Will Book __, Page 347

In the Name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost, Three persons but one God. I, George Maxwell of the County of Hawkins and State of Tennessee, calling to mind the certainty of death and the uncertainty of the time when do make and ordain this my last Will and Testament in the words following, to wit:

After commending my soul to God and my body to the dust to be buried in a decent and Christian manner hoping they will again be united at the Resurrection and enjoy a glorious Immortality.

I dispose of my worldly goods as follows:

I allow my stock of all kinds to be sold — farming utensils and household furniture also.

And all my debts paid out of the money arising from the sale — In the first place. The residue to be applied as hereafter directed.

Next, I allow my two tracts of land lying on Rice‘s or Howard‘s Creek to be sold containing two hundred acres each. I borrowed from my son Jesse in his lifetime $600.00. At his death he allowed it to be equally divided between his two sisters Matilda and Anne. I allow $600.00 of the price of that land to be paid to my two daughters Matilda & Anne agreeable to his direction.

The residue of the price of that land, be it much or little, I allow to be equally divided between William Soloman, Matilda & Anne.

My negro family I divide as follows: I give and bequeath to my son William and his children Ned and Nancy and her increase that she (Matilda) has had possession of for some time.

Also Anthony and Sampson I give, bequeath to my daughter Anne and her children. Winney that she had possession of some time & her increase. Also, Bob and Punch, Rose and her two youngest children.

Rene and Casey either to be sold and their value to be equally divided among my four children — one of the Legatees may take them and pay three fourths of their value to the other three Legatees.

The place I live on I allow to be sold and the price to be equally divided between my four children William, Soloman, Matilda & Ann, except two hundred dollars of the first of it to be paid to William as the negroes left him was not so valuable as the others.

After my debts is paid out of the net proceeds of stock and household furniture, I allow $50.00 to each of my grand children that was named for me.

I leave $20.00 to the East Tennessee Bible Society.

I leave my Bible and books to Anne.

Should there still be residue remaining from my stock, I leave $100.00 to Matilda, more that the rest as she has kept me in clothing some time and probably will have more trouble yet.

And should there be no residue left from the stock, I allow that $100.00 be paid out of the price of the land.

I leave a land warrant in the hands of John Snap, if recovered to be equally divided. I paid my money forty years ago for it and he never paid a cent for it — I never sold it to him.

I nominate & appoint my son Soloman and my son in law Williams Lyons to execute this my last Will & Testament.

Witness my hand This 14th of Nov. 1821.

George Maxwell

Witness present:

Abraham Rafter
John Loughmiller

This Hawkins County Will was transcribed by one of the following volunteers:  Audrae Mathis; Gary Fletcher; Betty Mize; Diana Arney; Karen Negron, Kathey Welder.