In the name of God Amen; I James Donoho of the county of Sumner being in a low state of bodily health but of sound mind and perfect memory thanks be given to the Almighty God for the same. I here constitute and ordain this instrument of writing my last Will and Testament. First, I recommend my soul unto God who gave it to me. After my decease my body to be buried in a decent manner. As to my worldly goods which it has been the will of God to bless me with, I dispose of in the following manner; vis. Item 1^st, I give and bequeath unto my beloved wife Susannah Donoho all of my estate both real and personal during her natural life and if my beloved wife before named should consider there is more than she may need, it’s to be sold by my executors and equally divided between William Donoho, Yancy Turner and Nancy Meador, wife of John Meador. Item 2^nd, and after the death of my beloved wife Susannah Donoho my real and personal estate is to be disposed of as follows, viz. The land and plantation whereon I now live to equally in number of acres be divided between William Donoho, Yancy Turner and Nancy Meador as before named. Alserved that Nancy Meador have her proportion part of said land laid off on the south end of said tract including the dwelling house wherein I now live. Item 3^rd, I give and bequesth unto my daughter Betsy Gourldman Donoho now called Betsy Gourldman Bond ten dollars to be paid out of my estate after the death of my wife Susannah Donoho by my executors to be her full portion of my estate. Item 4^th, I give and bequeath unto my daughter Sally Hana Donoho ten dollars to be raised by my executors out of my estate after the death of my beloved wife before named, which said ten dollars is to be her full portion of my estate, as before named, the remaining part of my said estate my, negroes excepted, I desire that it may be equally divided after the death of my wife as be named between William Donoho, Yancy Turner and Nancy Meador wife of Job Meador observing that a certain negro girl by the name of Lian(?). I, in a special manner give and bequeath to my said daughter Nancy Meador to be delivered to her by my executors after the death of my wife – and my negro woman Betty, mother of said described girl, I give and bequeath unto my son William Donoho and Yancy Turner to be delivered by my executors after the death of my wife with her increase not more than two, and if more than two children, all the said increase from said negro Betty over two that she may have before the death of my said wife is to be equally divided between William Donoho, Yancy Turner and Nancy Meador. I ordain, constitute, and appoint my beloved wife Susannah Donoho, Yancy Turner and William Donoho my whole and sole execuors of this my last will and testament. In witness whereof I, the said James Donoho, have set my hand and affixed my seal this day of 1820*.

James Donoho (Seal)

Signed, sealed and Acknowledge b y said James Donoho in the presence of us as and for his last will and testament entered and before Assigned. Test. Joshia Howell, Jno. Meador.

The Last Will and Testament of James Donoho dec. was produced in Court for probate and thereupon said will was duly proved by the oaths of Josiah Howell, and John Meador subscribing witnesses thereto and ordered to be recorded, whereupon Susannah Donoho, Yancy Turner and William Donoho, Executrix and Executors named in said Will appeared in court and qualified as by taking the oath of an Executor prescribed by law and said executors together with William Bratton and Thomas B. Simpson their securities entered into and acknowledge their bond to the Governor in the penalty of three thousand dollars conditioned as law requires.

(Note) *Is this date incorrect?

Transcribed from a typewritten copy 1/11/99. (Yancy Turner had 10 slaves). Perhaps some were inherited. Yancy’s son, James Allen Turner, b. 1827 Westmoreland, Macon, TN also had a negro(s) as my father, Clarence Beard Turner, b. 1875 said he was raised by a "Darkie".

Contributed by:  Dorothy Turner Gray 

©June 2000 by Macon TNGenWeb and Dorothy Turner Gray