Will of John Wilson (1806)
Transcribed and contributed by William Bracket and Diana Chesser
Transcribers’ notes: Punctuation is by William Bracket. Three dots are used to indicate words or parts of words that he could not decipher. John Wilson was a Revolutionary War soldier. He married Ann Luck. Two of his brothers, William and Joseph Wilson also served. All are from Carter County, TN.
“In the name of God Amen. I John Wilson of Carter County and Sate of Tennessee Being Sick and weak in Body But of Sound Mind and Dissposeing Memory For which I thank God and Calling To Mind the uncertainty of Human Life and Being Desirous to Disspose of all Such worldly Esstate as It Hath pleased God to Bless Me with.
1st I do will and Bequeath to my Beloved wife Ann all the House Hold Furniture Together with all my Stock of Horses, Cattle, Hogs and Sheep. Also one negroe woman named Hannah and one negroe Boy named peter and Half of the profit of the plantation During her life – and After Her Death the Land to Be Equally Divided Between my Son Booker and my son Tapley And Tapley to have the Management and … of his part and his Mother’s part During her Life If he … his Mother and Austen … and If A Lawfull Complaint Made appear against Said Tapley the property Left to my wife to Be Taken out of his hands By order of Court and put in the hands of William Widby and my Daughter Elizabeth During their good Behavior Towards there Mother and my Son Austen … and after the Decease of my wife and my Son Austen the two nigroes named Hanah and peter Be equally Divided amongst all my Children William Buckner Excepted By Reason of the grate Charge of his family that I have had So long in my Cear … wise I will and Bequeath to my Son Samuel Ten Dollars of the property Left after my wifes Death also I Leve to my Son John ten Dollars and also ten Dollars of my son William and ten Dollars to my son Joseph – and ten Dollars to my daughter Nancy Herthily – and ten Dollars to my daughter Elizabeth Widby and ten Dollars to my son Graland also ten Dollars to my daughter Rhoda Gentry.
I Hereby Revoke all my other … Former wills and Testaments by me Made. In witness where of I have Hereunto Set My Hand and Fixed my Seal this first Day of August in the of our Lord one thousand Eight hundred and Six.
his John Wilson (Seal) marke
Signed Sealed and Delivered for my Last Will and Testament of me the above named John Wilson Senr.
In the presents of we
Test.
T. Hamilton Jurat
Matthias Wagoner Jurat