Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File R. 4309, Samuel Griffin, Ga.
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Ga. 
Griffin, Samuel
Elizabeth 
R.4309
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Webb Florida 
Mobile District

In the name of God Amen. I Samuel Griffin of the lower Tensaw Settlement and District above mentioned being in body weak and indisposed, but of perfect and sound mind and memory- Blessed be the almighty God for the same. and knowing the uncertainty of life, have thought proper to make, publish and declare this my last will and testament in manner and form following.
First I do give and recommend my soul into the hands of the almighty god, who gave it me. And my body to the Earth to be buried with decent Christian burial. I give and bequeath to my beloved wife Elizabeth Griffin my house and plantation together with the household furniture and farming utensils, to her use whilst she remains my widow and if she change her name or at her decease my will is that it be equally divided betwixt my sons Jogn Bruner and James Griffin to their use and disposal and I also give unto my said wife to her use and disposal forever my black mare. I give and bequeath unto my wife Elizabeth Griffin, my sons Jogn Bruner and James Griffin and my daughters Nancy, Elizabeth, Lucy, Hannah, Patsy and Polly Griffin all
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my stock of Hogs and Cattle; the same to be equally Divided betwixt them to their use and disposal forever, wishing it remembered at the same time that I do not consider the Cow call-
ed old Silk and her increase as belonging to me.
She being the private property of my Daughter Lucy Griffin given to her by her aunt, though 
in my mark and brand.
Item: I give and bequeath unto my Son Bruner Griffen my riffled gun to his use and disposal forever.
And lastly it is my will and desire that my Beloved wife Elizabeth Griffin, my Brother James Griffin, and my Son John Griffin, Be and they are hereby appointed, and declared to be the Executrix and Executors of this my last will and Testament.
In witness whereof I have hereunts [not sure] set my hand and seal this twenty-sixth day of November in the year of our Lord One Thousand Eight Hundred and Nine.
Signed Sealed published and Declare by the above named Samuel Griffin to be his last will and testament in presence of us who have here unto subscribed our names as witnesses in the Presence of the Testator.
Samuel Griffin 
X his mark (L.L) [marked with an X in the middle of his written name and identified as his mark]
Wm Pallore [?]
Aron Barlow
Cyrus Sibley
Joseph Higgins
Charles Hall [indistinct]
before me,
Geral Byne, S Fish [indistinct]
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I William Malone of Mobile
do hereby certify of my own knowledge that the foregoing will is the same that was made and executed by Samuel Griffin in his lifetime and the signature to the said will is genuine.

William Malone  
Justice Peace Mobile County
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The State of Mississippi
Clarke County
This day before me James G. Griffin as acting Justice of the Peace in and for said county an  came and
appeared John Griffin a resident
Citizen of said County,
to me well
known, aged about 67 years old
who after being first duly Sworn
deposeth and Saith that he is a
son of Samuel Griffin, who died
when he the said affiant was about
19 years of age, that he often her
of his said father speak of his
serving in the Revolutionary War;
and of his having served in said
War during Seven Years. that his
said further, was a son of Samuel
Griffin, who was the Grand father of
said affiant- That he often heard
his said Grand father Speak of the
services of the said Samuel Griffin
(first above spoken of) in the said
War, and that he placed him in the
said Sevice when he was about 18
years of age. That he has often heard
Reuben Thompson and Major Frank
Boykin Speak of the service of this
affiants further services in the said
War. That the said Boykin &
Thompson are both now dead.
Sworn and Subranded [not sure] before me, July 11, 1857 (J.P.)
Pas [not sure] by Griffin 
John Griffin X his mark
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The State of Mississippi
Clark County [indistinct mark]
I Chas W Moody Clerk of the Probate
Court in and for said County do hereby
certify that James G. Griffin before
whom the within affidavit was
made is now and was at the time
of making the same, an acting
Justice of the Peace of said County
duly elected qualified and commissioned
as such and all his acts as such
are entitled to full faith and credit
And I further certify that I am
well acquainted with the said
affiant John Griffin, and know
to be a man of truth and
accuracy [unclear] and that I would believe
what he saith. Given under my hand
and seal of office affixed
July 14 1857 C.W. Moddy Clk
Probate Court Clark County
Miss
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No 15, 453
Elizabeth Griffin decd
Widow of Samuel
Alabama
July 7 1838 &
Sam Griffin dd. 1809
Elizabeth Griffin Dd Sep 14 1853
Married 1784
John Griffin 1 Philip [written above line] Bruner
Griffin 2 Lucy Bowen 3 Patsy Meeker 4 & Polly
Felts 5 children
-
Philip Bruner E Griffin Admr
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The State of Alabama
County of Mobile

On the 5th day of November A.D. Eighteen hundred and fifty five before the undersigned Justice of the Peace duly authorized by Law to administer oaths within and for the County and State aforesaid personally appeared John Griffin aged 66 years, a resident of the County of Clarke and State of Mississippi, who being duly sworn according to Law, declares that he is the Son of the late Samuel Griffin who was enlisted to serve as a soldier in the Minute Battalion raised for the defense of the State of Georgia by resolve of assembly passed 3rd June 1777 and the same who was in service at the time said Battalion was reduced by Subsequent resolve of March 5th 1778. As will more fully appear by the accompanying certificate of E. Clarke from the Education Department of the State of Georgia, and further that his mother's name was Elizabeth Griffin who survived her husband Samuel Griffin - Said Samuel Griffin died in Baldwin County, Alabama in the year 1809 and Elizabeth Griffin his wife never intermarried with any person after his death. And the said Elizabeth died on 14th September 1853 in Rankin County, Mississippi, then aged about 85 years. Having her surviving her following named children viz. the affiant, John Phillip Bruner E Griffin, Lucy who is now the widow of our John Bruner, Patsey who is the widow of our Joseph G Meeker and Patty Feltz the wife of David W Feltz - Philip Bruner lives in Clarke Co. Miss. Lucy in Jackson Co. Miss. Patsey in Mobile Co. Ala. Polly in Rankin Co. Miss. _ and at the time of the death
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of Said Elizabeth Griffin She left her surviving certain Grand children viz. The following named persons who were children of her daughter Nancy then deceased and who in her life time within married with our & my Malone now descd (he died in the year 1849) And his wife died about the year 1819) viz. John Malone, William Malone Griffin Malone. Lacey who is the wife of Clairborne George formerly Lacey Malone all of whom residents of Mobile 60 Ala
Anna Brannan wife of Mr Brannan & formerly Anna Malone who lives in Grace Co. Miss. and Lucy Rosher wife of James Rosher formerly Lucy Malone who lives in Cooke Co. Miss.
Also the following named persons children of Hannah Monk dec'd formerly Hannah Griffin, She and her said husband both being head. viz. Wylie Monk in Texas, Wm Monk in [unclear] state. Nancy Monk in Clarke Co. Miss. (She has intermarried with James Brennan) And by a former husband said Hannah had other Children viz. Nivy Whitehead of Clarke Co. Miss. and Louisa Whitehead who lives in Jackson Co. Miss.
And further, affiant states that his father and mother intermarried with each other in Burke County State of Georgia about the year 1784. in due force of Law & She was the lawful & only wife of Said Saml. Griffin
The foregoing statement is made for the purpose of obtaining the Bounty Land the Pension Money to which the Said Elizabeth Griffin's heirs are entitled by Law for the Services rendered by Said Samuel Griffin as provided by the acts of Congress
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Sworn to subscribed and acknowledged before me this day and year above written and I hereby certify that I am personally acquainted with the affiant John Griffin. That I believe the foregoing statement to be substantially true.
William Malone (Seal)
Justice Peace Mobile County
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THE STATE OF ALABAMA,
Mobile County. }

I, Edwin Roust [crossed out] John A. Hitchcock [handwritten], Judge of the Court of Probate, in and for said County and State, do hereby Certify that William Malone whose name appears to the annexed certificate was at the time of attesting the same, a Justice of the Peace, in and for said County, duly commissioned and qualified, and that as such, his acts and doings in the premises, are entitled to full faith and credit, and that his signature is genuine. 

In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal of Office, at Office, this 1st day of Febry, A.D. 1856.

[signature] Jno. A. Hitchcock, Judge.
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P.B.E. Griffin
[illegible] Elizabeth Griffin
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State of Alabama
Mobile County } SS.

On this 23rd day of June 1856 personally appeared before me John A. Hitchcock Judge of the Court of Probate in and for said County and state Philip Bruner E Griffin, administrator on the estate of Elizabeth Griffin died, who after being duly sworn doth on his oath make the following declaration in order to obtain the benefits of the acts of Congress passed 4th of July 1838, 3rd of March 1843, 14th June 1844 +  2nd Febry 1848 that he is the administrator on the Estate of Elizabeth Griffin died, who was the widow of Samuel Griffin who was a Soldier in the War of the Revolution, having entered the service sometime in the year 1777 in the State of Georgia and continued in service until March 1778 for evidence of which reference is made to the evidence herewith submitted that her husband Samuel Griffin died in Baldwin County Alabama in the year 1809 and that his widow, Elizabeth Griffin never afterwards intermarried with any one but remained his widow - until the day of her death which took place in Rankin County Mississippi on the 14th day of September 1853 leaving the following named
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Children surviving her John Griffin, Philip Bruner E Griffin, Lucy Bowen, Patsy Mekis, and Polly Feltz, and that they are now the surviving children of Elizabeth Griffin and that said Samuel Griffin + Elizabeth Griffin were married in Burk County Georgia by a Methodist Minister of the 15th day of July 1785 as will more fully appear by the evidence herewith submitted. 

Philip Bruner E. B. Griffin
[his mark]

Sworn + [illegible] the day and year above written before me, and I further certify that satisfactory evidence has been presented to me & the affidavit of David W. Felt and [illegible] W. Coleman, two creditable witnesses, that Elizabeth Griffin, died on the 14th day of September 1853, leaving the following named children surviving her John Griffin, Philip Bruner E. Griffin, Lucy Bowen, Patsey Meeker and Polly Felty, and that they are now the only children now alive of said Elizabeth Griffin.

In Testimony of all [illegible] I have hereunto set my hand + seal [crossed out] affixed the seal of [illegible] the day + year found above written.

Jno. A. Hitchcock, Judge.
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{ADMINISTRATOR’S BOND, Printed and for sale at the Office of the Eastern Clarion,}

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS,
That we, Bruner Griffin, and George Evans - - - - - - are held and firmly bound unto Alexander Leudon, Judge of the Probate Court of the County of Clarke in the State of Mississippi, and his successors in office, in the penal sum of Four Hundred dollars, for the payment where of well and truly to be made, unto the said Judge of Probate, or his successors in office, we bind ourselves, our heirs, executors and administrators, jointly and severally firmly, by these presents; signed by us and sealed with our seals, this 1st day of September A.D. 1851.

THE CONDITION OF THIS OBLIGATION IS, that if the said Bruner Griffin Administrator of the goods, chattels and credits of Elizabeth Griffin deceased, do make a true and perfect inventory of all and singular the goods, chattels and credits of the said deceased, which have or shall come to the hands, possession or knowledge of him the said administrator or into the hands or possession of any other person or persons for said Elizabeth Griffin dec’d and the same so made, do exhibit into the Probate Court of Clarke County, when he shall be thereunto required by the said Court; and such goods, chattels and credits, do well and truly administer, according to law; and further do make a just and trust account of his actings and doings therein, when thereto required by the said court; and all the rest of the said goods, chattels and credits, which shall be found remaining upon the account of the said administrator, the same being first examined and allowed by the said Court, shall deliver and pay unto such persons respectively as are entitled to the same by law; and if it shall hereafter appear, that any last will and testament, was made by the deceased, and the same be proved in Court, and the executor or executors obtain letters testamentary, and the said Bruner Griffin do in such case, being required, render and deliver up his letters of administration, then this obligation to be void; else to remain in full force. 

Signed } Bruner Griffin L S.
His x mark

George Evans L S.
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The State of Mississippi
Clarke County
I Chas W Moody Clerk for said County do hereby certify that the within contains a true copy of the Bond of Bruner Griffin administrator of the estate of Elizabeth Griffin Died as fully and entirely as the same remains of in my office
Given under my hand & seal of office affixed the 19th day of June AD1856.
C.W. Moody Clerk
of Mississippi
Clark County I John N. McRee Judge of the Probate Court in & for said county, do hereby certify that Charles W Moody whose genuine signature appears on the above certificate is and was at the time of making the same Clerk of the Probate Court of said County, duly eacted and legally qualified and commissioned as such and all his acts are entitled to full faith and credit.
Given under my hand and deal the 19 day of June AD 1856 John N MRee LS Judge
The State of Mississippi Clarke County I Chas W Moody Clerk of the Probate Court of said County do herby certify that John N McRee whose genuine signature appears on the above certificate is and was at the time of the signing the same sole Judge of the Probate Court of said County duly elected and legally 
[covered by seal]dified and commissioned as such that all his acts are entitled to credit
Given under my hand and seal of the office affix's the 19th day of June AD 1856 C W Moody Clerk
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4309
P.O. Elizabeth Griffin
Service: MIL of Samuel
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Georgia Enld on ye Chacque   Recd 4/8 S.
NU.   Jno. Gibbons W.
By his excellency Edward St Clair
Governor and Commander in chief
in and over the State aforesaid
To unto whom these presents shall come,
Greeting,
Know Ye That Jonathan 
[damaged]ruine, who is one of the subscribers to [damaged] annexed Certificate, is one of the [damaged]parties assigned to keep the peace in teh County of Burke in the said State, Therefore all due faith credit and authority are and [damaged] and proceedings as such. 
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and secured the great Seal of the said State to be put and affixed at the State_House in Augusta, this twenty first day of February one thousand and seven [damaged]hundred and ninety two; and in [damage] Sixteenth year of the Independence of the United States of America.
By his Excellency's Command.
Jn Milren[damaged]
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State of Georgia Burke County
that Samuel Griffin hath lived in said Statte and County about fifteen or Twenty Years and is accounted an Industrous honest Man and an obliging Neighbour Certified By us the subsribers the fifteenth Day of February 1792
John Berryhill  Robt. Allen
Georg Walker
William Walker
Wm Byne
Moses Davis
Thomas Ford
John Watkins
[Illegible]
John Benkham
Jonathan Kemp
Joseph Ferguson
John Loptin
John Giles
John Jones
George Palmer
David Lewis
Georg Albritten
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Reje File 4309
Samuel Griffin
Georgia
Page 21

No 15,453
Elizabeth Griffin
Widow of Samuel
Alabama
Phillips Jany 3, 1857
Same March 18, 1857
Same Aug 17, 1857

4309
July 7, 1838
Page 22

Har. the official Certificate been furnished
Chow
Page 23

Executive Department;
Milledgeville, Georgia
August 4th 1833 _

William Malone, Esq
Mobile Ala

Dear Sir:
Your letter addressed to the Secretary of State, was handed to me to which I respond that I have found the name of Samuel Griffin upon our  Revolutionary Roll. I also find his certificate of service as a “minuteman” in the war _ said certificate says he was not a citizen of this state, but did his duty faithfully. I propose for the sum of $5 to give you a copy of that certificate, under seal of this Department, which is the best of Evidence at Washington City = of service _ and also to certify that his name appears upon our Roll of Revolutionary soldiers, and all other information relating to his services which is to be found in this Department. 

I am very Respectfully Yours t.c

B.B. de Graffeuried
Secty  Ex Dept.

I can refer you to 
H.S. Smith. Esq or John Forsyth Esq of your city.
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Washington July 26 1853

For x

In your letter 3 Jany 57 _ you state “one Samuel Griffin seems to have enlisted under a resolve of the Georgia Assembly of 3 June 1777 and was  in service 5 March 1758 when the Battalion which he was attached was reduced but it does not appear when he enlisted and consequently how long he served.” Again on 18 March ‘57 you say “the papers found by you do not enable me to determine the length of service rendered by her husband Samuel Griffin in the War of the Revolution and this is the part of difficulty in the case”

Enclosed you will find a add'l affidavit Stanly Monk enclosed to me by Mr. Malone whose letter I also transmit for for your perusal. _ I trust that this may be deemed satisfactory _ Be good enough to return Malones letter.

Geo. B. Whiting Esq
Govn. Pensions

Very Resp
R Phillips
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Georgia.
This is to certify that Samuel Griffin was enlisted to serve as a Soldier in the Minute Battalion, raised for the defense of this state, by resolve of Assembly hoped the 3d of June 1777 and that the said Samuel Griffin was not at the time of his enlistment an Inhabitant of this state nor had he resided in any part thereof for 6 months preceding his enlistment and further that he was in service at the Time the said Battalion was reduced by a subsequent Resolve of [smeared] March the 1st 1778
Given under my Hand this 16th of November 1784.
By his order.
Horatio Murluy   E Clarke L.Ced
Executive Department Milledgeville
Georgia, August 30th 1855.

I, .BB. de. Graffenried Secretary of the Executive Department of the State of Georgia do hereby Certify that the above is a true copy of the original certificate of Samuel Griffin. as "Minuteman" in the War of the Revolution, which certificate is of file in this Department, I also certify that from the Books of Record in this Department containing the names of the "Soldiers of the Revolutionary War" the name of Samuel Griffin appears as one of these who did duty as "Minutemen".
Given under my Hand and Seal of the Executive Department at the Capitol in Milledgeville the day and year above written,
BB deGraffenried.
Secty Ex Dept.
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Executive Chamber
Milledgeville Georgia
August 30th 1833

Wm Malone Esq
Mobile
Ala

Dear Sir
I received your continuing fee of
$5. and herewith send you a copy of the certificate of Service of Samuel Griffin, with my Executive certificate. The fee is not so much for the copying or certificate, as it is not much trouble to copy, but for time required in the search.
Hoping it may subserve your purpose
I am very Respectfully
Yours &c
B.B. de Graffenried.
Page 27

Statement of Stanly Monk
in Explanation of Affidavits filed
in the case of Samuel Griffin.

Samuel Griffin (Senior) and Menon
Monk (my father) were neighbors living
in Edgefield County, South Carolina, when
Samuel Griffin (Senior) was sent by his father
with the army as a guide, he was then
Seventeen years of age-

Some time after, and during the 
war. Samuel Griffin, Menon Monk and
their families moved to Fourke County,
Georgia: a portion of the army to which
Young Griffin was attached went into
Burke County, and young Griffin, in order
to be near his relations, formed a company
raised by authority of the State of Georgia,
this was in June 177, and in March
1778 part of the battalion was disbanded
and he (Saml: Griffin Jr.) went with 
the remainder of the troops, as a guide, 
to South Carolina.

About seven months after , 
I saw him again, he had returned
to his father's on furlough.   I saw him
several times after that and he was
Page 28

Still in the service- and he was in the service of the Government, to my knowledge, at least three years.
Some time after the war he received his pay, I was present, I do not remember the exact sum of money paid to him, but I am sure
it was at least eighty dollars.
I never served in the army myself, but being his friend and neighbor from my earliest recolection - I know the above facts to be true.
[unintelligible] person to [unintelligible]
this July 18 1837
Stanly Monk his mark
William Brooks
[unintelligible]
Page 29

State of Alabama
Mobile County
Personally appeared before me William Brooks a Justice of the in and for said state and county aforesaid Stanly Monk formerly a resident of the State of Arkansas who says to the fact (scribble) he's now entered the ninety second year of his age he also saith and deposith that he was intimately acquainted with Samuel Griffin that he knew him from the time of his (deponents) recollection [unclear] to the time when he removed to the Tensaw river in Alabama in 1792 that he was pilot for the United States army in the State of Georgia in the fall of 1776 and that he enlisted in the service of the United States in Georgia the first June 1777 and continued in service till the spring of 1778 when the Battalion to which he was attached was reduced does not recollect precisely the time Battalion was reduced and that he received pay from the Government of the United State to the amount of Eighty dollars that he is the same Samuel Griffin who served in the revolutionary was in Georgia and the identical Samuel Griffin the husband of the widow Elizabeth Griffin that they were married in the state of Georgia
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in Birke County and he knew the folloing children viz. Nancy, John, Lucy, and Bruner said deponent is of sound mind and intelligent and good report
     his
Stanly   X  Monk 
       mark

Sworn to and Subscribed before me this 14th day of February 1857
William Brooks J.M.P.C.
Page 31

THE STATE OF ALABAMA,
Mobile County.
I, John A. Hitchcock, Judge of the Court of Probate, in and for said County and State, do hereby Certify that William Brooks whose name appears to the annexed Certificate was at the time of attesting the same, a Justice of the Peace in and for said County, duly commissioned and quantified, and that as such, his acts and doing, are entitled to full faith and credit, and that his signature is genuine.
In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court, at Office this 14th day of February A.D. 1857.
John A Hitchcock
Page 32

The State of Mississippi | On this 10th day
Rankin County | of May AD 1836
David W Felts a citizen on Rankin County personally appeared before me an acting Justice of the Peace within &for said County and after being duly sworn by me according to law on his Oath declares that he was personally acquainted with Elizabeth Griffin Widow of Samuel Griffin decease that he became acquainted with her many years since that he has repeatedly heard her say that her and her husband were legally married in the state of Georgia by a Minister of the Gospel, but does not recollect to heard the name of the Minister who married her & the said Samuel Griffin
that Mrs Griffin was a lady of respectability & truthfulness that he word was relied on where ever she was known & that he believes what she told him on the subject of her marriage to her said husband was true & that they the said Elizabeth & Samuel Griffin became Husband & wife as above stated _ that he name before marriage was Elizabeth Brewer.
Sworn to & subscribed before me this day & year above written E.W. Cabnniss JPeace
David McFelts
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The State of Mississippi
Rankin County
On this 10th day of May AD 1836.
Personally appeared before me an acting Justice of the peace within & for said county David W. Felts & George W. Coleman citizens of said county and after being by me duly sworn according to law on their oath declare & say that Elizabeth Griffin widow of Samuel Griffin deceased, departed this life at the residence of said David W Felts in said county of Rankin on the fourteenth (14) day of September AD1833
Sworn to and subscribed before me on the day and year above stated E.W.Cabaniss JPeace
David W Felts
George W Coleman

The State of Mississippi 
Rankin County
I Wiley P. Allison, clerk of the Probate court within & for said county do hereby certify that E.W.Cabiness whose name is subscribed to the foregoing certificates was & is an acting Justice of the Peace within & for Rankin county, duly commissioned & sworn & that all his acts as such are entitled to full faith & credit & his signature thereto is his genuine signature_
Given under my hand & the seal of said court the day & year above written
W.P. Alliston CLK
Page 34

The state of Mississippi   I William H Clark
Rankin county                Judge of the Court of Probates within and for Rankin county do certify that Wiley P. Alliston whose name is subscribed to the foregoing certificate is the clerk of said Probate court that his certificate and attestation thereto is in due form of 
Law this signature thereto Genuine
Given under my hand & Seal this 10th day of May 1836.
Wm. H. Clarke, seal [handwritten/drawn]
 Judge of Probate.

The state state of Mississippi  I Wiley P.
Rankin county                               Alliston clerk             
of the Probate court in and for Rankin county do certify that William H. Clark whose name is subscribed to the foregoing certificate is the Judge of the Probate court of Rankin county duly commissioned and sworn that his certificate is in the for of Law and his signature thereto, Genuine,
Given under my hand and the seal of said probate court at office in 
Brandon this 10th day of May AD 1836
WP. Alliston clk

[large illegible seal]