Pre-Service Will

• Joining the Confederacy, 1862

• February the 22 day, 1862
• At the Date above I now in my right mind & in good health do wright my last Will and Testament. I will all my Real and personal property to Anna Shirley my Beloved Wife during her life time and at the End of twenty one years from this Date Provided She dont live that long, the Estate Shall all be sold and an Equal devide made between all the Children and if She Should live beyond that time it Shall be Sold at her death. I have two hundred and forty Acres of land in Newton County, and Eighty acres of Land in Pope county Arkansas which are included in this Will.
• The Reason why I wright this Will now is because I Volenteered in the Service of the Southern confearacy for the Term of Twelve Months and if I Should live to return I can Revoke this Will at Pleasure but if I Should never return this Will Shal be of full force and affect — Witness my hand and Seal the Date above Written
• (Signature)
  Aaron Shirley
• Signed in the Presants of
• John Cox
  Newton Green