In the name of God Amen. I William Taylor considering the uncertainty of this mortal life and being of sound mind and memory do make and publish this my last will and testament in manner and form as follows that is to say.
First. I desire that my beloved wife Polly Taylor shall have a sufficiency of my affects for her maintenance during her natural life and some of the children to take of her those of them that she may prefer.
Second Item. I give to George M. Shepherd thirty five dollars extra of his equal part of my estate for improvements made on the houses where he now lives.
Item 3 - I give to Nancy Taylor widow of Michael S. Taylor dec’d. thirty five dollars for the improvements that was made of the farm there, my son Michaels children that he had by his first wife to have an equal share with those that was his heirs by his last wife namely Polly Adison, Margaret Jackson and John W. Taylor.
Item 4th - I give to my son Crabtree Taylor twenty dollars extra of his equal portion of my estate; the rest of my heirs to be made equal with the exceptions I have already made for improvements.
I do hereby appoint George M. Shepherd my executor to make sale of all my real and personal estate collect all moneys now on hand and make a fair and equal division of the same among my lawful heirs. If my beloved wife should think proper to live here where we now live and enjoy the proceeds of the land while she lives she is at liberty to have choice.
If George M. Shepherd should think that he needs assistance in this matter he is at liberty to choose somebody to aid him and they shall have a reasonable compensation for his or their trouble.
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal the 20th day of June in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty.
his
William X Taylor (Seal)
mark
Sam’l. Robinson
We do hereby certify that William Taylor signed this will in our presence this the day and date first above written.
Sam’l Robinson
Hiram F. Robinson
At a court held for Russell County on the 3d day of July 1860.
The last will and testament of William Taylor deceased was produced in court and proved by the oaths of Samuel Robinson and Hiram F. Robinson the two subscribing witnesses thereto and ordered to be recorded. And on the motion of George M. Shephered the executor therein named who took the oath of an executor prescribed by law and entered into & acknowledged his bond in the sum of $12,000.00 with Jesse Davis, Alexander McFarlane, Daniel J. Ayres and John C. Ferguson his security conditioned as the law directs. A certificate is therefore granted him for obtaining probate of the said will in due form.
Teste,
R. H. Lynch C.C.