Wills are a valuable part of genealogy research as they often shed light on relationships between family members. Sometimes they help to tie together a variety of documents found for a person. John Coleman lived in Jefferson County, Georgia and evidently had some marital difficulties.
A notice appeared in the newspaper on February 25, 1800 in Jefferson County, Georgia. It read:
“Whereas my wife, Rhoda Coleman, has left my bed and boarding against my will, these are therefore to forewarn all persons from dealings with her on my account, as I am determined to be the disposer of my own property, and to pay no debts but those of my own contracting.” Signed John Coleman.[i]
He evidently remained separated from his wife and began a relationship with another woman. In March 1802, the Grand Jury in Jefferson County made the following presentment: “We present John Coleman and Mary Ford for living in adultery.”
John Coleman and Mary Ford were again charged with Adultery on March 23, 1810 by the Grand Jury. [iii]
John Coleman and Mary Ford married in 1811 in Jefferson County, Georgia.[iv]
John Coleman made his will on July 22, 1836 in Jefferson County, Georgia. It is unusual in that he identifies not only his legitimate daughter, Rachel, but also two “natural” children, William and Ellender. All three of the children inherit property from his estate and he comments, “these two natural children of mine are entitled to as much love and consideration from me as though they were my legitimate children and I intend doing for them and their children as well as for my legitimate daughter.”[v]
Will of John Coleman
In the name of God Amen I John Coleman of the County and State aforesaid being of sound and disposing mind but very weak and unfirm in body and low in health do make and ordain this my last will and testament in manner and form following…
First I will that at my death all of my just debts to be paid out of my perishable property to wit my stock consisting of horses, hogs and cattle, my plantation tools, my household and kitchen furniture which are to be sold for that purpose and also the crop which may be growing … on my plantation, all of which I want sold and after paying all of my just debts, the residue or remainder if any there be to be equally divided between my following named children share and share alike between them to wit Rachael Johnson who is my legitimate daughter, William A. Coleman who is my natural child and Ellender Thomas, the wife of William B. G. Thomas who is also the other natural child of mine and these two natural children of mine are entitled to as much love and consideration from me as though they were my legitimate children and I intend doing for them and their children as well as for my legitimate daughter.
Secondly I give and bequeath unto my beloved daughter Ellender Thomas, the wife of William B. G. Thomas the following property to wit one tract of swamp land lying in the county of Jefferson and on the waters of Rocky Comfort Creek on the south side of the same containing one hundred acres more or less. Known and distinguished as the Isaac Lefeaver tract. I give and bequeath the same to her heirs of her body on account of the love and affection I have for her and her children. I wish them to have the same forever also to her and her heirs I give and bequeath a slave by the name of Dave, about thirty years of age to have and to hold in like manner with the land to her and her heirs of her body forever.
Thirdly I give and bequeath to my grandson John H.S. Coleman the son of my natural child William A. Coleman and for whom I have the same love as though his father was my legitimate child – I give to him a slave by the name of Charles to have and to hold the same to him and his heirs forever.
Fourthly I give and bequeath to my beloved daughter Rachael Johnson who is my legitimate daughter one tract of land containing forty acres more or less … in the county of Jefferson upon which is my dwelling house and part of my plantation known as the orchard tract also another tract of land joining the before mentioned piece containing forty five acres more or less all of which said land I give and bequeath to her and the heirs of her body forever and in case that she should depart this life without issue then and in that case, the land is to revert back to the children of William A. Coleman and Ellendar Thomas share and share alike between them and this I promise to be my last Will and testament and I wish for my property to be disposed of according to this will and I wish no fuss about it at my death and I do appoint my beloved natural son William A. Coleman & the husband of Ellendar my natural daughter William B. G. Thomas as executors to this my last will and testament in testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal to this the 22nd July 1836.
John Coleman
[ii] Poss, Fay Stone, Early Jefferson County Newspaper Abstracts, 1799-1811, Snellville, Georgia, 2001, p. 141.
[i] Poss, Fay Stone, Early Jefferson County Newspaper Abstracts, 1799-1811, Snellville, Georgia, 2001, p. 41.
[iii] Ports, Michael A., Jefferson County, Superior Court Minutes, Volume III, September 10, 1804-September 28, 1818 p. 225, Clearfield Company, reprinted by Genealogical Publishing Company, Baltimore, MD, 2016.
[iv] Stephens, Jeanne & C.W., Early Jefferson County, Georgia Marriages, no publication information, no page numbers.
[v] Georgia Probate Records, 1742-1990, digital images (unindexed), FamilySearch.org (https://familysearch.org; accessed 10 January 2018) citing Jefferson County Wills 1797-1873, volume A, image 325-326 of 540, Jefferson county courthouse.
