Amanuensis Monday The Will of Philip Christmas 1904

Photograph Courtesy of the Mississippi Department of Archives and History

Phillip was born about 1840 in Mississippi. He may be the son of Richard Christmas. He was first seen in the 1852 inventory and disbursement of Peachy Ridgway Taliaferro. He was valued at $500 on the inventory and $1300 on the disbursement. After Peachy's death he was given to Peachy's eldest son, Richard Taliaferro.

Phillip married Ann Brown, 10 Jun 1871, in Copiah County. The couple had at least two children Artie and Richard.

State of Mississippi
Copiah County

Well knowing the uncertainty of this life, and desirous of arranging my property affairs, I, Phillip Christmas, being of sound and disposing mind and memory, do make publish and declare this instrument of writing, to be my last will and testament.

I, direct that my funeral expense and all my just debts be paid first paid by my executrix herein to be named,

I, give, devise and bequeath unto my wife Ann Christmas all the property real and personal and mixed of which I, shall die seized or possessed or in which I, have any interest what-ever.

I, hereby appoint my wife Ann Christmas as executrix of this my last will and direct that she be required to give no bond as such I, direct that she be not required to make any inventories of my estate or render any accounts to the court of her management of the same as such executrix.

In testimony of which I have hereunto set my hand and signed my name this the 30th day of April A. D. 1904.

Phillip x(his mark) Christmas

We the undersigned witnesses to the above instrument of writing at the request of Phillip Christmas witnessed his signature to said instrument and heard his declaration of the same as his last will and testament, and we signed the same at his request in his presence and in the presence of each other on this the 30th day of April, 1904.

John H. Long, Jr.
Hugh Barr Miller

Filled & admitted to probate & record 19th, August, 1904

J. H. Long, Clerk.

How does Phillip Christmas connect to my family tree?
Phillip Christmas' daughter, Artie Christmas, married Shelby Sanders.
Shelby Sanders' brother
Luther Sanders's grandson
McNesse Sanders married my paternal grandmother's sister, Alice Overton

Amanuensis Monday The Will of Mary Peachy Demyers Winston

Mary Peachy Demyers Winston
Born about 1828 - Died about September 1895 Through this will Mary bequeathed 290 acres of land. Mary and her husband Andrew Winston were the slaves of Peachy Ridgway Taliaferro in Copiah County, MS. Peachy died in 1852. Per his inventory listing of slaves, Andrew was valued at $1000 and his wife Mary was valued at $900. The couple's daughters Malinda and Sidney were also included on the list, valued at $150 and $125 respectively. Per the family's oral history, Peachy Taliaferro was also Mary's father. Inventory Listing - Page 1 and Page 2 - Mary and husband Andrew had eight children. Five children survived at the writing of the will: Malinda, Sidney, Eliza, Edward Robert, and Andrew.

THE WILL
Near Hunter
Copiah County State of Mississippi

In the name of God Amen, I Mary Winston of feeble health but sound mind make this my last will & testament. I bequeath unto my son Edward Winston forty acres of land, where his house now stands, beginning at the Southwest corner on the Hazlehurst & Port Gibson Road & running Eastern hundred & twenty yards, thence North eight hundred forty yards, thence West two hundred & twenty yards thence South to place of beginning.

I bequeath unto my son Andrew Winston forty acres of land, the South forty of the land I bought of Mr. & Mrs. J. J. Holliday. If one or both of my above mentioned sons should die without any male heirs, then the above mentioned land is to go back to the Winston Estate & if one or both of them should have male heirs they are not to have possession until they are twenty one years old, but in case of death of one or both of my sons & the wives of either or both, should remain single they are to have & control the above mentioned property until they mary(sp) again.

I bequeath to my three grandchildren (children of Charles Winston deceased) the North forty acres of land of the land I bought from J. J. Holliday & wife…but my husband Andrew Winston is to manage & control it until they become of legal age. In case of his death, then it is to be managed & controlled by one of my sons who is to be selected by my executrix whom I will hereafter mention.

I bequeath unto my husband one hundred & seventy one acres of land my residence now is on a portion of said land, & all of my personal property, consisting of one horse & my household & kitchen effects & my other property I fail to mention.

I appoint Mr. M. M. West & T. E. Groom, executors without bond to enforce this my last wish. Given under my hand & seal this 7th day of Dec 1894.

Mary (her x mark) Winston
Witness T. E. Groom & M. M. West

The State Of Mississippi Copiah County
Chancery Court
Vacation AD 1895

In the matter of a certain instrument – purporting to be the last will and testament of Mary Winston deceased of Copiah County.

Be it remembered that before Chancery Clerk of said County and State on the 28th day of Sept AD 1895 personally appeared F. E. Groom and M. M. West and subscribing witness to a certain instrument of writing purporting to be the last will and testament of Mary Winston deceased, late of Copiah County who having first been duly sworn, deposed and said that the said Mary Winston signed, published and declared said instrument as her last will and testament on the 7th day of December 1894, the day of the date of said instrument in the presence of the deponents and that the said instrument testatrix was then of sound disposing mind and memory and twenty one years of age and that these deponents subscribed and attested said instrument as witnesses to the signature and publication thereof at the special instant and in the presence of the said testator, and in the presence of each other, on the day and year of the date thereof sworn to and subscribed before clerk on the 28th day of Sept 1895.

J Q Martin, clerk

F. E. Groome
M. M. West

Source: Copiah County, Mississippi, Will Book Volume A, Page 104
Microfilm Number: 8150
Microfilm found at Mississippi Department of Archives and History.
Image courtesy of Reginald Stanton via Facebook

Mary was the eldest daughter of my 3rd great grandmother Peggy Demeyers.

Amanuensis Monday John T Demyers' Will

I, J T Demyers, a resident of the county of Copiah, Sate of Mississippi, being of legal and of sound and disposing mind and memory, do make and declare this to be my last will and Testament, revoking any and all others heretofore made by me.

Item 1st. I direct that any and all legal & just debts be paid out of any money that I may have on hand on hand at the time of my death which I want paid as soon after my death as possible without any inconvenience to the executor, which I expect to name in this my last Will.

Item 2. I will and bequeath to my beloved wife Virginia all of my property both real and personal, including all the money if any I should have at the time of my death, after the fulfillment of Item 1st of this my Last Will. It being understood that this property shall only be given to my said wife for her life.

Item 3rd. I will and bequeath that at the death of my said wife Virginia that what property then left of my estate both real and personal shall go to my son, Isah(sp) Demyers, Hillard Williams, who is my nephew, who has been with me many years and served me as a son, and to my two grandchildren Mangold Lee and Meredith Lee, being the sons of my daughter Mandy Lee who is dead who I want to have a one third interest in any and all of my estate after the death of my wife Virginia and the other two-thirds value of my estate shall be divided equally between my son Isah(sp) and my nephew Hillard if they be living and if they or either of them be dead, then their part if any shall go to their legal heirs.

Item 4th. After having fully explained my wishes in the above items of this my last Will and testament as to the disposition of my estate at my death, and that part of any that should be left at the death of my wife Virginia, who is to have the use & management of what estate that I may leave with the full power to mortgage or sell if she should need to do so, or should see fit to so do, by naming and appointing as the Executor of this my last will Mr T. H. Millsaps of Brown Wells who has always proven to be one of my best friends and a man that I have all confidence in as a man.

And it is my wishes that he be allowed to serve without being required to give bond.

Item 5th. After having heard this my last will read, and being the will that I have directed without any influence from any one and being made as to my feeling as the best interest for those who I have made beneficiaries in this my last will I hereto sign my signature.

This the 3rd day of Dec 1909.

J. T. his x mark Demyers

Having been asked by J. T. Demyers to sign this instrument which purports to be his last will and testament & having seen him sign same after hearing it read, we and each of us in the presence of each other & in the presence of J. T. Demyers hereto sign out names as witnesses to the signatures made by him to this instrument.

This the 3rd day of Dec. 1909 A.D.

Frank Glancy
H. E. Kilpatrick
J. C. Dodds

Wills of Copiah County, Mississippi
Book A, Page 257
Microfilm Number: 8351

John T Demyers was my 2nd great grandmother Alice Demyers Overton Usher's brother.

John T Demyers was born about 1839 to Tom and Peggie Demyers in Copiah County, MS. He was husband to Virginia Taylor/Williams; father to Isaiah, John, Jr., Amanda, Dora, Henry and Willie. John T had a relationship with Mary Hart (Trueheart) that produced one son, Petrol/Pedro/Petro. John died between Dec 1909 - 1910.