Forrest County Wills

Benjamin Rawls

This last will and testament of me Benjamin Rawls of the County of Perry in the State of Mississippi,

First– I give and devise to my sons Prentice and Reubin and their hers forever my Mill and mill place commonly know and called the Mill Place and all my lands adjoining or adjacent thereto and more particularly described as follows to-wit: All that part of the South East quarter of the South West quarter of Section eleven and South East Quarter of Section Eleven- and East half of North East quarter of Section Eleven, and East half of North West quarter- and West half of North East quarter and west half of North East quarter and West half of South West quarter of East half of South East quarter of Section Ten and Section Eleven: South East quarter of South East quarter of Section Three all in Township Five North of Range Fourteen West that lies and is situated on the east of Bouie River but the rents, issues, profits and income of said mill and mill place I hereby give and bequeath to my wife Catherine Hattin Rawls until my youngest son shall be twenty one years old, and should my youngest son die before reaching that age then and in that event my wife is to have said rents, issues, profits and incomes until my son Prentice shall reach the age of Twenty one years- Second: I give and devise to my daughter Martha Lorena and her hers forever my place known as and commonly called the Mineral Springs place together with all my lands adjoining or adjacent thereto and more particularly described as follows: towit: South Ease quarter South half of South West quarter of Section twenty three- North half of North West quarter of Section twenty six T 5 N R I 4 W , lying north of Grantheme or Mineral Creek hereby intending to give and devise all my ¾ interest in the land I now own in said Section twenty three and twenty sic in Township Five North of Range Fourteen West but the rents, issue, property and incomes of said Mineral Springs place and said above described lands adjoining or adjacent thereto I hereby give and bequeath to my wife during her life, and it is my wish and I so direct that my wife shall be permitted to live on said Mineral Springs Place during her life-- Third-- It is my wish and I hereby so direct that all of my stock of cattle and sheep be kept together under the control and management of my wife and the calves and lambds each year marked and branded in my r\proper mark and brand and each year that my wife sell the wool slipped from the sheep and the mutton sheep and beef cattle at private sale and the monies arising from said wool mutton and Beff cattle to be divided equally among allmy heirs including therein my wife, but all expenses incident to the management and controls of my estate including therein all Court costs, attorneys fees, taxes &c shall be paid out of said monies arising from said sales of wool, mutton, and beff before a division thereof among my heirs is made. It is my wish and I so direct that my wife have the controls and managements of my said stock of sheep and cattle until my youngest son is twenty one years of age and in the event that my youngest son dies before reaching that age then and in that event when the next youngest child marries or reaches said age, it is my wish that my said stock of sheep and cattle shall be divided equally among all my heirs share and share alike--. Fourth-- It is my wish and I so direct that the lease of my mill and mill place and lands adjoining or adjacent as above described shall be continued to John Rush until my youngest son is twenty one years old under the same terms and conditions as these entered into between myself and said Rush but should my youngest son die before that age then said lease to terminate when my youngest child then living Marries or reaches that aemand should said john Rush at any time refuse or neglect to comply with all the terms and conditions of said lease or any of them then it is my wish and I do direct that said Mill and Mill place be leased by my wife to such person or persons as she may select and under such terms and conditions as she may prescribe-- Fifth-- I give and bequeath and household and kitchen furniture and all provisions to my wife my horses- oxen- hogs-wagon- farming utensils and supples on hand at the time of my death. Sixth: I hereby nominate and appoint my wife Executrix of this my last will and testament-- and it is my wish and I hereby so direct that my wife be not required to enter into bond as said Executrix, but that letters Testamentary be issued to her without her giving bond as said Executrix- Seventh: It is my wish and I hereby so direct that my wife and three youngest children towit: Prentice, Martha Lorena, and Reubin shall shall have an ample support allowed them and also a sufficient amount for their necessary tuition and clothing each year before any division be made of the amoney arising from the sale of the wook mutton and beef.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my and and seal on this the 5th day of May A D 1880

Benjamin Rawls (Seal)

Signed, sealed, published and declared by the said Benjamin Rawls as and for his last will and testament in the presence of us, who in his presence and at his request and in the presence of each other, have-hereunto set and subscribed our names as witness hereunto on this 5th day of May A D 1880.

D M. Carter
James Edmonson
Morgan Hudson

The above Will recorded this 27th day of March 1889. A.H.McSwain, Clerk.

Transcribed from Book I pages 1-3 of the Records of Wills of Perry County.
[Submitted by Eric Rawls ]
In the spirit of sharing genealogical information, this Last Will & Testament of Benjamin Rawls Jr. (1800-1882) was transcribed by Eric Rawls on 11/15/09 from a certified fax copy from the Forrest County, Mississippi Chancery Court. The document was transcribed exactly how it was written.