State of Arkansas,
County of Pike,
Know All Men By These Presents:
That I, Pleasant White, of the County of Pike, State of Arkansas, being of sound and disposing mind and memory but in feeble physical health, in view of the uncertainty of life and the certainty of death, do make and declare the following to be my Last Will and Testament, hereby revoking all Last Wills and Testaments by me at any time heretofore made.
I. I give and bequeath my soul to God who gave it.
II. After the payment of my just debts, I give and bequeath all my property, both real and personal, moneys and debts and evidences of debts, due or becoming due, which I may possess at the time of my death to my beloved wife, Nancy A., to be by her held to her absolute use and behoof during the period of her widowhood, but in case of her marriage, it is my will that she retain of said property, but a child's part.
III. In case of the marriage of the said Nancy A. after my death, it is my bequest that all of my said property be equally divided between the said Nancy A. and my said heirs, viz: The said Mary A. Carter, Frances Rebecca Barnet Watson heir of Manerva F. Watson, who was the wife of W.W. Watson, Sarah A. White and W.J. White.
IV. At the death of my said wife, Nancy A., it is my bequest that all of my said property be equally divided among my heirs, viz: The said Mary A. Carter, Frances Rebecca Barnet Watson heir of Manerva F. Watson, who was the wife of W.W. Watson, Sarah A. White and W.J. White, deducting the amount of property or money which has, or may be paid to them prior to that time.
V. It is my will that the sum of Five Hundred Dollars in excess of the amount bequeathed to the others of my heirs, be by my executors hereinafter named, applied to the education of my said heir W.J. White.
VI. It is my will in case it is satisfactory with the other heirs, that in case of the marriage of the said Nancy A., the said Sarah A. and W.J. reside with her, and that no division of the said property be made until the death of the said Nancy A.
VII. It is my request that Thomas H. Carter and Micha(e)l W. Reese act as executors of this, my last Will and Testament.
In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal, on this 2nd day of November, 1877.
Pleasant White (Seal)
We, D.D. Jones, H.W. Carter and John B. Chesshir, do hereby certify, that the foregoing instrument of writing was signed by Pleasant White in our presence and that he declared the same to be his Last Will and Testament, on this 2nd day of November, 1877.
D.D. Jones
H.W. Carter
John B. (his x mark) Chesshir
Attest:
Henry W. Carter
Proof of Will
State of Arkansas,
ss.
County of Pike,
Personally appeared before J.C. Hughes, Clerk of the County and Probate Courts of Pike County, aforesaid, H.W. Carter and John Chesshir, to me well known who, being duly sworn, say: That they are two of the subscribing witnesses to the foregoing instrument of writing, purporting to be the last Will and Testament of Pleasant White, deceased; that said instrument was executed at the time, place and by the person therein named; that said Pleasant White, the testator, was at the time of signing said instrument upwards of twenty-one years of age, and of sound and disposing mind and memory, and that in the presence of both of these affiants, he declared it to be his last Will and Testament and subscribed his name thereto in the presence of both of these affiants; that at the request of said Testator, affiants wrote their names to his said Will in his presence and in the presence of each other; that the subscriptions of the foregoing instrument which is hereto attached is the identical one that affiants so witnessed and saw the said Pleasant White sign.
Henry W. Carter
John (his x mark) Chesshir
Attest:
J.C. Warren
Subscribed and sworn to before me, this 6 day of January, 1896.
J.C. Hughes, Clerk.
In Pike Probate Court
In Vacation, Jan. 6, 1896
In the Matter of the Estate of Pleasant White, deceased.
And now, on this 6th day of January, 1896, before the Clerk in vacation, comes W.J. White and presents and files an instrument of writing purporting to be the last Will and Testament of Pleasant White, deceased, late of Pike County, Ark., and asks that the same be proven and admitted to Probate.
Whereupon, comes H.W. Carter and John Chesshir, two of the subscribing witnesses, by whom due and legal proof of said Will is made.
It is therefore ordered that said Will be and the same is hereby admitted to probate and that the same be recorded.
J.C. Hughes, Clerk.
Endorsed: Last Will and Testament of Pleasant White. Filed Jan. 6, 1896.
J.C. Hughes, Clerk.
Approved on this the 13th day of January, 1896.
J.C. Warren, Judge.
Recorded in "Record of Wills A, Pike County," pages 8, 9, & 10, on January 14, 1896.
J.C. Hughes
Clerk.