Will Book __, Page 108

In the Name of God, Amen.

I, Benoni Coldwell, of Hawkins County & State of Tennessee, being weak in body but of sound and perfect mind and memory, calling to mind the uncertainty of this present life, do make this my last Will & Testament in the words following (To wit)

Imprimis. I give my precious immortal soul to God who gave it and as to my personal Estate my will & desire is that it be divided in the following manner, after all my just debts and funeral expenses are paid.

Item. I give & bequeath unto my beloved wife Elizabeth Coldwell all that part of the plantation whereon I now reside, lying south of the Stanley Valley Road, including the dwelling and out houses, during her life or widowhood,

also a negro man named Nelson, one other negro man named Henry, also a negro girl named Milly,

also head of horses, her choice out of my stock, also stock of cattle & hogs, ten ewes and lambs, also ten head of other sheep…

Also my stock of geese and ducks for the purpose of my wife and daughters making themselves beds.

Also my youngest sons to have benefit of beds if their sisters think proper to make for them.

Also a new wagon part made contracted to be made by David Kestren for her to have finished and keep as her other property, the balance to be paid for finishing the wagon out of my estate.

Also, all my household and kitchen furniture, farming utensils and all other property…

also my wife to have the present crop of wheat that is now growing in the field on the north side of the Stanley Valley Road, adjoining George Walters‘ land.

Item. I give & bequeath unto my daughter Sally Greenway and her heirs a negro girl Isabel.

Item. I give and bequeath unto my son Thomas K. Coldwell the tract of land whereon he now resides containing 200 acres more or less, also $100.00 to be made out of my Estate.

Item. I give and bequeath unto my daughter Lettice Young what she has already received of my estate as her part at the present.

Item. I give and bequeath unto my daughter Mary Galbraith what she has already received of my estate as her part at the present.

Item. I give and bequeath unto my daughter Betsy Bryan what she has already received of my estate as her part at the present.

Item. I give and bequeath unto my son Benoni F. Coldwell what he has already received of my estate as his part at the present.

Item. I give and bequeath unto my two sons John & Nathaniel the two tracts of land, one called Stubblefield’s Place, and the other called Baker’s Place, also the entries around them, to be equally divided between them agreeable to quantity and quality. John’s part to be laid off at the lower or west end, including where he now lives.

Item. I give and bequeath unto my two sons Percy C. & Volney Coldwell all that part of the tract of land whereon I now reside, lying north of the Stanley Valley Road until the death of their mother, then the whole tract to be equally divided between them.

Also, I leave a 50 acre entry in the Caney Valley Knobs to support the tract I live on with timber.

Item. I give and bequeath unto my four daughters Delphi Ann, Rachael, Eliza & Julia Ann Coldwell, each, five hundred dollars, to be paid out of my estate in addition to the beds they have or may hereafter make.

My will and desire is that after the death of my wife all the property she may (have) be sold and proceeds equally divided among all my children enumerated above.

My will and desire is that the following property be sold to carry my last will & testament into effect, to wit;

Two tracts of land lying in Big Poor Valley, one containing 50 acres and the other 100 acres; one negro man Edward, one named Leroy, one negro boy named Jesse, one negro girl named Lucy, also my old wagon, the balance of my stock of hogs and sheep, two stills, still tubs & other vessels, one set of blacksmith tools and coopers tools.

I do hereby constitute, ordain and appoint my brother Thomas Coldwell & my wife Elizabeth Coldwell my sole Executor and Executrix to carry this my last Will & Testament into effect & that they be not required to give security for the faithful execution of the same.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my had and seal this twenty first day of March in the year of our Lord, 1837.

B. Coldwell (seal)

Test.

Philip S. Hale
John Shough
Rob’t Johnson

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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.