Hardin Dudley Runnels

Will of Hardin Dudley Runnels, 1789 - 1839, Madison, Mississippi

from the blog "Our Own History" http://ourownhistory.blogspot.com/2016_09_01_archive.html

Hardin Runnels was a native of Elbert, Georgia. He married Martha Darden and they had six children, one of whom was Hardin Richard Runnels, the sixth governor of Texas. Hardin D. Runnels left the following will, probated in Madison, Mississippi, probated June 1829.

WILL OF HARDIN D. RUNNELS

MADISON COUNTY, MISSISSIPPI

WILL BOOK "A", PAGE 55-56

STATE OF MISSISSIPPI

MADISON COUNTY

Hardin D. Runnels - Will

I the Name of God, Amen.

I, Hardin D. Runnels of the County and State aforesaid being sick in body but of sound and disposing mind and memory, knowing the uncertainty of life and the certainty of death, do by these presents make and ordain this my last will and testament in manner and form following to wit:

I resign my body to the grave, and my soul to Almighty God who gave it.

I wish all my just debts and contracts paid.

I give and bequeath to my beloved wife Martha B. Runnels four Negroes such as she may wish to select out of my slaves.

I give and bequeath unto my son Edward S. Runnels the following Negroes, viz: Harry, Luce and three children named Louiza, Rosa, Anne, and Henry, Lucinda and two children named Daniel and Gabriel Washington, Ann and one child named Mahala, Frederick, Craddock, Jane and Charles, fifteen in number.

I give and bequeath unto my son Hiram A. Runnels the following Negroes, viz: Juba, Lethe and two children named Cassandra and Elizabeth, Kite, Emeline, and two children named Tabitha and Isaac, Buck, Mulinda and one child, named Lucy, Joe, Elizabeth and one child Jacob, in case the woman let he given above who is now pregnant shall have a child not to live until the 1st of January next. It is my wish that my son Hiram A. Runnels receive a negro child in lieu thereof the age of one or two years from amongst my slaves not otherwise disposed of.

I give and bequeath unto my son Hardin R. Runnels fifteen Negroes when he shall arrive at the age of twenty-one years of the same value as near as can be of the two lots given to my sons Edmund S. and Hiram A. Runnels.

I give and bequeath unto my son Howell W. Runnels fifteen Negroes, when he shall arrive at the age of twenty-one years of the same value as near as can be the two lots given to my sons Edmund S. and Hiram A. Runnels.

I give and bequeath unto my wife Martha B. Runnels eleven Negroes of the same value together with the four Negroes given heretofore as near as can be of the two lots given to my sons Edmund S. and Hiram A. Runnels during her natural life or widowhood.

It is my wish and desire that the property not given away shall be kept together on the plantation where I now reside until my son Howell W. Runnels shall arrive at the age of twenty-one years unless by consent of all parties they agree to sell said lands.

It is my wish and desire that William Porter in case he should go to Texas should have the use of my negro girl now in Texas as a slave so long as said negro shall live, also to have the use of all my tools in Texas of all kinds.

It is my wish after all the legacies have been given off and my debts paid, the balance of my Estate to be equally divided between my wife Martha B. Runnels and my four sons, Edmund S., Hiram A., Hardin R., and Howell W. Runnels.

I do hereby nominate, constitute and appoint my beloved wife Martha B. Runnels Executrix and her to select others a sufficient number Executors of this my last will and Testament to see that the same be faithfully fulfilled.

Given under my hand and seal this 25th day of June. 1839

Witnesses

William Rayner

A. Voinard

James B. Slade

Probated September Term of Court, 1839