State of Georgia
Upson County
In the name of God Amen I Sterling Gardner of the County & State aforesaid do make & ordain this my last Will & Testament hereby revoking all others.
I direct that my body be buried in a decent & respectable manner, and that all my just debts be spioily paid.
I give & bequeath to me beloved daughter Sarah Moss the sum of One hundred dollars, to her, her heirs & asignes forever.
I give & bequeath to Mary T. Caroline C & Alabama Gardner heirs of my beloved Son Thomas Gardner deceased, the sum of one hundred dollars to be equally divided between them to them, their heirs & assignes forever.
I give & bequeath to Rebecka Ann Jordan and Richard Washington Heath heirs of my beloved daughter Elizabeth Heath dec'd the sum of one hundred dollars to be equally divided between them. to them, their heirs & assignes forever.
I give & bequeath to James T Persons. Syntha Joiner and Elizabeth Hooge heirs of my beloved daughter Martha Persons deceased the sum of four hundred & fifty dollars to be equally divided between them. to them, their heirs & assignes forever.
I give & bequeath to Lewis & Sterling S. Pitts heirs of my beloved daughter Nancy Pitts deceased the sum of One hundred dollars to be equally divided between them, to them their heirs & assignes forever
I give & bequeath to my beloved daughter Precisilla Ivy the sum of one hundred dollars, to her, her heirs & assignes forever.
I give & bequeath to my beloved daughter Susanah Jenkins the sum of one hundred dollars, to her, her heirs & assignes forever.
I give & bequeath to my beloved daughter Frances Stafford the sum of fifty dollars, to her, her heirs & assignes forever.
I give & bequeath to Sicero Sterling, Susanah Frances & Sarah Gibson heirs of my beloved daughter Mary Gibson deceased one note of hand that I now hold against the estate of Thomas Gibson deceased with in trust thereon, and the further sum of two hundred dollars to be equally divided between them by my Execator or they severally become of lawful age, to them, their heirs & assignes forever.
The residue of my estate not already disposed of I direct my Exacutor to divide into four equal parts or Morties. One part thereof I give & bequeath to my beloved son John Gardner, to him his heirs & assignes forever.
And one part thereof to my beloved daughter Caroline C. Smith to her, her heirs & assignes forever.
One part thereof to the heirs of my beloved son Sterling Gardner deceased to be equally divided between them, to them, their heirs and assignes forever.
And one part thereof to Augustis W. Sterling S. Elizabeth Ann Thomas L. and Reubin Rogers, heirs of my beloved daughter Frances Rogers now Frances Stafford to be equally divided between them, to them, their heirs & assignes forever.
I direct that as soon as my estate can be settled & a division **** that my Executors pay over to all the above mentioned heirs that have become of lawful age or married then aupichue portions, and to retain in their hands the remainder of the Lagacie, or portions of those that have not become of lawful age, until they do become of lawful age and then pay them oui then repichue parts without interest.
Lastly I hereby constitute & appoint my Son John Gardner and Laurence Smith Executors of this my last will & testamment.
In testmony whenof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed my Seal this 2*th March 1843.
William Willis
A. W. Stafford
Janice M. Willis
Sterling Gardner
State of Georgia
Upson County
Inferior Court Settins for Ordinary Purposes
March Term 1848
The within last Will & Testament of Sterling Gardner deceased having been duly proven at this Regular Term in Open Court upon the oath of William Willis are of the subscribing witness to said will. It is ordered that the same be a omitted to record and that letters Testamentary issue to John Gardner are of the Executors namedin said will.
Attest**William Trice J.J.C.
William Lowe J.J.C.