Book __, Page 134
Proven: February Term 1861

In view of the uncertainty of life & the certainty of death, I, Archibald Carmichael, of the County of Hawkins, Tennessee, being sick in body but of sound and disposing mind & memory, do make publish and declare the following to be my last Will & Testament, hereby revoking & making void any other wills heretofore made by me.

First. It is my will & desire that all my funeral expenses should be paid.

Secondly. It is my will & desire that all my just debts shall be paid and discharged.

Thirdly. In as much as it is my opinion that my personal effects will not be sufficient to pay off and discharge my debts, it is my will and desire that Executor & Executrix hereafter named shall sell my real estate at public or private sale as in their discretion they may think advisable & for the interest of my dearly beloved wife and children & shall sell the same on a credit of six or twelve months, the purchaser/s giving bond with security & with interest from day of sale for the purchase money, a lien retained until the purchase money is fully paid.

Fourthly. It is my will & desire that after all my just debts shall have been paid, the residue of my Estate shall be handed over to my dearly beloved wife to be laid out in the purchase of a comfortable house for herself & family and the residue if any, to go to the use of the family in their education & training &c.

Fifthly. It is my will and desire that my dearly beloved wife shall use occupy & enjoy said property or house so purchased for & during her natural life & at her death the same to be equally divided amongst my four children, to wit: Mattie Ellen, William Andrew, Whitfield and Ann, share and share alike,

and in the event my beloved wife shall in her good judgement think it best to marry a second time, then & in that case whatever property she may have purchased or may have saved of my Estate shall be divided equally between her and my four children, share & share alike.

Lastly. I do hereby nominate, constitute & appoint my dearly beloved wife my Executrix & my esteemed friend George R. Powel my Executor of this my last Will & Testament.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed my seal This 19th day of December A.D. 1860.

A. Carmichael (seal)

Witness:

Hu Walker
Audley Anderson

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