Neshoba County

I Reuben Barrett of the County and State aforesaid being weak in body but sound of mind and knowing that all men have to die do hereby make and constitute this my last will and testament in manner and form following to wit-

1st I commend my soul to God who gave it.

2nd My body to be decently buried.

3rd It is my will and desire that all the property, with which it has pleased God to bless me, remaining after the payment of my just debts shall remain as is so long as my wife Sally may live and that it be managed and controlled by my sons John W & Beuben Barrett Jr my wife being supported out of the same.

4th It is my wish that the property be equally divided between my two sons John W & Reuben after the death of my wife.

5th To my daughter Adaline Holman I give the sum of Twenty dollars in addition to what I have already given her to be paid out of my money after the payment of my debts.

6th To my wife, Sally, I give all the money on hand at my death.

7th I hereby appoint my sons John W. & Reuben Barrett Jr my Executors, they not being required to give security for the same.

8th To my other children, Joseph, Thomas, Elisha, Jane, William, Margaret, James, George and Samuel I have given all that I intend for them.

In testimony where of I hereunto affix my hand and seal this the 14th January A.D. 1858

Reuben Barrett

Witnesses

Albert Kelly

Bartholomew Long

Thomas J. Meredith

The State of Mississippi

Neshoba County

In Probate Court of Law at the February Term 1858 therefore In the matter of a certain instrument of writing purporting to be the last will and Testament of Reuben deceased.

Janet,

The attached will of Reuben, Jr., copied from microfilm and is not a good image at all. I will try to do better. A new child is listed, Jane Barrett.

Maybe if some of his descendants see this they will give some information.

One question that I have is the age of Margaret. Reuben seems to have named his children in order of their birth except for the three that he names separately. Margaret is listed between where Reuben III would be and James. That agrees with the 1830 Tuscaloosa census and the 1840 Neshoba census. However on the 1850 census Margaret is listed as age 7. Next door to Reuben in 1850 is a Margaret Jones, wife of David A. Jones, she is age 21, b. Ala. James M. Barrett, age 19, b. Ala., is living in their household. This just looks strange to me. Could the 7 year old Margaret be a granddaughter or niece of Reuben and Sarah? Just speculation, of course.

Sarah Miller was the daughter of Elisha Miller and Jane Caradine. Jane Caradine was a half-sister of Mary Caradine who married Arthur Barrett. Thomas Caradine was their father. Jane's mother was Elizabeth Bell and Mary's mother was Elizabeth Grant.

Here is what I come up with for Reuben, Jr family (Margaret changed).

Joseph abt 1811

Adaline abt 1812

Thomas J abt 1815

Elisha M 23 Feb 1819

Jane abt 1820

William abt 1821

John W abt 1824

Reuben Jr. abt 1828

Margaret abt 1829

James M abt 1831

George Washington Jul 1834

Samuel S abt 1840

Adaline married a Holman.

With that many kids there ought to be someone who knows. Let's hope they come forward

Regards, Gerry