Will Book __, Page 61
September 27, 1845

In the Name of God, Amen.

I, Orville Bradley, being of sound and disposing mind and memory, but feeble in body, do publish and declare this to be my last will and testament.

1st. It is my will and desire that out of whatever money I may have on hand at my death, or debts coming to me, that all my just debts be paid. And should there not be sufficient to pay them, then and in that case, out of my personal estate, and the expenses attending my funeral.

2nd. It is my will and desire that all my estate both real and personal which I may be possessed of at my death shall be vested in Hugh Walker and George R. Powel for the benefit of my niece Nancy Bradley Phipps, the daughter of Joshua and Louisa Phipps. And should the said Nancy Bradley Phipps die without leaving heirs of her body, then it is my will and desire that all my property both real and personal, at her death be sold by my Trustees hereby appointed, and a permanent fund raised for purposes of General Education in the County of Hawkins and the interest of said fund applied to the use of common schools.

3rd. It is my will and desire that should my Trustees hereby appointed believe it to be for the interest of my said niece, Nancy, that they may at their discretion within five years from this date, sell the same either at public or private sale as they may think most desirable, for the use and benefit of my niece…and the proceeds of said sale to be loaned out as an accumulating fund by my Trustees, as aforesaid until my said niece shall have attained the age of 21 years.

4th. It is my will and desire that all my negroes and my stock should remain on the farm as they are now, and the proceeds of my said farm applied to the payment of my debts or encumbrances which may lawfully arise against my estate otherwise to be an accumulation fund as aforesaid. 5th. It is my will and desire that if in the judgement of my Trustees hereby appointed, any of my slaves should become refractory or unmanagable or useless to my estate, that they may dispose of them at private or public sale as they in their discretion my think advisable. It is my will and desire that my Trustees for their trouble in carrying out the provisions of this my last will and testament, shall be allowed a reasonable allowance to be paid them out of my estate.

Orville Bradley (seal)

Signed, sealed published and declared in the presence of us the undersigned:

D. Alexander
S. D. Mitchell
Chas. J. McKinney
Samuel Neill, Sr.
Robert H. Hale

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