LaRee's Uncle Chester King Wade put a middle initial of "G" for Stephen Martin (Chester's grandfather) in his research records. However, we have never seen his name with a G. and Uncle Chester told my father, Paul Wade, he just put it in there to distinguish him as there were so many Martins. There was never a "G" in Stephen Martin's name but this mistake has been perpetuated over the years. Katherine LaRee (Wade) Mitchell.

Will of Stephen Martin. (Transcribed by Carol Benge at Ancestry.com)
State of Georgia-DeKalb County
In the name of God, amen, I , Stephen MARTEN of said state & county being of advanced age, and knowing that I must shortly depart this life, deem it right & proper both as respects my family & myself, that I should make a disposition of the property with which a kind providence has blessed me, do therefore make this my last will & testament:

1 ITEM: I desire and direct that my body be buried in a decent & Christian-like manner suitable to my circumstances & condition in life. My soul, I trust, shall return to rest with God who gave it as I hope for eternal salvation through the merits & atonement of the blessed Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, whose religion I have professed, and as I humbly trust enjoyed for forty-three years.

2 ITEM: I desire and direct that all my just debts be paid without delay by my executors hereinafter appointed, as I am unwilling my creditors should be delayed in their rights especially as there is no necessity for delay.

3 ITEM: I give, bequeath, and devise to my beloved wife, Sarah, with whom I have lived in the strictet quiet for twenty-flour years [the] lot of land # 348 and half of lot #347 making three hundreed acres in the 18th Distirct of DeKalb County about 100 acres of which are cleared and in cultivation with all the rights, members, & appurtenances to said lot on [a] parcel of land in anywise belonging free from all charge [for] her lifetime. If my wife should marry, the land all to be sold and my beloved wife, Sarah, to have a full share of the proceeds which is to be divided between my wife and her eight chldren, to wit: [Sarah]Mary J, Martha [Susan], Benjamin S[tephen], Naomi, Sophie C[aroline], Margaret [Samantha], Nancy T, & William S[amuel].

4 ITEM: I give & bequeath to my beloved wife all my household and kitchen furniture, belonging to and used on said plantation I also give & bequeath to my beloved wife all my stock of every kind during her widowhood; if my beloved wife should marry again, everything of household & kitchen furniture and all my stock of every kind to be sold and the money equally divided with my beloved wife & her eight children.

5 ITEM: I give and bequeath to my daughters Naomi, Sophia, Samantha, Nancy T [and son], William an equal portion of bedding and household & kitchen furniture to make them equal with those that are married off-also an equal portion of stock the same that I give my children as they married off. My son, William S, I want to have a good bridle & saddle with his horse.

6 ITEM:I hereby constitute and appoint my beloved wife Sarah executrix & my worthy friend Jame POLK executor of this my last will & testament this March 21st, 1866.

Stephen MARTIN

Signed, sealed, declared, & published by Stephen MARTIN as his last will & testament in the presence of us the subscribers who subscribed our name hereto in the presence of said testator at his special instance & request & of each other the March 21st, 1866.
William M COX
Nicholas A MOSS
James H POLK