Will Book __, Page 46
[Transcriber’s note: see original 1832]

In the Name of God, Amen. I, Nathaniel Basset of the County of Hawkins and State of Tennessee, being weak in body but of sound and disposing mind and memory, bringing to mind the mortality of this life, knowing it is appointed for all persons once to die, and having a desire to dispose of such worldly estate wherewith it hath pleased Almighty God to bless me with, I do make and publish this my last Will and Testament in manner following, to wit:

First. I will that all my just debts be paid.

Secondly. I give and bequeath unto the heirs of my son Burwell namely, Elvira, Ketturah, Adaline, Alexander and Richard and Nathaniel Bassett and any other lawful heirs that the said Burwell Bassett may hereafter have, all that part of my land whereon I now reside including the dwelling house and other buildings in the following boundary, to wit: Beginning at a stake four poles west of my stables, running due south to the top of the knob, then eastwardly with the top of said knob to Sterling Cooke‘s line, then with said line north to a red oak near George Matlock‘s house, then with said Cooke‘s line to the stage road, then with Thomas Poindexter‘s line northwardly to a stake on the south side of said road, then west to a stake on my old line, then with said line north to the back line of my said old tract, then west with the line of said tract so far that a due south line will strike the first station near said stables. To them and their heirs forever.

Thirdly. I give and bequeath unto the heirs of my son Spencer Bassett, namely, William, Louisa, John, George, Isaac and Joseph Bassett, and any other lawful heirs that Spencer may hereafter have, all that tract of land whereon I now reside, lying west of a line designated to the heirs of Burwell Bassett. That is to say: Beginning at a stake four poles west of my stables, running thence due south to the top of the knob, then westwardly with the top of the knob to Willie B. Kyle‘s line. Then with the line of said tract east so far that a line run due south will strike the beginning at the stake near said stables, to have and enjoy the before described tract of land with the appurtenances, to them and their heirs forever. And it is further my will that the heirs of the said Spencer Bassett is to have free and uninterrupted privileges of the spring that I now make use of for water, and to have equal privilege of said spring with the heirs and said Burwell Bassett, and to have a passway to said spring.

And it is my further will that the said Burwell and Spencer Bassett have and enjoy the before described tract of land with appurtenances during their lives subject to the following conditions: Now, if from extravagance, intemperance or imprudence, the said land or the life estate of the said Burwell and the said Spencer Bassett should be likely to be sold for their debts, then and in that case my said Executors hereinafter nominated shall have full power and authority to sell either or both lots of said land for the best price that can be had and the money arising therefrom to go to the use of said heirs heretofore named, agreeable to the value of their lots.

Fourthly. I give and bequeath unto my daughter Polly who has inter-married with Valentine Matlock, the following described negro, namely Minne and her three children, estimating the said four negroes together with the hire of said negro Minne, say fourteen years, at one thousand dollars which is equal to one lot of my land heretofore disposed of between the heirs heretofore mentioned, to her and her heirs forever.

Fifthly. I give and bequeath unto my son Hugh Bassett my negro woman Jenny, which negro I estimate her value at four hundred and fifty dollars, to him and his heirs forever. And I further give and bequeath to my said son Hugh…my gray horse at the price of one hundred and fifty dollars and two feather beds and furniture at forty dollars each, which makes his part six hundred and eighty dollars.

Sixthly. I give and bequeath unto Hugh Armstrong, who inter-married with my daughter Ketturah Bassett, my negro boy Aaron which negro I estimate his value together with his hire for sixteen years at one thousand dollars which equal to the above named three first shares, to him and his heirs forever.

Seventhly. I give and bequeath unto my daughter Peggy who has intermarried with George Matlock, my negro woman Winney and my negro woman Sidea and her child, a girl about two years old, which three negroes, together with the hire of Sidea eight years, I estimate their value at nine hundred dollars, to her and her heirs forever. And I further give to my said daughter Peggy two beds and furniture at forty dollars each which makes her share worth nine hundred and eighty dollars.

Eighthly. And it is further my will and desire that my negro man Dick, at my death, shall be free and that he be allowed reasonable portion of said farm during his life to make a support. And I also give to said Dick my old sorrel horse to dispose of as he may think fit.

And it is further my will and desire that my said Burwell shall see to Dick‘s welfare so long as both shall live and if said Dick should become so inform that he cannot support himself, then and in that case the said Burwell shall provide for him.

Ninthly. It is my further will and desire that all my said property that is not otherwise disposed of shall be sold by my said Executors hereinafter named for the best price that can be had for it and the money arising from said sale in the first place to go towards carrying [out] this my last will into effect, and the balance to go to my son Hugh Bassett and my daughter Peggy, to make their shares equal to the rest of the shares, or to make their shares worth one thousand dollars, and if there should be any balance remaining, my said Executors shall divide it equally with my said heirs.

Tenthly. And it is further my will and desire that if any of my said heirs shall be dissatisfied with this my last will and shall go to law for the purpose of preventing my will from being carried into effect, then and in that case the one so offending or trying to break my said will shall forfeit all clams to any part of my estate, and the part allotted to him or them shall be equally divided amongst the rest of my heirs.

Lastly. I do hereby constitute, ordain and appoint my friends James L. Etter and Gabriel McCraw my Executors to this may last Will and Testament, revoking and making void all former wills heretofore made by me, and ratifying and confirming this my last Will and Testament.

In testimony whereof I the said Nathaniel Bassett have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal. This fourth day of December in the year of our Lord, One thousand eight hundred and thirty-two.

Nathaniel Bassett (seal)

Test:

Thomas Poindexter
Sanford Johnson

[Balance illegible.]

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