27th January A.D. 1857

The undersigned being present at House of Hn. THOS. J. CONNELL on the night of the 26th January 1857 during his last sickness were called on to bear in mind the disposition he whshed made of his estate both Real and personal. The said THOS. J. CONNELL then proceeded to State that he wanted his entire property kept together for the space of one year and if in the opinion of competent judges the negroes were making any thing, they were still to be kept together on the farm; but if their farming was not profitable, at the end of the year; then he wished MRS. CONNELL to take five or six of the negroes such as she wanted to be kept on farm and the remainder to be hired out. MRS. CONNELL to have one third of the negroes. If the farming of the negroes should not be profitable in the opinion of competent judges, MRS. CONNELL to have one third of his land, and the remainder to be equelly diveded between his two Daughters, and at the death of MRS. CONNELL all the Land to his two Daughters. He also states that he wished HENRY PURSELL son of DR. J. H. PURSELL to have two negro Boys about the size of the said HENRY PURSELL to grow up with him. He also said he intended to give HENRY PURSELL a tract of Land. He also stated that he wished all the Lands held in partnership by CONNELL & FERGUSON to be sold.

He request that M. R. HILL, A. G. FERGUSON and H. L. FOWLKES to settle his estate.

H. L. FOWLKES
H. B. FOWLKES