In the name of God ... Amen.

Okay ... so you think I forgot to take off my religion editor's hat before I donned my genealogist's sunbonnet this week. Nope. Not so.

If you have done any research at all on old wills, you know those six words precede almost every will written before the 1900s, and some after that. Our ancestors seemed to think that leaving their soul to the Almighty was just as important as leaving the household furniture to the wife.

I could probably spend weeks doing research on old wills alone, not only because they reveal much about my ancestors, but also because it's just pure fun to do. Wills also are certifiable proof of your ancestor's existence and other important things about his or her life, including the names of children who were still living to inherit. If children had died, grandchildren sometimes were named as heirs.

Wills were recorded in the county of residence and were always witnessed by at least two people, usually family members or close friends. The will was first written, signed and witnessed (most likely at home), then after the person died, the will was taken to the county courthouse where it was approved and recorded.

The probate records associated with a will also include affidavits signed by the witnesses and may include the distribution of the estate and an inventory of all personal property. I mean, there is all kinds of information here, folks.

Before there were typewriters, all wills were hand written. But the handwriting you see in the courthouse records was not likely that of your ancestor. Court clerks dutifully sat and wrote everything in a ledger-type book, and that is what you find at the courthouse. Many of our ancestors could not read or write and you most often see an "X" within the signed

name, with "his mark" written in parentheses.

When you find a will, it is very important to note the book (A, B, C, etc.) and the page number. This is your "proof" and also tells others where the will may be found.

The oldest will I have seen belonging to one of my family members was recorded in 1797 in Edgefield Co., S.C. and belonged to Moses McWhorter.

A fellow McWhorter researcher, Laura Harker, was kind enough to send the typed transcription to me. I am in the process of obtaining the original,handwritten will and any associated probate records from another researcher who works in the courthouse in Edgefield County. Yes, it's going to cost me, but this will is such a point of controversy it will be worth it.

Reading old handwriting is a topic unto itself and I won't go into it here, but you have to have a little knowledge of it to read any old documents. I will say that one of the most common errors people make is in reading the old double s. The handwriting style long ago was to write the first s with a descender and the second s° as we know it now. Therefore, the name "Jesse" would appear to be "Jefse." There are more little quirks but I'll save them for another column.

If you copy a will by hand, be sure to copy it exactly as it appears. Do not assume. Don't put punctuation where there is none and do spell words exactly as they are, even if they are misspelled. Leave capital letters as they are.

If there is something you can't read, put a dash and a question mark, then write what it appears to be in parentheses.

The main questions surrounding the following will are whether Moses had more than one wife, and, therefore, more than one set of children, and, of "his"

three sons, which was the oldest. This is the point at which most McWhorter researchers split and you will see all kinds of conclusions on the Web. This particular Moses was the son of Henry McWhorter and Henry's father was another Moses (proved with Bible records). This is as far as accurate research can take it for now, although others (sometimes vehemently) disgree.

See how you interpret it ...

"Will of Moses Macquarter

"In the Name of God Amen I Moses Maquarters -?- being in perfect mind and Memory do make this my last will and testament alsso followeth, to wit my desire is that out of my Estate all my just debts Should be paid vis... I give unto my Loving wife Elizabeth & her children all my estate during her Natural life and widowhood the use of all my Estate, and if She Should mary Again I give her the third of all my Estate dureing her life and after her death it is to be left to all her children, George Allen and Salley Douglass, Daniel Pucket, Allen Marlen, Jean Allen And my son Moses I give one pen (pan?) and jointer and Jack plain and all my turnig tools except one chissel Several other tools the names is not Mention, and my Son landen I Give all the rest of my tools one chisel.

"And my Son John I give one brown horse price Six pounds I was to pay and has paid him Sixteen and Six pence

"And Lastly I appoint Thomas Adams Executor and My wife Elizabeth Executriks of this my last will and testament Revoking, all others and disannuling all will or Wills made Before by me, alsso witness my Hand this Seventeenth Day of February one Thousand Seven hundred and ninety seven.

"Moses X Mackquarter (his mark)"

Witnesses were Elizabeth Spears, Zena Winfrey and Sarah Howell and the will was recorded July 3, 1797 in will book A, page 126, Edgefield Co., S.C.

I sent this to one of my young cousins who is also doing McWhorter research and he said, "Boy! He really valued his chisel, didn°'t he?" He also surmised that Moses was a woodworker, probably a cabinet maker who did, indeed, value his chisel. I am eagerly awaiting the original copy of this will to see how it compares with the typed transcription.

Wills are sometimes "abstracted" and put into book form, along with others from the same will book. This means only the important information has been singled out. These abstracts may be available at your local genealogy library. Original wills also are available on microfilm. You will find them under "probate records" for the county where the will was recorded.

If you have copied a will from the original will book or from microfilm, the Genweb Archives would love to have it to put on the Web. Contact me and I'll tell you how. I recently contributed two of them. Sure makes you feel good to be able to share. You can't imagine what a help these are to people living in other states with no access to southern research materials.

If you're looking for your Georgia ancestors, have a genealogy tip, or have a local family history to share, write to The Citizen, Drawer 1719, Fayetteville, GA ; jkilgore@thecitizennews.com or jodiek444@aol.com. I'll be happy to share it with others and maybe help you "find your folks."

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