John Mitchell's 1852 Will

"Den de Doctor he come. De fust thing I knowed he would go down from her room and shake his head. I'd go off to our cabin and cry. One nite she died and I was a lonely little nigger after dey took her to de grave yard on de hill. I us to go up deir an' put red an' white roses, that she loved, in vases on her grave. After her died I was afraid I would be sont to de fields, but her sister she liked me and took me fer her maid." Ex-slave Julia Cox of Mississippi

Transcribed by Linda Durr Rudd
rtnlinda@earthlink.net

Will of John Mitchell
In the Name of God Amen

I John Mitchell of Jefferson County, State of Mississippi do make publish and declare this my last will hereby revoking all other wills by me at anytime heretofore made;

To my beloved daughter Sally McMillen I give, devise and bequeath the following named and described slaves now owned by me, to wit WAT 24, TOM 30, NED 28, SANDY 25, SAM 40, HENRY 25, FELIX 35, SEWELL 22, CHARLES 20, NANCY 50, AUGUSTA 25, LILLY 16, MUNROE 4, CANDANCE 19, EDNEY 18, AND PRINCE 4.

I also give and bequeath to my said daughter one third all money, bills of exchange and bills payable which I may have at the time of my death and also all the increase of the female slaves aboved named and also one third of all slaves which I may hereafter purchased.

To my beloved son, John Irvin Mitchell, I give and devise and bequeath all the residue and remainder of my estate both real, personal and mixed and whether in possession or expectance to be forever.

I do hereby constitute and appoint my son John Irvin Mitchell and my daughter Sally McMillen exector and execut vix of this my last will and testament.

In witness where of I have here unto set my hand and affixed my seal this 23rd day of April A.D. 1852.

John Mitchell (Seal)

John Mitchell was a member of the Union Church Presbyterian Church in Union Church, Jefferson County, MS. He applied for membership and was accepted October 10, 1845. John's slaves named in his 1852 will; WATT, AUGUSTA, EDNY, LILLY, CAROLINE, and CANDICE were also members of Union Church Presbyterian Church. Look for them on the servants memembership list where you will find the dates of their application, acceptance and baptismal.

According to the 1860 Jefferson County Slave Schedule, John's son, John Irvin owned 69 slaves. In April 1853, the senior John had recorded a deed of gift giving his son John Irvin 45 slaves.

John Mitchell's daughter Sarah Mitchell married Dougald McMillan July 12, 1824 in Jefferson County, Mississippi. See Dougald McMillan's 1865 inventory listing of slaves.

John Mitchell died February 22, 1859 in Jefferson County, Mississippi.

SOURCES

Jefferson County Wills - Microfilm Number: 12054 - Page 70
Union Church Presbyterian Church Records - Microfilm Number: 36274
Microfilms were found at the Mississippi Department of Archives and History.
1860 Jefferson County Slave Schedule
Family History and Genealogy Records

Private Anderson Mitchell of the 58th Regiment, United States Colored Infantry

John Mitchell's 1852 Deed of Gift
John Mitchell's 1859 Inventory List of Slaves

Remembering Their Names