Blount County, Tennessee wills Microfilm Roll #139

Vol 1 page 228

Will of
WHITE, John

Know all men by these presents that I John White of the County of Blount and State of Tennessee 
of sound, disposing mind and memory but realizing the uncertainty of life and the certainty of 
death and being desirous where it shall please providence to call me home of having satisfactorily 
arranged and settled all my temporal affairs do for that purpose hereby make and publish this my 
last will and testament.

1st  I will and bequeath my Soul to God who gave it and my body to the earth to be decently 
interred.

2nd  I will and bequeath that after my decease that my funeral expences and all my just debts 
shall be paid.

3rd  I will and bequeath the right and title of six negro slaves Westley, Nelson and Claburn 
and Campbell and Marvin and Anson these six negro slaves to my Executors herein after appointed 
and the survivors or survivor of them and the heirs of said survivor to hold said negro slaves 
in trust for the sole and exclusive use and benefit of my nease Martha White Houston during her 
natural life and to her children after her death if any.  If none children I desire that my 
Executors keep the said negroes in Trust for the sole and exclusive use and benefit of my sister 
Ann G. Houston and her children and they go to the special benefit.

4th  I further will to my nease Martha White Houston through my Executors as in the third bequeath 
of this will my blacksmith tools my wagon and oxen and all my gearing and all my farming utensils 
of every kind and description that is not here named.  Also my horses and cattle and hogs and sheep 
and all my household and kitchen furniture also all my books of all description and of every kind.  
In a word everything that belongs to me. I desire that it goes to her benefit and her children if any.  
If none I desire that it goes to the benefit of my sister Ann G. Houston and her children as in the 
third bequeath of this will.  Again I desire that if my executors should think it advisable to sell 
the property last named to wit my blacksmith tools and wagon & geers horses cattle hogs sheep and 
all those articles last named they can do so and put the money to interest as I will tell you in the 
fifth I bequeath of this will.

5th  I will and bequeath to my nease Martha W. Houston seven thousand dollars through my executors as 
in the third bequeath of this will that they take the money in the notes that I hold on Joseph Henderson 
and as they fall due put that to interest and I desire that my executors for Martha White Houstons 
benefit and or as long as she may live.  If she has any children at her death I desire that money be 
equally divided among her children.  If no children I desire that it goes to the benefit of my sister 
Ann G. Houston and her children as in the third bequeath of this will.

6th  I will and bequeath my negro girl Juliann shall in consideration of her honesty and fidelity be 
permitted to make choice which of sisters or Martha W. Houston she will live with.  I bequeath to which 
ever of my sisters or Martha W. Houston my said girl shall choose to reside with as aforesaid and that 
she remain with them during her natural life and be treated kindly and affectionately and if she should 
become helpless in any weigh I desire that she be supported from my estate.

7th  I will and desire that my Executors have Toom Stones put at my fathers and mothers graves and the 
necessary inscriptions thereon and I desire that they are both pailed together with locust pailings...posts 
and railings.

8th  I will and desire that my Executors take the ballance of my notes on Joe Henderson and in a word all 
my notes and accounts and they collect them and they go to the payments of all my just debts and the balance 
after paying my debts I desire that it goes to the benefit of my nease Martha White Houston or my executors 
keep the same in trust for her use and benefit and they give it to her as they think  she may need it.

9th  I further will and desire that my nease Martha White Houston is not permitted by me to marry any 
person without the consent and approbation of her father and mother.  That she M. W. Houston is not 
permitted by me to marry anywhere else but at the house where her father and mother live.  If the 
Martha White Houston does not comply with this my ninth request of this will I desire that the property 
and money that I have willed her be taken away from her by my executors and they keep the same in trust 
for the use and benefit of my sister Ann G. Houston and her other children as in the last part of the 
third bequeath of this will.

10th  I will and desire that my friends Robert Porter, Benjamin Brabston or Joseph Henderson they have my 
nease Martha W. Houston  taken special care of until her father and mother get her in possession.  I 
desire that she lives with one of these three until her father can come and git her. Again I desire 
that her father comes? South? with  ? her again.  I desire that my Executors make some suitable 
arrangements for her conveyance to send home with her father.

11th  I will and desire that my friends Robert Porter, Benjamin Brabston and Joseph Henderson shall 
execute this my last will and testament hereby revoking and annulling every other former wills and 
testaments by me at any time heretofore made.  In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and 
seal this 28th of August 1846.
                               
                                     John White [seal]

Signed sealed and acknowledged
As the last will and testament
of John White and published in
our presents.

Attest }Andrew Kirkpatrick
       }B. H. Duncan