Will of Christian Pearson – Hawkins County Genealogy & History

Book 2, Page 15
Proven: January 1, 1866
See County Court Minutes Book 2, Page 113

(blank spaces indicate unreadable words or letters)

I Christian Pearson of the County of Hawkins and the State of Tennessee do make this my last will and testament hereby revoking all wills by me heretofore made.

First – I hereby give and bequeath to my daughter Nancy Bloomer the wife of Isaac Bloomer a certain tract of land lying is said county and bounded as follows, Viz: Beginning on a beech on a branch thence north fifty west seven and a half poles to two ash trees thence north thirty two and half fifty six poles to two small locusts thence north fifty five and a half east seventeen poles to a locust thence north thirty west one hundred and sixty eight poles to two white oaks and red oak corner of a fifty acre grant thence north twenty poles to a poplar and chestnut on another corner of another fifty acre grant on the top of Copper Ridge thence north forty five east eighty one poles to a stake thence south twenty six east seventy six poles to a stake on a poplar a corner to my old grant thence north the line of said Bloomer to a stake on the line of John Starnes thence to the beginning, to have and to hold the said land unto the said Nancy Bloomer and her heirs forever.

I also give unto the said Nancy two servants to wit: Mary and Margaret and whatever increase they may have at my death to her and her heirs forever.

I also give to the said Nancy two beds of feathers.

Second – I hereby give and bequeath unto my daughter Elizabeth Starnes wife of John Starnes a certain tract of land in said county bounded as follows:

beginning on a beech and poplar corner of my old grant thence running with my old line thirty one poles to two buckeye and black walnuts in said line thence north sixty east sixty six poles to a red sowerwood and locusts thence north fifty four and a half east twenty three poles to beckeye and pawpaw thence north forty eight and a half west twenty one and three fourth poles to two beaches thence north fifty six and a half east eighty eight poles to two ash trees on a branch thence south fifty east seven and a half poles to a beech on my old line and the line of John Starnes thence south forty five west to the beginning to have and to hold the same tract of land unto the said Elizabeth Starnes and her heirs forever.

I also give to the said Elizabeth one negro girls [as transcribed] named Harritt and whatever increase she may have at my death to her and heirs forever and also two feather beds.

Third – I give and bequeath unto my son William I. Pearson the following lands lying in said county Viz: all that is left of my old grant after taking what is given in the preceding part of this will to the said Nancy Bloomer and Elizabeth Starnes also one other tract of fifty acres which I hold by a grant from the State of Tennessee dated 27th day of September 1835.

I also give unto my said son the balance that is left of another grant for fifty acres to me from the said State after taking out what is given in the preceding part of this will by my said daughter Nancy the said grant is also dated the 27th day of September 1835.

I also give to my said son the following slaves to wit: Sindy, Miney, Scotty and her child Angeline and whatever increase they may have at my death.

I also give to my said son all the horse beasts on my farm or belonging to me except a bay filley and sorrel filley and two jacks which I give to my son with three jennets. The oldest colt owned by me of the old jennet and her two colts I also give to my said son all the cattle that I now own or may own at my death all the hogs owned at my death and all the sheep on hand at the time of my death also my stills tubs and all my household and kitchen furniture except the two beds before mentioned for my daughters.

I also give my said son my loom, wagons and all my gearing and farming utensils of every kind and description.

I also give to my said son whatever grain and ___ that may be on hand at the time of my death together with my blacksmith tools.

I also give to my said son one negro boy named Ike for whom the said William I. Pearson now has a Bill of Sale.

I also give to my said son all my monies and notes or obligations and all claims of every kind that may belong to me at the time of my death.

Fourth – I hereby give and bequeath unto my grandson William Bloomer a tract of land in said county containing eighty acres which was granted to me by the State of Tennessee by Grant No. 24.450 dated 27th October 1837.

Fifth – I hereby give and bequeath unto my son William I. Pearson a certain tract of land owned by me in the said County of Hawkins which land he is to have and to hold during his natural life and my will is that my servant Howard live and stay with my said son and that he be kindly treated and that he remain under the care and control of my said son as long as my said son lives and that the said servant Howard may select someone of my relations to live with and the lands last mentioned as given to my said son shall go to the person so selected by my said servant Howard the said tract of land contains about one hundred and twenty five acres joining the lands of Ezekiel Anderson, ___ Anderson, Noah P. Anderson and John Starnes.

Sixth – I hereby give to my son in law John Starnes one sorrel filly now owned by me.

Seventh – The tract of land owned by me in Poor Valley containing about five hundred acres I will that it be sold and divided as my three children may choose if they choose to sell it then the sale is to be on a credit of twelve months and the proceeds of the sale to be equally divided between my said children and if they choose to divide it with each one is to have an equal share in ____ of the said land.

Eighth – My will is that my beloved wife Susan be comfortably and decently supported and provided for by my said son William I Pearson during the life of my said wife and I have made the share of my said son in my estate larger on that account and for the further reason that my said son has always lived with me and his mother and has assisted in making much of the property now owned by me.

Ninth – I hereby nominate and make my said son William I. Pearson executor of this my last will and testament.

In testimony whereof I have subscribed my name and set my seal this 4th day of November 1856

Christian [X] Pearson (his mark)

Interlined before signed. Signed and sealed and published by the testator in our presence and acknowledged by him.

John Netherland
W. C. Kyle

Transcribed by Betty Mize