Book ___, Page 458
Proven: Jan’y Term, 1859

In the Name of God, Amen.

I Christian Shanks of the County of Hawkins and State of Tennessee, being of sound mind and memory and considering the uncertainty of this frail, transitory life do therefore make, ordain, publish and declare this to be my last will and Testament.

That is to say.

First. After all my lawful debts are paid and discharged the residue of my Estate real and personal I give, bequeath and dispose of as follows: to wit:

To my beloved daughter Catharine and her husband William Williams the land and appurtenances situated thereon where I now live known and described as the Cole Tract containing about 136 acres, but in doing this it is expressly understood and I hereby make it incumbent upon them to provide for my beloved wife Polly a house and support her decently and comfortably for and during the term of her natural life and at the death of said Polly to bury her decently

and furthermore, after the death of said Polly, the said William & Catharine likewise must pay to the other heirs the sum of $700.00 to be equally divided amongst them, and to be paid in annual installments of $200.00 a year without interest

I furthermore give to my beloved wife Polly all my household & kitchen furniture of every kind and description for and during her natural life, and at her death to be sold by my Executors, hereinafter to be appointed and the proceeds thereof to be equally divided amongst my lawful heirs.

It is further my will that the blacksmith shop that was erected by the joint labor of my sons and son-in-law shall be free to be used by them as they have heretofore used it until the death of my beloved wife Polly and then, I will that the tools of every kind and description in said shop be sold and the proceeds thereof equally divided among my heirs.

To my son Henry I give & bequeath the Peggy Pearson tract of land containing about 14 or 15 acres. 

To my son George I give and bequeath the lower end of the Mack Kennner tract of land on which is the house and orchard.

The upper end of said tract of land I give and bequeath to the sole and separate use of my daughter Betsy Kenner and her heirs forever. The line between said upper and lower end of said farm shall commence on the south back of Poor Valley creek at the mouth of a ditch and run with the orchard fence to near the corner of the barn and then with the fence running from the barn to the foot of the Stone Mountain, and thence continuing the direction of the last named fence to George Rider‘s line at or near the top of Stone Mountain.

It is further my will that all of my lands not herein before disposed of together with my half of a town lot in Rogersville of every kind and description shall be sold at my death and divided equally among all my children.

I have heretofore given all my children about $200.00 each and I have by this my will provided for my son Henry, my son George, and my two daughters Betsy Kenner & Katy and her husband William Williams by giving them lands as herein before set forth.

Now it is my wish to provide for my sons, Michael, John, William and Christian, not herein given any land and therefore give to each of my last named sons the sum of $200.00 each to be paid by the first day of January, 1859.

It is my will that the four last named sons shall have, in addition to the sum of $200.00 — an equal share with my other children of the proceeds of property to be sold after the death of my wife Polly.

It is my will further that all my property not herein before disposed of shall be sold at my death by my Executor & the proceeds equally divided among all my children.

I hereby constitute and appoint my son-in-law William Williams my Executor. 

In witness whereof the said Christian Shanks have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed my seal This 13th day of November, 1853. 

Christian Shanks (seal) (his mark)

The above and foregoing instrument was subscribed by the s’d Christian Shanks in our presence and acknowledged by him to each of us, and he at the same time declared the said instrument so subscribed, to be his last Will & Testament, and we at the Testator’s request and in his presence have signed our names as witnesses hereto.

A. A. Kyle
S. R. Russell

[Transcriber’s Note: Date of will transcribed as shown – probably should be Nov. 13, 1858.]

Transcribed by Betty Mize