Will Book __, Page 66
May 16, 1856
Proven: July Term, 1856

I, Thomas K. Baldwin being in feeble health but of disposing mind and memory, do make and publish this my last Will and Testament, hereby revoking and making void all other wills by me at any time made.

1st. I direct that my funeral expenses and all my just debts be paid as soon after my death as possible out of any money that I may die possessed of or may first come into the hands of my …Executors.

I give and bequeath to my beloved wife Cassander during her natural life all my stock of horses, hogs, cattle, sheep, household and kitchen furniture, one new wagon, farming utensils &c, together with the entire growing crop of corn, wheat and oats for the comfort of my beloved wife and family.

I wish them settled on a farm on which they may be able to make a support and in order to effect that object, I wish my wife with the advice and consent of my Executors to have the privilege of purchasing a farm on which to live ranging in cost somewhere from twelve to eighteen hundred dollars, and in order that the means may be had to make said purchase of land, I wish that my property of any kind or description that in the judgement of my wife and my executors can be spared that such property be sold upon such terms and conditions as may be agreed upon my wife and Executors, and that the proceeds thereof be applied to the purchase of said farm, and that the balance of the amount necessary to pay for said farm be taken out of the first payments which will hereafter fall due to me for lands I have sold to John N. Williams, and after said farm shall have been purchased and my family settled thereon as above contemplated, I wish my said wife to have the privilege of purchasing for her own use a negro girl to be paid out of the proceeds of my said land sold to John N. Williams, but in the event that my said wife shall not choose to make the purchase of said negro girl, then the said fund arising from the land sold to John N. Williams...shall be loaned out by my Executors until my youngest child shall arrive at the age of 21, then the said amount with interest thereon to be equally divided between my four children, and at the death of my beloved wife, the remaining portion of any property and effects of every kind…to be equally distributed between my legitimate heirs so as to make each one share and share alike.

I do hereby constitute and appoint William Davis of the County of Hancock and Thomas J. Lee of the County of Hawkins, Executors of this my last will and testament.

I wish my Executor William Davis be allowed to give security in his respective County of Hancock.

In testimony I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal.

Thomas K. Baldwin (seal)

Signed, sealed and published in our presence and we have subscribed our names in the presence of the Testator.

R. H. Drake
Henry D. Chesnutt

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