Book A, Transcript Page: 149

In the name of God Amen I Martin Dalton of the County of Carroll and State of Tennessee being of sound and perfect mind and memory but in the decline of life thanks be to Almighty God for his unspeakable gifts and calleng to mind the uncertainty of this mortal life, doth make this my last will and testament in manner and form following (viz) First and principally I recommend my soul into the hands of almighty God who give it hoping to receive everlasting happiness though the merits of my beloved redeemer in the world and life to come and Joyful resurrection with the Just at the last day my body I commit to my mother Earth from whence it was taken to be decently bureed by my executors hereafter named and as touching such worldly estate as it hath pleased almighty God to bestow upon me I give and dispose of as followes (Viz) I give and bequeath unto my beloved wife Catharine Dalton the Tract of land whereon I now live containing four hundred and fifty acres and all the possessions thereon so long as she doth live. Itom 2. I give unto my said wife a negro man by the name of Wiatt also a negro boy by the name of Jeffrey also a negro girl by the name of Franky also a negro boy by the name of Bucker also a negro girl by the name of Permelea Jane with all and Singular the stock of Horses Hogs cattle and poultry and utensels of every discription belonging to said premises to have and to hold in full possession during her widowhood Itom I give unto my son John Dalton a negro woman by the name of Amy and a boy by the name of Grasly also a negro boy by the name of Tilman and one by the name of Aaron and a negro girl by the name of Louisa. It is my request that at the death of my beloved wife Catharine Dalton that all and single the aforenamed Estate that I have bequeathed unto her at her death or end of her widowhood that Sd real and personal estate be given unto my son John and his heirs forever unless whareas it has often been reported that my son Danl who has ben absent from me for many years has long sence died and Sd reports be untrue and Daniel Dalton should ever return then and in that case I want my estate equally devided as it respects personal and real estate between the two forthwith and at the death of there Mother or at the ceasing of her widowhood, and lastly I nominate and appoint my wife Catharine Dalton my exectorix and my son John Dalton my executor to this my last will and Testament revoking and declaring and appointing this my last will and Testament given under my hand and seal this the twenty forth day of August one thousand Eight hundred and thirty Eight.

Martin Dalton (Seal)
X his mark

Test: George W. Halladay
Thomas A. Aven
Henry Crider

State of Tennessee)
Carroll County( Term 1847

This day the last will and testament of Martin Dalton Deceased was produced into court and duly proven by the oaths of George W. Halladay and Henry Crider two of the witness there to as the law directs and ordered by the court to be recorded.

Y. W. Allen Clk.

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.