Youngblood-Armstrong & Allied Families
all children being by the first wife, Frances Clark.
It is not known if he had a formal education, but he wrote quite legibly and expressed himseH well. He believed in educating his girls, as well as his boys, for all of the girls had a good common school education, for the times, and his three sons were professional men.
Robert Johns was a man of standing in his community. He was always referred to as "Col" which shows the esteem with which he was regarded. He held fast to his religious beliefs, and did not approve of too early marriages for his daughters. Jane was perhaps the youngest daughter since she married later than the others.
He was a man of means as indicated by his will, which was written Aug. 5, 1856. (Will Bk 3 pp 79-80 Chambers Co)
"In the name of God, Amen: I, Robert Johns, being of sound mind and memory, in view of the uncertainty of life and the certainty of death, do ordain this my last will and testament.
First - I resign my spirit to God who gave it and my body to the earth — its mother earth.
Second - I will to my wife Sarah, the negro girl, Malipa, one bed, bedstead and furniture, the family clock, chest and sideboard, this to have and to hold by perfect perpetual absolute title to use and dispose of as she may wish, also an equal share of the rest of my estate, after all debts shall be paid, with my children, Eliza Hart, Nancy N. Cogburn, John Johns, Frances Youngblood, Lavinia Lewis, Jane Gray, Thomas J. Johns and William Johns. Said dividends to my wife, Sarah, to be placed at interest by my executor herein named, and the annual interest to be given to her annual support, during her life, but if in the opinion of my executor or executors the circumstances indicate as necessary, the use of any part of the principal then it is my will that he or they may be authorized to make use of the principal for the support and comfort of my wife, Sarah, but if instead of the above named portion with the conditions, my wife, Sarah, shall prefer an unqualified title to an equal distributive share with my children named above, then it is my will that the entire estate be disposed of at public or private sale and the proceeds after all debts are settled, be equally divided between her and my children above named, with complete purport and perpetual titles.
Third - It is my will that my executors have power to use such portion of my estate as in their judgement may be necessary and proper to wall and enclose or ornament the graves of my deceased wives and myself.
Fourth - It is further my will that the amount of the debts of
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