The Will Books contain wills from 1839 to 1885. In these wills, people would specify where their property and savings would be inherited to. In the case of enslavers, they would specify enslaved people or a certain number of enslaved people that were to be inherited by named individuals. At times, enslaved people would be priced and when divided amongst heirs, money would be paid between inheritors in order to insure the value being inherited was equal. Many wills also describe the "future increases" of female slaves, referring to future unborn children as potential property. These wills also sometimes specify familial relations between enslaved people, but usually just between spouses and parents and children. Family relationships such as siblings, parents of adult children, grandparents, aunts or uncles, etc., are rarely if ever specified. In these wills, people would specify where their property and savings would be inherited to. In the case of enslavers, they would specify enslaved people or a certain number of enslaved people that were to be inherited by named individuals. At times, enslaved people would be priced and when divided amongst heirs, money would be paid between inheritors in order to insure the value being inherited was equal. Many wills also describe the "future increases" of female slaves, referring to future unborn children as potential property. These wills also sometimes specify familial relations between enslaved people, but usually just between spouses and parents and children. Family relationships such as siblings, parents of adult children, grandparents, aunts or uncles, etc., are rarely if ever specified.
Michael Miller's will stipulated that the enslaved persons Harriet, Columbus, Ellen, Jimma, Payton, Charles, Vera, and Archy are to be valued by the court and evenly divided between George and Sallie Miller. Once valued, Jimma would choose the master/mistress that she would like to be inherited to.
Jim and the others willed alongside him were to remain on the Chapman plantation for a year after Chapman's death to "work for a year after Chapman passes, bringing the plantation to good standing and then to all be sold."
In the record, it is stated that Jane was bequeathed to Thomas Fowler's daughter along with individuals listed to be her children (Creed, Oly, Ann, and Counsellar) and Ellender and her child.
James Taylor was the grandson of Thomas Fowler and was bequeathed George, Zache, Mett, and Moses. These enslaved individuals were divided between James and his brothers Shelton, Lewis, and Thomas Taylor.
In the sale bill dated December 9, 1848 it was said that James should remain "in possession" of Frances Deatin's husband John. Mariah and the other enslaved people valued alongside her were "to be hired out for a term of years until their hire shall pay of debt due to the estate of John Foster decd. amounting to five hundred dollars more or less."
Jacob S. Fowler and Henry Fowler are mentioned in the will of Jacob Fowler. Henry was his son and Jacob was most likely his son but it is not specifically mentioned in the record.