Person:Jeptha Spruill (6)

Will

Talbot County, Georgia, 2 Oct 1873

I, Jeptha Spruill, of said state and county, being of advanced age, I deem it right and proper both as respect to my family and myself that a Kind Providence has blessed me, I therefor e make this my last will and testament hereby revoking all others heretofore made by me.

Item 1: I give, bequeath and devise to my wife, Mary F. Spruill, fifty acres of land, it being the north portion of my land, including the house and the cross fence between the stuble field and corn field, also my horse Charlie and one plow stock and appurtenances, one pair o f plow gear, one weeding hoe, side saddle, one side board washstand, all of my chairs, dining table, wash pot and cooking utensils, crockery and glass ware, kitchen ware, six bee gums such as she may choose, four shoats, one cow known as "White Liser" and her calf. Also a support for one year and corn and provisions for her stock for one year. The above bequest is to her during my wife's lifetime or widowhood and in lieu of dower and at her death to my children.

Item 2: I give bequeath and devise to my wife Mary F. Spruill all the bedding and other things whatsoever she brought with her when we were married forever.

Item 3: Desire and direct that my Executor sell the residue of my property, both real and personal, wherever and whatever it may be privately or otherwise and the proceeds be equally divided between my children, viz: Diademia Hughes, Savannah Turner, Amanda McDill, Margaret E. Carmichael, George Spruiell, William Spruill, John Spruill and Arch Spruill. I reserve one acre of land for eight years for Clarissa Spruill, colored including the house where she now lives. Also five acres for one year to William Spruill, colored, east of the cross fence on the mountain.

Item 4: I hereby constitute and appoint John Pye Executor of this my last will and testament this October 2, 1873.

Signed: Jeptha Spruill, X his mark

Witnesses: P. G. Britt, M. H. Ferguson, Sherrard Gray

Recorded November 6th 1873^[2]

Information about an unknown Thomas Jeptha Spruill (born abt 1848)

Thomas Jeptha Spruill enlisted at Pickens County, August 1863 and served until he was paroled at Elmira, New York at the end of the War. He held the rank of Private in Co. C, 41st Reg't. Alabama Infantry, Confederate Army. He was captured at Petersburg, VA on June 15, 1864 and confined June 16, 1864 at Bermuda Hundred, VA.( Bermuda Hundred, VA Register No.191. page 32.) He was received at Elmira N.Y. on July 12, 1864 andr eleased June 16, 1865. He signed an oath of allegiance to the United States at Elmira N.Y. on June 16, 1865.

My mother tells me that Tom was only 15 or so years when he ran away to join the army. His father and uncles had already enlisted and left Tom home to run the farm. When the slaves were freed they all ran away and Tom didn't want to stay home and work the farm, so he ran away and joined the army. The enlistment dates above suggest that this must have been family lore, but not fact.

A letter from one of Tom's granddaughters says she remembers "Poppa" saying that he was taken in a boxcar to prison in NY. Because he was just a young kid, the guards at the prison would give him a leg up over the fence and send him into town to get things for them. When he returned they would open the gate to let him in. The guards were under orders not to open the gate to let anyone out. They were not under orders to not let anyone in.

submitted by Carol Toyama

1. ↑ Cox, Clarice S. (Mary Clarice Spruell). Gabriel Spruill of Carroll County, Georgia - descendants and allied families. (Carrollton, Georgia: C.S. Cox, 1984 (Decorah, Iowa : Anundsen Publishing))
   pp. 12-13.

   'Jeptha Spruill, married in South Carolina before 1820 where he lived when his children were born and first wife (a Bigby?) probably died. He moved to Coweta County, Georgia before 1840 where he was living with several children at that time. ... 7 February 1865 he was married to Mrs. Mary F. Bell in Talbot County, Georgia. He died in Talbot County 11 October 1873 leaving will ...' [followed by his transcribed will]

2. ↑ ^2.0 2.1 Talbot Wills, 1828-1928, in Georgia, Wills and Probate Records, 1742-1992
   pp. 197-98.

   see text in Narrative

3.   United States. 1820 U.S. Census Population Schedule. (National Archives Microfilm Publication M33).

   Abbeville, South Carolina (page 29):
   Jeptha Sprewell
   1 male 26-45 (Jeptha)
   1 male 10-16 (George)
   2 males under 10 (Wm. B. & John S.)
   1 female 26-45 (wife)
   1 female under 10 (Savannah)
   1 female slave under 14
   2 in agriculture

4.   Coweta Co, Georgia, in United States. 1840 U.S. Census Population Schedule. (National Archives Microfilm Publication M704).

   living with several children

5. ↑ Talbot, Georgia, in United States. 1850 U.S. Census Population Schedule. (National Archives Microfilm Publication M432).

   The 23rd District, Talbot County, Georgia (page 245-A):
   Dwelling #306, Family #306, Enumeration date: 29
   Real Estate Value $600
   Sprewell, Jeptha 66 M W Farmer SC
   Sprewell, Jemima 58 F W GA
   Sprewell, James 16 M W GA

6. ↑ Valley, Talbot, Georgia, in United States. 1860 U.S. Census Population Schedule. (National Archives Microfilm Publication M653).

   The 902nd District (Valley), Talbot County, Georgia
   (page 104)(page 665 written):
   Dwelling #730, Family #730, Enumeration date: 3 Aug 1860
   Real Estate Value $600, Personal Property Value $6250
   Spruill, Jeptha 76 M W Farmer SC
   Spruill, Jemima 68 F W SC

7.   Pleasant Hill, Talbot, Georgia, in United States. 1870 U.S. Census Population Schedule. (National Archives Microfilm Publications M593 and T132).

   Sprewels, Jeptha 85, born in South Carolina
   Sprewels, Frances, age 45, born in Georgia
   2 others