Book A, Transcript Page: 26

In the name of God Amen. I William Woods of the County of Carroll and State of Tennessee being weak in body but of Sound and Perfect mind and meary, do this twelfth day of November in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and Thirty one make and publish this my last will and testament in the manner and form following (that is to say) First, I allow all my Just debts to be paid. 2nd, I give and bequeath unto my beloved wife Nancy Woods my old negro cook woman Sylvy Hannah and her offspring my negro girl Mary with her offspring on negro boy called Sam, one negro boy Called Bedford and at her death with all their offspring Said negroes are to be divided amongst the children and grand children of my Brother John Woods my brother in law Thos. Black my brother in law John Holmes, but more especially between John Woods son William John Holmes son of Wm & H Woods son William Samuel Black son William L. S. Woods daughter Nancy Dyrant Woods daughter Nancy Rachel, the above named property shall be divided among the above named persons, by one son of John Woods one of John Holmes and one of Thomas Blacks and my wife Nancy Woods, I allow my Wife my clock during her life also my silver watch at her death I allow the watch for L. S. Woods I also allow her the two bedsteads that Stand In our room. I allow her all my silverware at her death at her death the Silver ware to be equally divided between Wm. W. Herron and Nancy Herron or his bodily heirs and if none her share to go to her brothers and sisters. I also allow my wife my Ox waggon with the Six oxen that work in sd. waggon. I also allow her my riding horse Missourie I also allow her five hundred dollars out of my estate as She may think Proper to purchase at the Sale. I also allow her two good beds with furniture. I allow W. W. Herron my nephew one negro boy Peter one negro girl Lucy. I allow John Woods Son William one negro boy called Clark and Should William die without bodily issue I allow said Clark to belong to Margaret Woods and her bodily heirs the daughter of John Woods my Brother I allow her Margaret Woods one negro girl called Martha if she dies without bodily issue sd Marthy Shall be disposed of by John Woods and his son L. S. Woods. I allow my Sister Martha the proceeds of a negro boy called Cyrus the boy Cyrus Shall be Sold to the highest bidder On twelve months credit no person shall have the privelige of bidding for sd boy except John Woods my brother Thos. Black my brother in law L. S. Woods Sam Black John Herron W. W. Herron I allow L. S. Woods and W. W. Herron to make sale of sd boy and collect and pay over the money to my Sister Martha on conditions of her giveing bond and security at her death to have the money equally divided between her son John Dyrant her Son and his heirs and John Steel that married Nelly Black or his heirs, I allow Nancy Herron John Herron wife one negro girl called Edney one called Myra one negro boy called Gabriel them and their offspring to the said Nancy Herron during her life time and her bodily Issue and Should the Said Nancy die without bodily heirs Then and in that case sd negroes with their offspring Shall be disposed of as L. S. Woods & W. W. Herron has Should Said Herron die without bodily issue Then and in that case Sd negroes Shal be disposed of as my brother John Woods L. S. Woods Hervy Woods may think equitable and Just I allow Nancy Herron Two good beds and furniture I allow her one mare called Wild goos also one hundred and fifty dollars Out of my household furniture Stock and farming Tools as Sd. Nancy and John may think proper to purchase at the Sale. I also allow Nancy Herron her Bedstead that stands in her own room I also allow my wife all the benefit of a certain tract of land on which I now live to begin on the top of ridge west of which we call The Sulphur Spring where the South bounda if of a tract of land granted to John Akers then west to the north west corner of an entry in the name of John Stone for 200 acres then north to the district line, then west, So far as my line extends, thence north with L. S. Woods land and eastwardly to a point due west of the plantation on which I live thence east to north east corner of Sd improvement thence southwardly with the fence of Said improvement to a point five pole due south of a spring called Herverys thence east to a point due north of the beginning thence to the begining which land and proceeds I allow her the benefit of during her lifetime or widowhood and if in case she marry then and in that case I allow the above named tract of land or the proceeds thereof and all her negroes to be At the entire disposal of W. W. Herron Levi S. Woods and Hervy Woods I allow the above named tract of land or the proceeds thereof at my wife’s death to belong to Nancy Herron and her and her bodily issue if she has any if none and in that case the above named tract of land or proceeds Shall be divided eagally betwen L. S. Woods, Hervy Woods, Margaret Woods and W. W. Herron but said land shall never be sold or disposed of in any way only under the contract and concurrance of L. S. Woods Hervy Woods & W. W. Herron I also allow Wm H. Herron all the land I own north of the before mentioned Tract beginning at a point due west of the northwest corner of the improvement, on which I now live then north with Levi S. Woods land to the north boundary of all the land I claim thence east with the said line to a stake, and Pointers, on the west boundary line of Dysart Woods and John Herron’s claim thence South to their corner thence east to the Tanyard branch supposed to be about twenty poles From sd. corner tence South with the branch So as to include all the land I own on the west Side of branch not above disposed of. I allow the Boswell place including all the land held by grant or occupancy shall be disposed of by John Woods and John Holmes for the Benefit of Oliver Woods my brother and his family. And lastly as to all the rest residue and remainder of my Personal estate good and chattels of what kind and nature Soever I allow to be sold and the proceeds thereof to be applied in settling the debts of the estate and after all claims against the estate are settled then should Be a remainder of money that I allow the executors to make such disposition of the same as they may think proper and just. And I hereby appoint my brothers John Woods my nephew L. S. Woods and my nephew W. W. Herron my executors of this my last will and testament, hereby Revoking all former wills by me made. In witness wereof I have hereunto Set my hand and Seal the Day and date above written.

Signed and sealed in the presence of us The subscribing witnesses and the Testator.

William Woods (Seal)

C. M. Hodge Jur
James Huddleston Jur
Burnell Robertson

State of Tennessee)
Carroll County Court) December Term 1831

The last will and testament of William Woods deceased was This day produced in open court and the execution thereof was Duely proven by the Oathes of John C. M. Hodge and James Huddleston two fo the subscribing witnesses thereunto and on motion of John Woods Levi S. Woods and W. W. Herron The executors named in the Said Will who took the oath Required by law and together with Andrew Neely & Henry Wright their Securities entered into and acknowledged their bond in the Sum of Twenty Thousand dollars conditioned as the law directs a certificate is granted them for obtaining a probate thereof in due form of law.

A Copy of Test
Ewd. 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.