In the name of God, Amen. I James Jordan Ward Seignior of the Republic of Texas and County of Red River being mindful of my mortality do make and publish this my last will and testament in the manner and form following to wit.
First I desire to be decently and privately buryed.
Second It is my desire that all my perishable property be sold on a credit of twelve months to the highest bidder and that all my just debts be paid out of the same and the remainder if any to be divided equally between by two sons James J. and Jourdan P.
To my son Joseph L. I give an bequeath a Negro man called Bill and a Negro girl called Agg aslo seventy five dollars. Said son Joseph L is indebted to me and also twenty five dollars cash. It being his entire part of my estate.
To my daughter Sarah Fraley I give and bequeath a Negro girl called Gin and one named Clo and one named Mary it being her entire part of my estate.
To my son James I give and bequeath one Negro woman named Febe one man named Ben and one man named Foul one name Helse and one girl named Mariah one boy named Font and one girl named Aalin one girl named Lize.
To my daughter Mary I give and bequeath twenty five dollars it being her entire part of my estate.
To my daughter Nancy Robbins I give and bequeath one Negro woman named Ginny and twenty five dollars which is her entire part of my estate.
To my son Jourdan P. I give and bequeath one Negro woman named Liz one boy named George one called Jerry one girl called Rachel one girl name Emaline one girl named Catherine one boy named Daw one girl named Caroline one girl named Betsy.
To my two grand sons John Ward and Isaac Ward, sons of Joseph L. Ward, I give and bequeath one Negro man James and one Negro woman Hannah to be equally divided between then when they become of age.
And also to my son Jourdan P. I give and bequeath one black mare and also to my sons James J. and Jourdan P. I give and bequeath the sum of three thousand dollars which sum Robert Hamilton is indebted to me for my headright league and labor and should said Hamilton not comply wit his contract then and in that case it is my desire that said league and labor of land be equally divided between said sons James J. and Jourdan P.
I do hereby appoint my son James sole guardian of my son Jourdan P. And also I do hereby appoint my soon James J. Ward sole executor of this my last will and testament in witness whereof I have herein to set my hand and seal.
[this paragraph crossed out and the paragraph below written following]
It is further my desire that all my Negroes remain in the possession of my son James J. until my son Jourdan P. attains the age of twenty one and then said Negroes to be divided according to my several bequests. I do herey appoint my son James J. sole executor of this my last will and testament in witnes whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 27th June 1838.
James J. [his X mark] Ward Seignor
Witness
John J. Horton
John Ward
Ann [her X mark] Patterson
State of Texas, County of Red River
I, George F. Lawton, Clerk of the County Court in and for the County aforesaid, do hereby certify that the annexed and forgoing will of James Jordan Ward Sen, dec'd together with the proof of said will as found recorded in the Probate Record Book A, page 102, is and was duly and correctly recorded in my office, in Record Book A of Marriages and Wills, pages 12, 22 & 23 on this the fourteenth day of April A D., 1849 In testimony whereof, I have here unto set my hand as Clerk and affeixed thereto the impress of my seal of office at office, in Clarksville this 14th day of April A. D. 1849
