Will Book __, Page 96

In the Name of the Father, Son & Holy Ghost, three persons but God.

I, Lewis Christian, Sr. of the County of Hawkins and State of Tennessee, calling to mind the certainty and yet the uncertainty of the time when— do make and ordain this my last will & Testament in the words and form following, to wit:

After commending my soul to God and my body to the dust, to be buried in a decent Christian manner, hoping they will again be united at the resurrection and enjoy a glorious immortality, I dispose of my worldly goods as follows:

I allow all my just debts to be paid in the first place. I bequeath to my sons, John, Thomas, Lewis, Jr., Allen and James, to each one dollar.

I bequeath to my daughter Lucinda the lower end of my place, beginning at a mulberry at the mouth of a hollow, at the upper end of the old peach orchard on south side of the creek and including the field and all the land to the lower end of the survey.

I give and bequeath to my daughter Peggy the upper end of my place Beginning on Maxwell’s line, running forth poles down the river and then a straight line across the upper end to the mountain.

I give and bequeath to my daughters Betsy, Polly and Nancy each one dollar.

Also, I give and bequeath to my daughter Nancy and her children 49 acres of land whereon she lately lived, joining Francis Godard.

I give and bequeath to my son Lewis 50 acres of land joining his old survey, Alex’r Smith and Alex’r Patterson whate in lines more or less.

I give to my grandson Thomas the place whereon my son Thomas now lives, containing 52 acres reserving to my son Thomas the use of the place during his life.

I bequeath to my grandson William, the son of my daughter Sally, dec’d, 50 acres of land lying between my son Thomas and Samuel Bailey with the improvements.

I give and bequeath to my son William the place I now live on joining Cindy below and Peggy above, with the buildings and improvements.

If my wife Peggy should outlive me, I allow William, Cindy and Peggy to give her 30 bushels of corn per year during her natural life.

I also nominate her Executrix of this will.

I also allow Peggy my wife to divide the household and kitchen furniture between her three youngest children at her discretion.

I allow her also to have use of the mansion house and one third of the farm during her life.

I also nominate my son William my other Executor.

Whereas I have been informed that my son Lewis Christian, Jr. has a bond in possession with my mark or signature to it, purporting to be a title bond with a penalty of $1,500.00 in default of making him a title to certain lands, I have no recollection of any such transaction, and if he has any such bond, he obtained it in an unfair manner when I was not in my right mind.

In testimony where of I have hereunto set my mark this 1st day of May, 1822.

Lewis [X] Christian, Sr. (his mark)

Acknowledged in presence of us:

Geo. Maxwell
Reuben Skelton
Geor. Curry

A codicil of my Will &c, Supplement or Addition

I, Lewis Christian, Sr. of the County of Hawkins and State of Tenn., do this 15th day of December make and publish this Codicil to my last Will & Testament in manner following, that is to say:

I give to my grand daughter Sally, the daughter of Cindy Christian one bed and furniture, one puter dish, one tin pan, one dozen tea cups, three bowls, one pitcher, two glass tumblers and six plates, one table cloth and one set of curtains; also one cow and calf, one sow and pigs, one horse colt.

And whereas, in my last Will & Testament I have given to my daughter Cindy the lower end of my place, beginning at a mulberry at the mouth of a hollow,

also, I do bequeath to her a part of the two last locations I make below the same hollow.

And lastly, my present codicil be annexed to and made a part of my last Will and Testament, to all intents and purposes.

In witness whereof I hereunto set my hand and seal this 15th day of December, 1828.

Lewis [X] Christian, Sr. (seal) (his mark)

Signed, sealed and declared by the above named Lewis Christian, Sr. as a codicil to be annexed to his last will and testament in the presence of:

William Feagins
James Lyons

N.B. It is my desire that the above mentioned property be equally divided between heirs of my daughter Sindy’s body at her decease.

Lewis [X] Christian, Sr. (seal) (his mark)

William Feagins
James Lyons

A codicil or supplement to my will &c. &c:

Whereas I in my former will gave or bequeathed to my grand son Thomas Christian 52 acres of land, I now in this my last will bequeath and give the aforesaid 52 acres of land to my son Thomas Christian, being the same land whereon he then lived, to be his just right.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 26th day of March, 1830.

Lewis [X] Christian, Sr. (seal) (his mark)

Signed, sealed, published & declared by the above named Lewis Christian, Sr. as a codicil to be annexed to his last will and testament.

In the presence of:

William Feagins
James Feagins

November 20, 1830: To the gentlemen of the Court of Rogersville.

It is the wish of Margaret Christian that James Bailey do administer to the estate of Lewis Christian, dec’d for I am not able to attend to it myself owing to sickness and old age.

Also, it is the wish of William Christian son of the dec’d; also we both stand as security.

Margaret [X] Christian
William Christian

Witness

James Christian (his mark)

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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.