Book 2, Pages 169-170
Filed and proven: April 2, 1877

In the name of God, Amen.

This the 24th day of February in the Year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy seven.

I William D. Gonce, of the County of Hawkins and State of Tennessee, a g___ being through the blessings of God in a sound state of mind and memory, but calling to mind the frail tenure of life, and that it is appointed to all men once to die, do make ordain this my last will and testament that is to say

principle and first of all, I recommend my soul unto the hands of Almighty God, who gave me and the disposal of my body I leave to the disposal of my friends.

With respect to my worldly estate, I give bequeath and dispose of it in the manner here following.

First — I give and bequeath to my dearly beloved wife Viana all of my stock and all of my personal property in the house and out of doors.

Also to collect and to have all the accounts and ___ that is due me and she is to pay off all my just debts.

Next I will and bequeath to her the tract of land that I now live on to have and to hold so long as she remains to be my widow and at her death or in case that she marries, I want her six children to have the same tract of land on which I now live, to be equally divided between them.

And I want the property that remains at her death or in case she marries to be divided equally between my eight boys.

Next I will and bequeath to my daughter, Emily to have all of the estate that is coming to me or my heirs from the Pleasant Begley estate.

Finally, I will and bequeath to my two oldest sons, Pleasant and Harry my three share in the tract of land that I bought from my father and mother’s estate and also I want them to have my tract of land containing two acres to be equally divided between them.

And I do hereby utterly disclaim revoke and disavow all and every other former testament, wills, legacies, bequests, and executors by me in any way before named willed and bequeathed ratifying and confirming this and no other to be my last will and testament.

I also will that J. W. DeBord be and is hereby appointed my executor.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal the day and year above written.

Signed: Wm. D. Gonce

Signed, sealed and declared by the said William D. Gonce as his last will and testament in the presence of us as the subscribers:

James Davis
Isaac [X] Sampson (his mark)
George W. DeBord

Transcribed by Betty Mize