Will Book __, Page 56
June 14, 1842

I, Burwell Bassett, of the County of Hawkins and State of Tenn., 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 man once to die and having a desire to dispose of such worldly estate which it has pleased Almighty God to bless me with 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, that my Executor hereinafter named shall sell so much of my personal property as will be sufficient to pay all my just debts, and the balance of my personal estate I give and bequeath unto my beloved wife Martha Bassett during her natural life or widowhood.

And I further give and bequeath unto my said wife all the tract of land with its appurtenances whereon I now live, and in case she should marry, then in that case my Executors hereinafter named shall have full power and authority to sell all my personal property, together with my negroes and the proceeds of such property to be equally divided between my said wife Martha and my children hereinafter named, to wit: Elvira Bassett who intermarried with Joseph Vaughan, Ketturah Bassett, Adaline Bassett, Alexander Bassett, Richard Nathaniel Bassett, James N. Bassett, Martha and Helen Bassett, share and share alike, but it is further my will and desire that in case my said wife Martha should marry, that my said Executors shall divide the tract of land whereon I now live equally between my said wife Martha and my children before named, reserving to themselves the right to lay off and set apart to my wife a lot to include the mansion house where I now reside with the privilege of water from the spring that I now make use of, which lot of land and building my wife shall have and enjoy during her natural life, and at her death the said lot of land to be equally divided amongst my said children.

And in case my wife should remain single and keep my said property together, that she raise and school my said children out of the proceeds of the property and farm free from cost.

And it is further my will and desire that as my said children heretofore named shall marry that my wife, with the advice and consent of my said Executors shall set apart so much of my personal estate as they may think my said wife can conveniently spare so as to make the balance of my said children equal to what my daughter Elvira has received.

And it is further my will and desire that my wife Martha remain in possession of all my real and personal property during her natural life or widowhood, and that she have and enjoy all and singular my real estate subject nevertheless to the foregoing conditions stipulated above.

And lastly, I do constitute and appoint my friends James L. Etter and Joseph Vaughan of the County of Hawkins and State of Tennessee my Executors of this my last Will and Testament, revoking all former wills heretofore made by me.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 14th day of June, in the year of our Lord, A.D., 1842

Burwell W. Bassett (seal)

Signed, sealed and declared in presence of:

William McCraw
Spencer Bassett
G. McCraw

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