Will of Robert C. Foster - Dated 9 July 1873

I ROBERT C. FOSTER of the County of Crockett State of Tennessee do make and publish this as my last will and Testament revoking any other If such there be.

1. Item First - I have given and advanced to my daughter ANNA ELIZA HIGHTOWER at her marriage house hold and kitchen furniture, a negro girl, a fine brood mare, and she had given to her six town Lots in western Nashville, valued at Ten thousand dollars.

2. Item Second - To my son TURNER S. FOSTER I gave and advanced while he was reading law, and at his commencement of practice, in books, money, and a lot in the town of Franklin, estimated in all at three thousand dollars, in the year 1871 & 72 I paid and advanced for him to WHITES estate for whom he was Administrator and for whom I was security the sum of Fifteen Thousand Five hundred dollars, and for whom as security I paid to other creditors for him Five Thousand Six hundred & Sixty Dollars and have his note for six or seven hundred dollars now. I will and devise to my son TURNER S. the sum of Ten thousand Dollars of the money so given and advanced to him, including the money I so paid for him as security with his said note; the balance of which I will and direct to be paid to my estate.

3. Item Third To my son ROBERT C. FOSTER while reading medicine, I gave and advanced money and a fine riding horse amounting in Two thousand Dollars and for whom I also paid and advanced three thousand dollars and to whom in April 1857 I gave in Cash Three Thousand Dollars. 23d of March 1859 I gave cash one hundred Dollars also in March 1859 I gave Cash Two Hundred & fifty Dollars and to whom on May 16th 1860 I gave Three Hundred Dollars, and for whom I paid to EWING & McRORY the sum of Seven hundred Dollars being amount of his note to them which I paid May 3d 1859.

4. Item Fourth To my daughter NARCISSA McALISTER at and shortly after her marriage I gave the sum of Twenty three hundred dollars, and at the death of her Mother she will have and receive in good land in Crockett Co. Ten between four & five hundred acres worth about twenty dollars per acre.

5. Item Fifth To my son THOMAS J. FOSTER I gave and advanced about the year 1856 in Cash the sum of Fifty Seven hundred dollars and in the year 1860 I gave and advanced to him three thousand dollars in Cash.

6. Item Sixth To my daughter FANNIE WOODS at her marriage I gave a House girl named HARRIET, also house hold and kitchen furniture amounting in all to Twenty three Hundred dollars and in the year 1870 or 71 I gave and Conveyed to said FANNIE WOODS by deed a tract of land of Four hundred & thirty acres off of my VAUGHN tract worth twenty dollars per acre.

Item Seventh To my son WILLIAM H. FOSTER while living on my PORTER land I gave and advanced some three or Four thousand Dollars which however he has settled and he will have and receive at his Mothers death the Farm called the Porter Place with all improvements, Containing between four & five hundred acres and I have my said son WILLIAM H. note for Two thousand Dollars with payments thereon of about Four hundred Dollars and which note If not collected in my life time or his Mother's I give and bequeath to my said son WILLIAM H. FOSTER.

Item Eight Individually and on my own account I am owing Very little and will and direct that all debts due me be collected without distressing any one and after paying first what I individually owe then what I may otherwise owe, I will and bequeath to my wife if living and I also will and bequeath to her if living the proceeds of the crop now growing upon the Farm but if she should be dead I then will and bequeath all the above said property to be equally devided between my son THOS. J. my son WILLIAM H. and the Children of my daughter ANNA ELIZA HIGHTOWER, and with the Children of my daughter FANNIE WOODS. That is, one fourth to my son THOS. J. one fourth to my son WILLIAM H. one fourth to the Children of my daughter FANNIE WOODS and the other fourth to the children of my daughter ANNA ELIZA HIGHTOWER.

I hereby nominate and appoint my son THOS. J. and WILLIAM H. FOSTER Executors to this my last will and testament with the request and desire that they will not be required by the Court as such executors to give security.

In testimony of all of the above I the said ROBERT C. FOSTER have this 9th day of July 1873 (Eighteen hundred & Seventy three) in presence of these witnesses hereto signed my name.
ROBT. C. FOSTER

We the undersigned in presence of each other and at the request of ROBERT C. FOSTER whom we saw sign and execute this paper, this day attest by signing our names as witnesses thereto.
J. M. HAYES - Test
ALLEN ASHER

City of Florence Ala
June 18th 1874

I hereby certify that the foregoing is a true copy of a paper writing purporting to be the last will and testament of ROBERT C. FOSTER decd which was produced before me mayor of the City of Florence in the state of Alabama for proof and was proved thus:
ALLEN ASHER & J. M. HAYS the two subscribing witnesses to said will & testament, being duly sworn deposes say: that they become such at the request of the said ROBERT C. FOSTER decd and in his presence and in the presence of each other; and that they verily believe that said ROCERT C. FOSTER decd was of sound mind and memory at the time of executing said last will and testament.
Witness my hand and private seal there being no seal of the City corporation of the City of Florence in the State of Alabama and on this day and date above mentioned.
WM. T. BROOK
Mayor of Florence Alabama