Will Book __, Page 480

In the Name of God, Amen.

I, Reuben Windham of Hawkins County, in the Territory of the United States South of the Ohio River, being weak in body but in perfect and sound mind & memory, do make and ordain this my last Will & Testament as follows, to wit:

I leave to my son William Windham my negro man named Witshaw as soon as he is settled in a way of living for himself.

I leave to my daughter Charlotte Windham Rose & Leanor until Leanor is grown and then Rose is to return to the rest of my Estate; the said negroes to be in Charlotte‘s possession as soon as she is in a settled way of living for herself.

And all the rest of my property I leave for the support of my wife and family until my small children are grown to be able to maintain themselves, unless my Executors should think it necessary that a division should take place sooner, and then all my Estate is to be equally divided between my wife and all my children, share and share alike, and the shares of such of my children as shall not be of age when such division shall take place, to be put in the hands of guardians appointed according to law to prevent waste or fraud of their parts of such Estate.

I leave and appoint my wife Rachael Windham, my son, Wm. Windham and Thos. Henderson Executors of this my last Will & Testament.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal. This 15th day of October, A. D. 1795.

Reuben Windham (seal)

Signed, sealed, published and declared in presence of:

James Blair
Jesse [X] Straud (his mark)

Be it further remembered that the portion allotted to my son William Windham shall be considered as his part without any more when a division of my Estate shall take place, agreeable to the foregoing will, and Charlotte is to keep Rose as her property without her ever returning to be considered as a part of my Estate, and I do ratify and confirm this schedule to be a part of my last Will & Testament.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal. This 16th day of October, 1795.

Reuben Windham (seal)

Signed in presence of:

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