this property. The full text of the instrument is as follows: I, Jefferson Davis, of the county of Harrison, and state of Mississippi being of sound and disposing mind, but of such advanced age as to suggest a near approach of death, do make this my last will and testament, written with my own hands, and signed in the presence of three competent witnesses. 1. I give and bequeath to my wife, Varina Davis, all of my personal belongings, including library, furniture, correspondence and the Briarfield Plantation (proper) with all its appurtences, being situated in the county of Warren, state of Mississippi, and being the same on which we lived and toiled together for many years from the time of our marriage. 2. I give and bequeath to Mary Routh Ellis of Philadelphia, Pa. all of my right, title and interest in and to the Elliston Plantation, being and situated in the parish of Tensas, state of Louisiana, the same being the place on which her father resided. 3. I give and bequeath to Mary Ridgeley Dorsey, eldest daughter of William H. G. Dorsey, of Howard County, state of Maryland, all my right, title and interest in and to the Limberick Plantation, being and situated in the parish of Tensas, state of Louisiana, viz, the interest in and to so much of the plantation as was the property of the late Mrs. Sarah A. Dorsey. 4. I give and bequeath to my daughter Varina Anna Davis all the property � real, personal, and mixed � which was inherited by me from Mrs. Sarah A. Dorsey, deceased, and of which I may die seized and possessed. 5. To my wife, Varina Davis an to my daughters, Margret Davis Hayes and Varina Anna Davis, as residuary legatees, I give and bequeath all the property, real, personal and mixed, or which I may die seized and possessed, and which has not been disposed of by the preceding articles. I appoint my tried and true friend, Jacob U. Payne of New Orleans, La. and my son-in-law G. Addison Haynes, Jr. of Memphis, Tenn., executors of this my last will and testament, they to serve without bond and to have immediate seizure and possession of all my property, contemporaneously with the happing of my death, and to each I delegate the power to select and appoint his successor, to take effect in the contingency of the death of either before the affairs of the estate have been finally settled. In testimony whereof this will, written by my own hand, signed on the day and date below written, and in presence of Frank Kennedy, R. W. Foster, and A. Evans. "Jefferson Davis' The property above described is mortgaged to the amount of $45,000. The whole assessed valuation of the late Jefferson Davis property in Harrison County, Mississippi is $7,940. His personal assessment was $581. Beauvoir is assessed at $4,500, and the signatures which appear on the will are those of parties who were called into the probate clerk's office to testify to the handwriting of the deceased, and the parties were not witnesses to the signature, as might be supposed.

Source: Vernon Courier, Lamar County, AL., Jan. 9, 1890. - Transcribed and submitted by Veneta McKinney

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