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- Archer Mathews was born, probably in Georgia, and evidently died in Wilcox County, Alabama, between the date of his Will, 11 September 1843, and the date of Probate, 18 October 1843. His Will, which will be given below, mentions his wife and children, but fails to name them. His wife's name has been obtained from the deed they signed and which is of record in Scioto County, Ohio [see section on General George Mathews]. He married Sarah C. and had more than one child. His Will, recorded in Will Book 1, Page 394, records of Wilcox County, Alabama, is as follows:-
"In the Name of God Amen. I Archur Mathews of the County of Wilcox and State of Alabama being of infirm bodily health but of disposing mind and memory & desirous of disposing of my worldly affairs do make publish and declare this to be my last will and testament in manner and form following, to wit,
"In the first place I desire that all of my just debts be paid so soon after my decease as my executors hereinafter named can make the necessary arrangements therefor.
"Secondly it is my will & desire that all of my property be kept together on my plantation under the management of my Executors hereinafter named and the proceeds thereof applied to the support & Education of my children - and that as they severally arrive at age or marry - that they shall be entitled to receive their distributive share of my personal Estate - and also of my real Estate.
"Thirdly It is my will & desire that my Executors should they find the proceeds from the plantation insufficient to support & educate my children in a suitable manner that they be authorized & I hereby empower them to sell a portion of my land - or the whole thereof and hire out my negroes. And, to do and perform every act and thing in and about the management of my Estate and the Education of my children as they may think most advisable for the interest of my Estate, and benefit of my children.
"Lastly I hereby nominate constitute & appoint my friends Charles Satterwhite, Ephraim Pharr & Duncan B. Smith Executors of this my Last Will & Testament - hereby ratifying and confirming this to be my last will & testament and revoking all former wills by me at any time made.
"In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal this 11th day of September AD 1843.
Archur Mathews (Seal)
"Signed, Sealed, Published & Declared to be my last will & testament in presence of Arthur Fant; Littleton H. Walter; James Ratcliff.
Wilcox County,
"Personally appeared in open Court Littleton H. Walter one of the subscribing witnesses to the foregoing will who being duly sworn upon oath saith that he saw Archur Mathews the testator sign the foregoing will that at the time of so doing he was of sane mind, that at the request of the testator he signed his name as a witness thereto that he saw the other subscribing witnesses sign their names at witnesses thereto. All in the presence of the testator and of each other.
Littleton H. Walter
"Sworn to and subscribed in Open Court 18 October 1843, D. W. Sterrett, Judge, State of Alabama, Wilcox County."
ATTACHED is Certificate of Probate Judge of Wilcox County, Alabama, with official seal affixed that the foregoing is a true and correct copy of Will recorded in Will Book 1, page 394, as appears on record in my office.
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