Will of John W. Evans - Dated 2 Mar 1885

Know all men by these presents, that I JOHN W. EVANS for the love and affection I have for my children, and grand children viz: - LOUISA E. BOWEN, MRS. M. J. W. BLAKEMAN, WILLIAM J. EVANS and Grand children, hereinafter enumerated have this day alu__d (?) transfered and consigned unto them and each of them the following described parcels or tracts of land, viz. To MRS. LOUISA E. BOWEN I give and deed the tract known as the WILLIT tract upon which the same LOUISA now resides the same being in Civil District No. 5, Crockett County, Tennessee, about One Hundred acres or all of said WILLIT tract save, and except the portion heretofore belonged by me or other parties.

But this conveyance is made to the said LOUISA for and during her natural life, and at her death the same to inter to my grandaughter, EUDEXIE BELL BOWEN.

I do hereby give and deed to my grandaughter ANNA E. TILLORD [first and second letter of last name is hard to read, may be Lillord, or Sellord], seventy acres of land in Civil District No. 5 Crockett County and State aforsaid and known as a part of my JOHN WILLIAMS and JOHN SMOTHERS land the seventy acres to be taken from the west end of the tract and hereafter to set out by metes and bounds, to have and hold the same unto herself her heirs assigns forever. The remainder of said WILLIAMS and SMOTHERS land I deed, and convey unto MRS. L. E. BOWIN in trust for my my two grandchildren JIMMIE and MATTIE BOWIN to be divided between them as follows, viz. the JIMMIE to have fifty five acres on the South east end of the tract which is the SMOTHERS end after the above described seventy acres shall have been taken off the said MATTIE to have the remainder of said tract the same being about forty five acres more or less, the said L. E. BOWIN is hereby authorized and empowered to act in the fiduciary capacity of Guardian, or trustee to manage and control the said land for said minors JIMMIE and MATTIE until they shall have attained their majority then the tittle to them shall be and is absolute.

I do also hereby transfer and convey to my daughter MARY J. W. BLAKEMAN two Hundred and twenty four acres of land in Civil District No. 5 Crockett County Tenn. Known as the POSTON NUNN ALLEN farm, and is the same upon which the said MARY J. W. BLAKEMAN resides, and includes the intire original tract sh___ and except One Hundred acres taken from the N.E. corner mentioned and described hereinafter to have and to hold the same to herself during her natural life and then in___ to the heirs of her body.

I also give and deed unto my son WILLIAM J. EVANS One Hundred acres to be taken from the North east corner of the tract immediately discribed above, and hereafter to be set out by metes and bounds, this conveyance is for and during the life time of said WILLIAM J. and on his death to revert to and ____ to the benefit of my four small children viz. PEARL, JOHN, MABEL and WIGHTMON and any further issue of and from my present c__bial (cennubial?) relation. The above conveyance to be in full satisfaction of their part or portion of my real estate.

I further hereby convey unto my beloved with BETTIE EVANS all my remaining landen estate (except 10 acres I hereby allow to the old family servant known as KATE).

The above includes the farm upon which I now reside the same to be under her dominion and controll during widow-hood. Should the said BETTIE form a subsequent marriage then and in that case, she must take as per the law of the lands, she may allow the remainder of my four young children PEARL, JOHN, MAYBELL and WIGHTMON and in my contract at the death of my beloved wife the entire tract of Six Hundred, and fifty six acres shall i___ to and invest in the said four children viz.:- PEARL, JOHN, MAYBELL and WIGHTMON. Intestimoney, whereof I have hereto affixed my signature This March 2nd 1885.

J. W. EVANS

Witnesses:
C. A. GOODLOE
C. J. OZMENT