The Shemwell Family

Transcription: In the name of God Amen, I Osborn McGeehe have this day made this my last will and testament. Clause the first. I do appoint John McGeehe my only son my executor to carry this my will into effect after my death. Cl 2. I give and bequeath both Real Chase and personal Estate to my wife Rebecca McGeehe during her natural life after my funeral expenses and debts are paid. Cl 3. After the death of my beloved wife it is my desire that my Executor John McGeehe shall sell all my personal Estate and collect all debts that may be due me or my deceased wife and have my Six Negroes namely, Peggy, John, Jane, Frank, Martin and Rachel, all matured and divided them by lot to six of my children and those of my children that deserve the most valuable Negros are to pay the overplus into hotchpot so that my seventh child shall have an equal share in money paid out of hotchpot, and divide the slaves and money owing from debts, and the sale of my personal Estate so that each of my seven children to wit Ann Johnson, John McGeehe, Patsey Knighton, Sally Eppsa, Nelly Dorherty, Nancy Pruitt, and Fanny Dorherty shall have an equal share of all of my worldly effects. Cl 4. It is my desire that my Executor John McGeehe pay over the several portions belonging to each of my daughters to them and take their receipt for the same which shall be a discharge for their portions of my estate. Cl 5. it is my will that the Estate given by me to my daughters are not later sold or in any way to be disposed of to pay debts of their husbands, but shall and remain for the maintenance of my daughters. Cl 6. it is my will that courts of law and equity if ever my wife shall be contested shall construe the same according to the intention of the testators have known in this my Last Will and Testament. In the name of God Amen. In testimony where of I have unto set my hand and seal this 30th day of October AD 1844. Osborn (his mark) McGeehe Seal Signed by making his hands and acknowledging the same, in presence of us Name Signed by W L Simms and Andre Gordon State of Arkansas Conway County I Harrison H Higgins, clerk of the circuit court and Exofficio Recorder for the county aforesaid do hereby certify that the foregoing instrument of writing was filed with me for safekeeping and by Request of the testator was Recorded in the Record Book C Page 75 – 6 In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal of office this 30th day of October AD 1844, H H Higgins Clerk and Exofficio Recorder

Nancy McGehee vs Conway and Dunnel - Part 1 March 12, 1855 "Now on this date comes the Plaintiff by his attorney and filed his moton to dismiss this cause from want of jurisdiction." March 12, 1855 "Now on this date comes said defendant and filed his moton to dismiss this suit and supercede the judgement of the Justice in this case for want of jurisdiction in the Justice."

Nancy McGehee vs Conway and Dunnel - Part 2 March 13, 1855 "Now on this day comes the parties for this suit by their respective attorneys and the attorney for the appelee filed his motion to dismiss this case from the docket, which motion was sustained by the court, and it is ordered by the court that this case be dismissed for want of jurisdiction."

Both documents show that a Robert F Snow married Nancy J Pruitt in 1871. These documents are transcriptions of transcriptions and I believe have an error. The surname "Shaw" could easily be misinterpreted as "Snow" with a few extraneous pen strokes. Other documents show that Robert F Shaw was married to Nancy J Pruitt and those documents clearly indicate "Shaw". In the second document, the actual index line item vaguely shows that their marriage document is on Page 120; however, Pages 119/120 (along with 22 other pages) are missing from the original document. Since the Marriages on Pages 118 and 121 span the March 1871 to July 1871 timeframe, the transcribers rightly assumed that the marriage date was sometime in 1871.