Book A, Transcript Page: 16

State of Tennessee)
Carroll County)

In the name of God, Amen. I James Baker, Senr. Knowing that I am mortal and must die and being weak in body but in my proper mind, I do make this my last will and Testament. Item 1st. I bequeath my Soul to God humbly relying on the atoning blood and righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ, as the only ground of my justification and acceptance before him. Item 2nd. in hope of a joyful reserrection to everlasting life I bequeath my body to be decently interred. Item 3rd My wish is that all my just debts shall be paid and discharged out of the proceeds of the sales of my pershible property. Item 4th. I will and bequeath to my wife Mary Baker the tract of land on which I now reside during her natural life and that my Son Thomas C. Baker live with his mother and Cultivate the farm or so much of it as he may be able for the suport of himself and his Mother also that my Son John Baker live with them so long as he remains Single and when he marrays if he sees proper to do so he may build on Some part of the land and Cultivate a part of the Farm now opened and add to it if he wishes to do so. If my son Robert or Porter or both of them See proper to improve or settle on the same tract of land my will is that they do so. Item 5th At the death of my wife my will is that the tract of land be equally divided between my five sons (vs) Robert James, John, Pourter, and Thomas Item 6th My will is that my daughters who are married and my daughter Happy Keep and hold their beds and furniture I further desire that my daughters Happy & Margaret reside and live with their Mother so long as they remain single and that my daughter Margaret be furnished with a good Saddle Out of the proceeds of my property. Iten 7th My desire is that my sons Robert and James and my Son in law John Sinnons be my executors to this my last will and Testament as witness whereof I hereunto set my hand and Seal this 12th day of January One thousand eight hundred and twenty nine.

James Baker (Seal)

Signed and Sealed in presence of Elijah Wheeler, Abram White

State of Tennessee)
Carroll County Court) March Term, 1829

The last Will and Testament of James Baker Senr. deceased, was this day produced in open court and the execution thereof was duly proven by the Oathes of Elijah Wheeler & Abram White the witnesses thereto and ordered to be recorded.

A Copy Test
Edward Gwin 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.