Know all persons by these presents that I George Grounds of the County of Franklin and State of Arkansas, on the twelfth day of June in the year of Our Lord one Thousand Eight Hundred and forty-five, being of sound mind but weak in body do make this my last will and Testament and my will is as follows to wit, First I desire that all my personal property except one cow and calf be sold and my Just debts paid out of the proceeds of the same, and the residue, if any divided equally between my children, Marian Mc Cubbins, William B. Grounds, Lucinda Grounds, Narcissa Grounds, Eudora Grounds and Robert W. Grounds. Secondly I bequeath to my daughter Mirana Paeton [Partin] one cow and calf that she may select from my stock. Thirdly I bequeath to my daughter Marian Mc Cubbins a Negro boy slave for life named Jack Fourthly I bequeath to my son William B Grounds one half of all my land lying and being in the now County of Franklin and State of Arkansas and the place that I now live on. Filthily I bequeath to my daughter Lucinda Grounds a Negro boy slave for life named Jack. Sixthly I bequeath to my daughter Narcissa Grounds a Negro boy slave for life named Bob Seventhly I bequeath to my daughter Eudora Grounds a Negro girl slave for life named Phebe. Eightly I bequeath to my son Robert W. Grounds one half of all my land Lying and being in the now County of Franklin and State of Arkansas and the place that I now live on. Ninthly it is my request first that my Cousin Thomas Grounds, comes and take charge of my farm and children if he will, If he will not than it is my wish that James Mc Cubbins my son in Law takes charge of the same. Either of them that will come shall be entitled to any enumeration that they and my Executor may agree on, and in case both fail to come, It is my request that my Executor does the best with my children that he can for their Interest. I further make this my last request that Lorenzo C. Quinn be and I appoint him Executor to carry out this my last will and Testament. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my name. Signed In Present of signed George Grounds (very shaky as if ill] The above day written Witnesses David Fort, John Tidsworth Levi Bariare State of Arkansas County of Franklin ss We, David Fort, John Tidsworth and Levi Bariare before Emanuel Spugle, clerk of the court of Probate of said county in ___, do each for himself, respectly state on oath, that George Grounds the testator in the forgoing will & testament signed the above writing as his last will & testament, that he was at the time of signing the same of ___mind and each of us surely ___ ___ names thereunto in the ____of said testator and at his request, so help us God. Dave Fort This the 16th days of June 1845. signed John Tidsworth Levi Barnare An Inventory of the Property, money and Effects of the Estate of George Grounds, Deceased Cash on hand .60; Note on Martin ___ dated March 1845 due ... 10 percent interest 27.00; Note on William Stephens & Nach Caulk dated March 15th 1841 due 1st Sept 1841 bearing interest ten percent 50.00 on note March 26th, 1842 25.00 due 25.00; note on John Mauby Oct. 18th 1841 due twelve months after date at 10 per cent 50.00; Note on L. C. Quinn dated --- 1845 due one day after date bearing 10 per cent interest 170.66; note on J. H. Perley date 20th ___ 1845 due 12 months after date at lawful interest 75.00; note on J. H. Perley date 20th Feb 1846 due one year after date at lawful interest 45.00; note on Almon Steel & S. B. Stul dated sixth Dec 1844 at lawful interest 66.00; John ___ receipt for the collection of a claim against E. S. Moffitt ___ L. A. Clarke & Strong Receipt for six hundred and thirty pounds seed cotton. Appraisement Bill 9 July 1845 Personal property 3 yr old stallion; 3 yr old filly; Bay mare & colt; Sorrel Mare & colt; sorrel filly; yr old mule; yr old mule; ___ mare; 1 yoke oxen; 1 yoke oxen; white cow & calf; 3 dry cows; (5) 3 yr old steers; (4) 2 yr old steers; (3) 3 yr old Heifers; (1) 3 yr old heifer; (1) 1 yr old steer; (8) sheep; Home stock of Hogs; Wild stock of hogs; Wagon; (28) Head geese; Upper field corn; lower field corn; cotton field; (4) cow & calf; (1) 2 yr old horse; 1 sorrel Horse; mans saddle; woman's saddle; (3) bridles; rifle (1) clock; (1) bureau; (1 bureau & glass; bedstead; bedstead; bedstead; bedstead & bed; bedstead & bed; cupboard; (7) chairs; (1) full leaf table; bookcase; spinning wheel; loom; candle molds; spinning wheel; Broad axe; hand saw; (3) cotton hoes; (2) log chains; cultivator; (4) axes; set ploughs & gears; plough & set gears; lot ploughs & gears; shovel Plough; plough & Double tree; steel mill; crop cut saws; misc tools and kitchen ware Total $994.26 dated 19th day of June 1845 Sale 19th day of July 1845 Total $624.19 James McCubbins, son in law, bought: filly, bay mare & colt, (2) yoke of oxen, wagon, rifle, & chains. Roseville Dec. 28th 1847 Received of L C Quinn Executor of the Estate of George Grounds deceased, Three negro Slaves, as follows Phebe, Jack and Bob approximately to Sixteen hundred dollars, belonging to said Estate, also the farm ____ as McLean Bottom belonging to said Estate. valued at One Thousand dollars. Also one other tract of land known as the John F. Moore place valued to one hundred and fifty dollars. This being the whole of the slave property and Bal Estate belonging to said Estate. [signed] James B. McCubbins guardian of the heirs of George Grounds deceased. Received of L. C. Quinn Executor of George Grounds, deceased all the Deeds, Bill of sale and other private papers belonging to the estate of said George Grounds. ... Thence afterwards to wit at the August Term of the Probate Court 1848 the following proceeds were held as follows (viz) And now on this day was a petition presented to the court by James B. McCubbins as guardians of the Minor heirs of George Grounds deceased for the said guardian to Keep said Slaves to assist in taking care of said minor heirs till the first day of January 1849 also for to hire of said Slaves Belonging to said Estate for the year 1849 on the first day of January next and after the Court being fully advised the prayer of said petitioner is here by granted and it further ordered by the court that said Guardian proceed and hire said Slave on the first day of January 1849. Afterwards the following proceedings were held in words and figures following (to wit) Be it remembered that on, this day James B. McCubbins as Guardian of the Minor heirs of George Grounds, deceased Filed a petition for the removal of his guardianship from the county of Fulton to the county of Franklin where all the property of said minors lies he the said McCubbins having this day here to the court shown the certificate of his having filed his Bond in the office of the clerk of the court of probate of the said county of Franklin which certificate Bears the date October 20th day AD 1848 Signed by the Clerk of said Court and sealed with the with the County of Franklin and the court after the ___ being Seen and fully understood doth order said guardian to be removed as requested by said petition and it is further ordered that and decreed by the court that the said James B. McCubbins as such guardian be and he is hereby released from all further settlement in this county and said McCubbins and his securities are hereby released from all further responsibilities ! on said Bonds as such ___ as aforesaid. State of Arkansas County of Fulton---I Isaac King clerk of the circuit court and _____ clerk of the court of probate do hereby certify that the above is a copy of all the Record and proceeding had in the above entitled case.... Filed the 16th Oct. 1849 Copy of the Records of the Probate Court of Fulton County at November Term of 1847 the following proceedings were held Before the honorable John Plinnlle, Judge of Probate. Now on this day appeared James B. McCubbins who presented to the court here a petition of William B Grounds a minor over the age of fourteen years and also the petition of Lucinda C Grounds, Eudora R. Grounds and Robert C. Grounds minor heirs of the Estate of George Grounds deceased under the age of fourteen years by there next of Kin Peter Grounds, all heirs of the Estate of George Grounds deceased which said petition prayed that said James B. McCubbins Be appointed Guardian of there person and of there personal and Real Estate. And said petition having been examined by the court, the court is of opinion that the prayer of the same be granted and the said McCubbins present his bonds as guardian to the said infant heirs which said bond being deemed sufficient by the court are hereby approved and it is ordered and decreed by the court that said James B. McCubbins be and he is hereby appointed Guardian of the said minor heirs with full power to manage all the moneys property and effects belonging to the said minor heirs. And it is further ordered by the court that the Executor of the Estate of George Grounds deceased pay over and deliver to the said McCubbins as Guardian all the moneys, property, and effects in his hands or possession or under their control belonging to the said heirs. The said James B. McCubbins to account according to Law for the same. Petition of James B & Mary Ann McCubbins for sale of Negro for distribution Filed the 16th Oct 1849 To the Honorable John Hovea Probate Judge in & for the County of Franklin. Humbly C____ your Petitioner James B. McCubbins in right of his wife Mary Ann, and Mary Ann McCubbins in her own right would ____ unto the courts that sometime in the year 1845 one George Grouns departed his life, leaving him surviving as his heirs at Law your petitioner Mary Ann McCubbins who before his death had married your petitioner the said James B. McCubbins, Maranda who before the death of said Grouns had entered marriage with Wiloby Partain - William B. Grouns - Lucinda C. Grouns - Narcissa C. Grouns - Eudora R. Grouns & Robert C. Grouns his children & heirs at Law as already declared. And that said George Grouns died leaving a last will & testament, which was proved as the law requires and L. C. Quinn his Executor therein appointed and took upon himself the execution of the said will. They ___ for him ___ that said Estate was perfectly solvent & good and your petitioners the said James B. McCubbins ___ represents unto the Court that he has heretofore purchased fro! m Wiloby Partain & his wife Maranda Partain all the interest which they have in and to the estate of said George Grouns and they your petitioners would from the state that the said will & testament of said George Grounds he gave and bequeathed to said Narcissa C. Grouns one Negro boy named Bob about eleven years of age and to the other heirs specific legacies And they would for him state that she the said Narcissa departed this life August 1847= still a minor, and that by said will the said Narcissa was to have one seventh of the sales of property sold by Executors after having expenses debited. Your petitioners would state that as the heirs at Law of said Narcissa. They would for him ___ ___ said property of said deceased ___ as it now stands be divided with and among said heirs. They ___ ___ __ ____ to make an ___ _______said James B. McCubbins to sell said boy Bob for cash at such time & ___ as the court may direct, and that after sale so made that said McCubbins may th! is ____of said sale and what the _____ of the ____ ___ from said sale be divided as follows-one fifth to said McCubbins & wife as their distribution share of said sale - one fifth to said McCubbins as the purchaser of the right of Wiloby & Maranda Partain share in and to said estate one fifth to William B Grouns One fifth to Lucinda C Grouns one fifth to Eudora R Grouns & one fifth to Robert C Grouns and ___ the other and remaining estate of Narcissa be divided as the above when handed over to said Guardian and in ___ ___ __ ___ ___ ___