SSSTRWL

Will of Samuel Steele STARR, made on 23 Jun 1858 in Oxford, Newton County, Georgia.

TO MY CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN

Item I:  In respect to myself; I want to be buried in Just such a coffin as I got for your
mother with the rocks that I have carried to the graveyard to cover the vault with. I want
just such rocks on my grave, as I put on your mother's grave.  With this inscription, "Son
of Henry and ______ Starr, born in Wilkes County, Georgia, October 14, 1794," with whatever
else you think I deserve on my tombstone.

Item II:  To Steele in particular: I have left you Trustee for your stepmother in my Will,
see to it she is taken care of during her life.  I have left enough in your hands for the 
Interest to support her plentifully without touching the Principle; and I want you to see to
it that she is taken care of, as your Step-mother, at your house, and that you pay yourself
from the income what I have left her in my Will during her natural life, -----and that she
have our mattress and fixtures on which we lie, to use, if she wants them, in accordance 
with my Will.

Item III:  Now, my children, my last advice to you.  In the first place, ----I want you to 
be sound, religious, plain, old-time Methodists.  And raise your families on that rule --
not for show and follishness, but as the Word of God directs, as nearly as in you lieth.  Be
strictly honest, industrious and high-minded.  Do not stoop to anything that is beneath a
Christian's notice.  And if you cannot be what the world calls SMART, you may be HONORABLE.
Be certain to keep out of debt.  Use economy; be domestic; don't live above your means, --
but live to be good and get all the good you can.  In a word, Fear God and keep his command-
ments, for that is the whole duty of man; for He will bring every work into judgement, whether
it be good or bad.  And my prayer is that the next generation may so live in this world as 
to make a family and generation in our Father's kingdom where we may be permitted to see
Jesus, who came into this world, and died that we might live and rise again, and sits at God's
right hand, to make intercession for us poor unworthy creatures here on earth.  Oh! that we 
may all live that we may have a part in the First Reserrection!
    And, now, one word on the subject of dividing out my hard earnings.  Pray, don't have a
fuss over what I have left behind, for you all to live comfortably on.  For you all know how
I and your dear Mother labored and stinted ourselves, in order to have something to leave
our children when we should be dead and gone.  We often expressed our fears that it would
not do them the good that we desired and prayed that it might.  For in many cases, what comes
light goes light.  We felt bound to do our duty, and to leave an example behind, hoping that
you would follow us as we did right, and no further; and be better Christians and better 
citizens in proportion to your advance in the world.
   Finally, children, Farewell.  Live in peace, and may the God of love and peace be with you
is my prayer for Christ's sake.  Keep this in remembrance of your Father to the latest 
generations.
   And now, what I have said to my children and grand-children I say to my widow and don't do
like most of the widows these days; but live to glorify God in your body and spirit, and be
His, and He will be a husband to such widows.

Oxford, George, June 23, 1858                                   Samuel STARR