Book A, Transcript Page: 394

In the name of God Amen

I G T Ridley of the County of Carroll and State of Tennessee being week in body but of sound and perfect mind and memory blessed be Almighty God for the same do make ordain and publish this my last will and Testament in manner and form following that is to say

In the first place it is my will that all my just debts that I may owe at the time of my death be punctually paid by my Executor.

In the second place it is my will and I hereby give and bequeath to my Daughter Sarah A. Buently married to William M. Carson my negro man Ben aged twenty four years valued by my self at one thousand Dollars also my negro girl Lucy which I value at the same price The above negroes I give to my said Daughter Sarah A. Carson and the heirs of her body

In the third place it is my will and desire that my beloved wife Mary W. Ridley have all the residue of my Estate both real and personal during her natural life or widowhood with the following exceptions Viz It is my will that my sons John W. Ridley George W. Ridley and Dodson Ridley each of them have a negro boy and girl when they arrive at the age of twenty one years to be valued by two disinterested persons. It is further my will that should any of my servants become unruly or refuse to obey or be governed by my wife or children I hereby direct that such unruly or disobedient servant be sold by my Executor and others purchased to fill their places.

I will now distinctly state that I don’t wish any sale of property after my death and my Executor is hereby fully authorized to settle all matters relating to my Estate as fully as I myself could do were I living. It is hereby declared to be my will that at the death or intermarriage of my wife all my Estate both real & personal of whatsoever kind it may be be equally divided between my children to wit Sarah A. Carson John W. Ridley George W. Ridley and Dodson Ridley and it is understood that the portion of my negroes falling to my Daughter Sarah A Carson is given to her and the heirs of her body.
Lastly I hereby appoint my Son in law William M. Carson Executor of this my last will and testament hereby revoking all former wills by me made and I hereby make it known that my said Exertor is not required to give any bond but to settle all my business as I would do myself
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this 6th day of February 1862

Geor T. Ridley

Signed sealed published and declaired by the said Testator to be his last will and Testament in presence of us

John W. Carrington
Charles P. Currin

State of Tennessee )
Carroll County ( April Term 1862

The foregoing was probated as the last will and testament of George T. Ridley Decd. and ordered to be recorded.

W. H. Graves Clerk

This text was transcribed by Jere Cox from the typescript entitled Tennessee Records of Carroll County Will Book “A” September, 1822 – 1864 (approximately) created in 1937 under the Works Progress Administration.

Corresponding Resource: FamilySearch has a microfilm copy of the WPA transcript of Will Book A available to view on-line (click here).  A free FamilySearch login is required to view microfilm.

Jere Cox was an early Carroll County TNGenWeb coordinator.  We do not intend to violate Jere’s copyright interests by including the transcription here, but we want to make sure his efforts remain available for future researchers.