In the name of God Amen. I Stephen DUKE of the County of Upson and State of Georgia, in view of the uncertainty of death do make and ordain this my last Will and Testament. Chiefly I command my soul to the mercy of Him who gave it, and my body to the earth in decent burial and of my worldly substance I make the following dispositions.

Item- My will I devise is that my property of every kind, consisting chiefly in ten negroes, the settlement of land whereon I now reside about twohundred and fifty and an half acre, two horses, gray mare, black mare mule, my stock of cattle, hogs and sheep, my present crop and my household and kitchen furniture with some few debts should be sold on a credit of twelve months by my Executor, he requiring good and suffiecent security.

Item- After my Estate is reduced to money I Will all just debts paid.
Item- When my just debts are all paid I wish the balance of the proceeds of the sale of my property divided into five equal parts; one fifth I hereby give to my wife Sarah DUKE; one fifth I give to the children of Joseph DUKE of the County of Upson; one fifth I give to the children of Moses DUKE of the County of Harris; one fifth I give to the children of Delila HICKMAM of the County of Upson and the other one fifth I give to the children now living of Anna and John CANNIFAX, the said Anna being dead and the said John residing in the state of Alabama.

Item- I hereby give all and singular all the rights, titles and interest that I may have in and to any and every other pieces of property not herein named to the said Sarah DUKE, the children of the said Joseph DUKE, the children of the said Moses DUKE, the children of the said Delila HICKMAN and the children of the said Anna and John CANNIFAX, and be divided in the same way of my other property.

Item- I have already given to my four children Joel DUKE and Thomas DUKE, who I understand live in Alabama, and Green DUKE and Peggy DUKE of the State of Georgia, as much as I wish them to have of my property.

Item- I hereby nominate James Anderson, Sarah Duke and Obediah C.Gibson Executors of this my last Will and Testament.

In testimony whereof I the said Stephen Duke have hereunto set my hand and seal this 15th day October 1844.

Signed sealed and published in presence of as we signing in the presence of each other and the testator as witnesses.
James M. Hightower
Thomas Anderson
John M. Boyt.
Stephen Duke 4 Mar. 1845