Will Book __, Page 8

I, William Armstrong, Sen’r. of the County of Hawkins and State of Tennessee, being of sound mind and memory, do make this my last Will and Testament.

First. I will and bequeath unto my daughter-in-law Rachael and her five children, Elizabeth, Mary, Joseph, Rogers, Alice Louisiana and William Pitt Armstrong, the tract of land on the south side of Holston River in the county aforesaid known as the Caldwell Place and on which she has heretofore resided — containing by estimation 350 acres — which tract I heretofore conveyed to them to be equally divided according to the provisions of said conveyance.

I further give unto the said Rachael and her children above named, a negro woman slave named Rinda and her increase in lieu of certain improvements made by my son Arthur on town lots in the town of Surgoinsville. Said negro and her increase to be equally divided among Rachael and her five children before named.

2nd. I give and bequeath unto my son William Armstrong, Jr., the plantation in Carter’s Valley originally owned by my father and lately sold by my son William Armstrong to J. B. Galbraith, containing by estimation 240 acres. Also one other tract adjoining the same containing by estimation 46 acres which he has also sold. Said lands being conveyed by me to my son William several years since.

I also give and bequeath unto my son William a negro or mulatto man slave named Stephen, which slave he has also had in possession for some years. I also give him all stock and donations of whatever kind received by him heretofore from me.

3rd. I give and bequeath unto my son Clinton Armstrong a part of the tract adjoining the place whereon I now live and which tract my son Clinton has sold unto my son William and which I have heretofore conveyed unto my son Clinton, containing by estimation 300 acres.

I also give and bequeath unto my son Clinton all the stock and other donations of whatever kind which he has heretofore received from me, and I further give and bequeath unto my son Clinton my negro man slave named Ben.

4th. I give and bequeath unto my daughter Polly Amis the tract of land whereon she now lives in Carter’s Valley containing 500 acres which tract has been conveyed by me some years since. I also give and bequeath unto her a negro woman slave named Fanny and her increase. Also, I give unto her all stock and other donations of whatever kind heretofore received by her.

5th. I give and bequeath unto Elizabeth Bradford, my daughter, a negro woman named Clarissa and her child Pocohontas which slaves she has received some years since with their increase younger than Pocohontas. I also give unto her all stock and other donations of whatever kind which received from me as such heretofore.

My daughter Elizabeth has in her possession a negro boy slave named Isaac, son of Clarissa. I will that she pay to me or my Executor &c the sum of twenty-five dollars yearly for the hire of said boy Isaac from the time he becomes sixteen years of age until my death, then said boy to be offered to her at a fair valuation and should she decline receiving at such price as he shall be valued, said Isaac is to be sold with the rest of my negroes, &c.

6th. I give and bequeath unto my son Carry A. Armstrong a certain tract or parcel of land lying on the main stage road adjoining the land of William Lyons in the county aforesaid, containing by estimation 15 acres — which tract of land was conveyed by me to him some years since. I also give unto him all the stock and other donations made to him by me heretofore.

And, I further will and devise that should my son Carry return and get married within three years after my decease that he have the river plantation, including the mill, still house, Old Tavern &c as hereinafter described, but should he not return aforesaid of three years after my death and marry and settle himself, it is my will that said tract of land be sold and divided among all my other children, giving unto the heirs of my son Arthur one equal share of the proceeds of the sale of said lands and the rents that may accrue thereon.

7th. I give and bequeath unto my daughter Sally H. Hord two negroes named Nancy (and her increase), and Wiley. Also all stock and other donations of whatever kind heretofore received by her from me.

8th. I give and bequeath unto my daughter Louisiana DeWolfe two negroes named George and Linda with her increase, also all the stock and other donations of whatever kind heretofore received of her by me.

9th. I give and bequeath unto my daughter Margaret E. Cook two negroes named Eliza and Rufus, also all stock and other donations of property heretofore received by her from me. I also will that she be paid the sum of Two Hundred Dollars extra of her division.

10th. I give and bequeath unto my daughter Julia Armstrong two negroes, namely Bill and Harriett with her increase. And I further will and devise that the sum of Three Hundred Dollars be paid over to my daughter Julia extra over and above her equal share as herein provided for with her other sisters, Elizabeth, Sally, Margaret and Louisiana.

11th. I will that the tract of land on which I live be divided as follows to wit: Beginning at the Brick Spring House, running down the spring branch, thence down the mill branch to the lower end of the little meadow on the west side of the branch. Thence a straight (line) with the lower end of the meadow fence to the back line adjoining Mrs. Surgoine‘s land. Thence with my line to the river. Thence up the river to my son William‘s line. Thence with his line to where it strikes the mill branch. Thence up the same to where the road crosses opposite the Brick Spring House. Thence to the beginning which aforesaid described tract I allot to the Old Tavern which is to include the mill, still house, &c.

To the Brick House lot or division, I assign from the branch at the lower end of the little meadow aforesaid out to the back line adjoining Mrs. Surgoine‘s land aforesaid. Thence along the same to the line of the Long tract. Thence with the same to the northwest corner thereof near the Wolfe Spring on the Barrett Tract lately sold to Mr. Grigsby. Thence with my lines to the Meeting House lot with the lines of the same and the lines of my son William‘s to the branch. Then down the branch until opposite the Brick Spring House. Thence a straight line to the spring house. Thence down the spring branch and mill branch to the beginning at the lower end of the little meadow aforesaid.

11th. I will and devise that my land adjoining the above described tracts be laid off into three lots as near as may be of equal value, and that said lots of land also the tract attached to the Brick House as above described. Also my lots in the town of Surgoinesville (excepting one given to William Amis). Also a tract of land in Stanley Valley on Marshall‘s Creek, also all my negroes not herein otherwise disposed of, also my stock and other personal property to be sold and the proceeds thereof be divided equally among my five daughters, Elizabeth Bradford, Sally Hood, Louisiana DeWolfe, Margaret Cook, and Julia Armstrong, after having first paid all my just debts.

12th. I further will and devise that the titles for 5000 acres of land on the waters of Bear Creek from Zachariah Cox &c be divided among all my children equally providing that should any one of the heirs take on them the trouble and expense to secure the title of said lands from the Government of the U. States, I will devise to that heir two shares of said land in said division.

13th. I will that the river tract herein conditionally given to my son Cary remain in the possession of my Executors until the expiration of the three years, unless my son Cary should sooner return and comply with the conditions of this my will.

14th. I will and devise that all other property that I may die possessed of and not herein named whether real estate or personal, be sold and divided among all my children.

16th [as transcribed]. I will and bequeath that my grandson Wm. A. Amis have a lot in the town of Surgonsville, lying opposite where Mrs. Carter lately lived, said lot lying and being on the south side of the main street.

I will that the Sulphur Spring lot remain unsold for the benefit of all my children.

Lastly. I will that William Armstrong, Jr. and James Amis be made the Executors of this my last Will & Testament.

W. Armstrong (seal)

Signed, sealed and acknowledged In presence of:

William Lyons
Aaron Grigsby
G. M. Lyons

I, William Armstrong, Sen’r. being still of sound mind and memory but weak in body do add this Supplement to the foregoing — my last Will and Testament, viz:

I will that the donations in money &c heretofore given to my daughters Margaret & Julia by my wife in her lifetime be considered a part of my will, and that my daughters Margaret & Julia retain the same

and I further will that my daughter Julia have a good horse in addition to what I have herein bequeathed unto her.

I further will that the dividing line between the river tract and the tract attached to the Brick House be altered and that from the lower end of the little meadow down, that the creek be the line.

Given under my hand and seal this 13th day of January, 1835.

W. Armstrong (seal)

In presence of:

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