Will Book __, Page 213

In the Name of God, Amen.

I, James Gideons, Senior of the County of Hawkins and State of Tenn., being weak in body but of sound and perfect mind and memory, calling to mind the mortality of my body, knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die.

First of all, I give my body to the earth to be buried in a Christian burial at the discretion of my Executor and my soul I give to Almighty God who gave it, nothing doubting but at the resurrection I shall receive both at the mighty hand of God.

And as it has pleased God to bless me with such worldly Estate wherewith I am blessed with do make constitute ordain and appoint this my last Will and Testament in the following manner and form.

Item First. I give and bequeath unto my son Edward Giddions $50.00 to be levied out of my Estate in trade at trade rates.

The next place, I give and bequeath unto my son William Giddeons one dollar in like manner.

Next, I give to my son James Giddeons $50.00 to be paid twelve months after my decease in trade at trade rates.

Next, I give and bequeath unto my son Isham Giddions a certain boundary of my land whereon I now live, beginning on a forked sugar tree, running North to two dogwoods Thence East with a conditional line between Isham & John Gideons to a horn beam on the old line. Thence a South East course with the old line to a stake near William Gideon’s house. Thence West with a conditional line made between myself and my son William Gideons to a sugar tree. Thence a Southeast Course with a conditional line to the old line to a stake near the top of clinch Mountian. Thence with the old line to the beginning.

Next, I give and bequeath unto my two daughters Elizabeth Davis and Sary Reed all my household furniture with the exception of one bed and furniture to be equally divided between them at my decease and my wife’s.

Likewise, I give unto the above named daughters all my stock of every kind, likewise to be divided equally between them.

And in the next place I give and bequeath unto my son John Gideons one feather bed and furniture.

It is further my will that my son Isham Gideons be my Executor and I do hereby appoint, constitute and ordain my son Ishum my Executor to attend to the business as my Executor,

and it is further my will that my son Ishum sees to take care and support my beloved wife Martha Gideons of the substances of my Estate during her natural lifetime,

and it is further my will that if any of my said heirs are dissatisfied with this my last Will & shall go to law about my property that they forfeit all claim to any part of my Estate, and the part that was allotted to them to be divided amongst the balance of my s’d heirs.

Now, I the said James Gideons, senior do ratify this to be my last Will and Testament, revoking and disannulling and disallowing all other wills and Tenements.

James [X] Gideons (seal)

Signed, sealed and delivered This twentieth day of August in the Year of our Lord One thousand Eight hundred and thirty three in the presence of us who in the presence of each other have hereunto set our names as witnesses.

Test:

Ab hawk
Nicholas Antrikin

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