Will Book __, Page 142

In the Name of God, Amen.

I Pharoah Cobb of the County of Hawkins in the State of Tenn., being in perfect health and of sound, disposing mind and memory and knowing that all must die, do make this my last Will and Testament in manner and form following, to wit:

It is my will and desire that all my just debts be paid.

I give and bequeath unto my beloved wife Barsha four negroes, Stephen, Lucy his wife and her two children Cairy and Eliza with all my household and kitchen furniture, to her and her heirs forever.

It is my will and desire that my wife Barsha should enjoy and have the use of the house and kitchen that we now occupy with as much of the cleared and woodland as may be deemed sufficient for her support her life, with two of my horse beasts, her choice, and four cows and calves of her choice with as many sheep and hogs as she may need for her use and support, and at her death the same to be sold by my Executor hereafter named.

I also leave to my said wife a negro boy named Peter during her lifetime, and at her death he is to be sold as above.

Whereas I have heretofore given to my son-in-law Julias Conner property to the amount of $3,000.00 which is all that I ever intend to give him.

I have also given to my grandson Conner one young negro woman worth $500.00 for the express purpose of supporting and taking care of his mother.

I have heretofore given to my son in law Absalom Kyle $2,000.00 worth of property.

And to my son Jesse Cobb $2,000.00 worth of property. A part of the property that I have heretofore given to my son Jesse is a negro woman named Charity then having two children, but has now five.

And since that gift was made a certain Julias Conner has filed his Bill in Equity for the recovery of said negroes and to guard against the event of the suit, I do hereby set apart six negroes, to wit: A negro Esther and her two children, and Hamilton, Wyly and Frankey which is for my son Jesse Cobb provided he should lose Charity and her five children, but should my son Jesse gain the suit and keep negro Charity it is then my will that negro woman Esther and her two children and Hamilton, Wyly and Franky should be divided as hereafter mentioned.

My Executors shall pay to my daughter Barshaba Kyle and to my grand daughter Barshaba Cobb, daughter of my son Arthur Cobb dec’d one thousand dollars each in negroes and money out of my estate.

And it is further my will and desire that my Executors…shall lay off all my negroes not otherwise disposed of into three parcels of equal value or as nearly so as convenient, putting as many of one family into the same parcel as can be done with convenience, and draw by lot…one lot or third part to my daughter Barshaba Kyle, one third part to my three grand daughters, Eliza, Barshaba and Sally, children of my son Richard Caswell Cobb dec’d and one third part to my grand daughter Barshaba Cobb, daughter of my son Arthur Cobb, dec’d.

And it is my will and desire that all the rest of my personal Estate not by this will devised, my blacksmith tools excepted, be sold by my Executors and the money arising therefrom be equally divided in the following manner, to wit: One third part to my daughter Barshaba Kyle, one third part to my three grand daughters, Eliza, Barshaba and Sally children of my son Richard C. Cobb, dec’d. And one third part to Barshaba Cobb, daughter of my son Arthur, dec’d. To them and their heirs forever.

It is my will that if in allotting of my negroes as above mentioned that one lot or lots should be of more value than the others, that those drawing the highest price lot shall pay to those drawing the lower price lot so as to make them all equal as my Executors may think proper.

It is further my will that the property left my wife her lifetime and directed to be sold, that the money be divided into three parcels and given in the above manner.

I give and bequeath to my sons William and Jesse the tracts of land I live on to be divided in the following manner: The Island to be equally divided by running a line across the same, giving to my son William the lower part and Jesse the upper part. Then to begin at the upper elm tree standing on the bank of the river a little distance above a Spanish oak and several elms, small distance above the point of the island and above a cliff of rock. Then to run an east or nearly an east course to a stake or stone that I may hereafter set up. Then north or nearly north to a Spanish oak and cherry tree standing close together on the point of a hill near the creek, then up the middle of the creek to the lower end of a new meadow made since I purchased from William Lee, then along the line of the meadow fence and to continue that course as near as may be up to Galbraith’s line, leaving all the flat meadow ground to the north of the line so to be run, unless I may hereafter make a line from the meadow up to Galbraith’s line, which if I do shall be the dividing line, and I give to my son William the lower part of said land, and to Jesse the upper part, reserving to my wife as before mentioned.

I give and bequeath to my sons William and Jesse the mill tract, to them and their heirs forever.

I give to my son Jesse all my blacksmith tools.

And, I appoint my friends George Hale, Andrew Galbraith and Richard Mitchell my Executors to this my last Will, revoking all others by me made.

In witness whereof I Pharoah Cobb hath hereto set my hand and seal. This 18th day of March 1823.

Pharoah Cobb (seal)

Signed, sealed and acknowledged on the 5th day of May, 1823 in the presence of

G. D. Mitchell
R. H. Mitchell

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