Thomas Booth

Oconee County, Georgia

State of Georgia
County of Oconee

I THOMAS BOOTH of said State and County being of sound and disposing mind and memory do make this my last Will and Testament revoking all other wills heretofore made by me.

Item First I desire that my body be buried in a decent and Christian like manner.

Item Second I desire and direct that all my just debts be paid.

Item Third I give, bequeath, and devise to my Nephew A. W. ASHFORD and C. H. ASHFORD, and my Niece MARTHA K. ASHFORD, all of my property, both Real and personal wherever and whatever it may be after paying my debts and subject to the provisions of the next (Fourth) item of this will.

Item Fourth In the event that either my Brother, ROBERT BOOTH or my Nephew ROBERT J. ASHFORD should be reduced to want, or destitute circumstances, on account of sickness or other misfortune, then it is my wish and desire, and I will that my Executor shall appropriate and hold in trust for them, so much of my Estate either in money or otherwise as he may think best, as will keep them from want or destitute circumstances; provided that said appropriation shall in no event exceed in amount what would be an equal share with the parties named in Item Third of this will and testament

Item Fifth I hereby Constitute and appoint my Nephew C. H. ASHFORD Executor of this my last will and testament

This the 3rd day of July 1884.
THOMAS BOOTH

Signed, Sealed, declared and published by Thomas Booth, as his last Will and testament, in the presence of us the subscribers, Who subscribe our names hereto, in the presence of said Testator (at his instance and request) and of each other, he signing in our presence and we signing in his presence, and in the presence of each other.

Jno W. Johnson
J. M. A. Johnson
R. M. Jackson

Codicil
State of Georgia,
County of Oconee

Whereas I, Thomas Booth did on the third day of July 1884 sign, seal, declare and publish my last Will and Testament in the presence of , J. W. Johnson, J. M. A. Johnson, and R. M. Jackson, who signed said Will and Testament as witnesses. And whereas I am desirous now, of changing the Fifth Item of said Will and Testament by adding to and supplying an omission in said Item without otherwise changing or altering said Will and Testament in any particular. I therefore make and publish this Codicil to said Will and Testament.

First, in the fifth item of said Will and Testament I constitute and appoint my Nephew C. H. Ashford Executor of said Will and Testament-I desire that he still remain as my Executor to said Will and Testament, but I desire further and it is my will and wish, and I do hereby give and clothe the said C. H. Ashford as Executor of my last will and Testament above refered to full power and authority to wind up my Estate in accordance with the terms of said Will and Testament, without the necessity of his making any inventory or Returns to the Court of Ordinary. I also give to said Executor the power and authority to make any sale of my property personal or Real, either privately or publicly as he may deem best for the interest of those interested in said Will and Testament, and in order to carry out the terms of said Will and Testament, without the necessity of any order by the Ordinary for such purpose. I also give and empower said Executor with the authority to make and sign Deeds in his name as Executor to all such parties as may have my Bonds for titles, upon compliance with their contracts and desire that such Deeds shall pass the title as fully as if made by me in life, and I give to said Executor full power and authority to make and sign any and all papers in winding up my Estate both individually and any interest in the firms of T. Booth & Co. and the firm of T. & R. Booth & Co. It being my will that all the business connected with the winding up of my Estate shall be done by said Executor as fully as I could if in life, and without the necessity of orders by the Ordinary and without the necessity of returns and c provided the same shall not work an injury to any creditor or third person other than legatees under the will. This 15 day of June 1892.

Thomas Booth

Signed, sealed declared and published by Thomas Booth as a Codicil to his last Will and Testament of the third day of July 1884 in the presence of the undersigned who subscribe our names hereto in the presence of said Testator and at his special instance and request and in the presence of each other, he signing first in our presence and we signing in his presence and in the presence of each other This 15 June 1892.

J. W. Johnson
J. M. A. Johnson witnesses
R. M. Jackson

State of Gerogia,
Oconee County

Before me came J. W. Johnson, J. M A. Johnson and R. M. Jackson named as witness to the within writing purpoting to be Thomas Booth's last Will and Codicil and being duly sworn say that they at the request of Thomas Booth and in his presence did attest as witnesses the within writing, as his, Thomas Booth's will and codicil, that the same was signed and published by Thomas Booth in their presence as his last will, and codicil thereto. That he was at the time of said attestation and signing by himself, of sound and disposing mind and memory, that he executed the within paper voluntarily.

Sworn to and subscribed before me this Sept. 4,1893 B. E. Thrasher Ordinary (and signed by the same 3 witnesses)

Contributed by Bobbi Keenan