Will Book __, Page 508

I, John Young, of Hawkins County in the State of Tennessee, being of sound mind and memory and taking into consideration the uncertainty of life and the necessity for the prevention of trouble and difficulty to those who are to come after me of settling and providing for the settlement of my own affairs, I do make, ordain and publish this my last Will & Testament, revoking and annulling all others.

It is my will that my executors, after my decease have my body decently committed to that earth from whince it was taken.

Item. I give and bequeath to my beloved wife Peggy Young a negro woman named Judy and her two children, Leonard & Maria and her offspring hereinafter to be born, to hold in absolute property during her life and to dispose of as she may please among her children.

Item. I give and bequeath to my said wife all my household and kitchen furniture and all my stock of sheep to dispose of according to her own pleasure among her children.

It is my will that my said wife have her maintenance and support, together with the necessary lots and rooms out of my plantation and houses, according to the reservations contained in a deed made by me to my son John Young, Jr., all of which are more particularly set forth in said deed and are hereby confirmed to her.

Item. To my daughter Harriet, I give and bequeath a negro woman named Hester and her two children Geoff & Matilda and her offspring, hereafter to be born, also one good horse and saddle and three cows and calves.

Item. I give and bequeath to my daughter Juliet two negro girls named Mary Ann & Ril__ [illegible] Anne and their offspring hereafter to be born, and one good horse and saddle and three cows and calves.

Item. To my daughter Caroline, married to Nathaniel I. Carter, I confirm the negro girl Elvy of whom she now has possession, together with the offspring of said girls hereafter to be born, and in addition to those she has already received, I give and bequeath to my s’d daughter another cow and calf.

Item. I give and bequeath to my son John Young, Jr., all my stock not otherwise disposed of, all my farming tools and utensils, the shop tools and the grain or crop on hand, also a negro girl Emaline and two negro boys Wesley & Richard,

but in consideration of my son John receiving by this will and by a deed for my plantation, heretofore executed by me to him (which deed with its reservations and conditions is hereby confirmed) a better share of my Estate than my other children, he is required out of his legacy as a condition thereof, and as a condition and reservation in the above named deed to pay all the just debts that may be due and arising from my Estate or from me at the time of my decease.

Item I give and bequeath to my son John my negro man Cain to do with as he may choose, but subject to these conditions, that he pay to my son Claibourne $200.00 and to my son George $100.00 and it is my will that my said sons Claibourne & George receive said legacies out of the proceeds of said negro man Cain.

Item. I give and bequeath to my son John five old negroes, viz: Dan, Wilson, Will, Jude & Sarah, to be kept by him on the plantation, and supported during their lives, and to be worked according to their reasonable ability and not to be disposed of or parted from out of the family of my own children.

Item. I give to my son Robert Young, to my son William Young, to my son Arthur G. Young, to my son Hord Young, to my daughter Polly Armstrong, and to my daughter Betsy Young, in addition to the gifts and advancements heretofore bestowed, I hereby give and bequeath one dollar each — they being already sufficiently provided for according to my ability.

Item. It is my will that my son John Young & Orville Bradley be Executors of this my last Will & Testament. It is my will that my son John take upon himself the burden of the general execution of this will, but that in all cases of difficulty if any should arise, that he have the assistance of my other Executor, Orville Bradley.

Item. My son John being charged by this will with the payment of all my debts, it is my will that all my Estate or rights if any such there may be not otherwise disposed of, be vested in him as general residuary legatee.

In testimony whereof I the said John Young (Sr.) have hereto set my hand and affixed my seal.

This 17th day of June, 1834.

John Young (seal)

Signed, sealed in our presence and witnessed at the request of the Testator.

H. Watterson
Benjamin Looney
John Looney

(March 18, 1840)

Charles C. Watterson
William McKirgan

I, John Young, Senr. do this 18th day of March, 1840, make and publish this codicil to my last Will and Testament in manner following:

Whereas in my last Will & Testament I have given and bequeathed to my wife Margaret Young and also to my daughters, Harriet, Juliet & Caroline to each and severally the negros therein named and described to them and whereas they being of mature age and knowing the negroes whom I had given and bequeathed to them, each and severally in my said last Will and Testament, have made some exchanges of those said negroes among themselves with my full approbation and it is my desire that those exchanges of negroes among themselves may not affect at all hereafter the equality of distribution therein made to each of the above named legatees.

And lastly, it is my desire that this my present Codicil be annexed to and made a part of my last Will and Testament to all intents and purposes.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seat. This 18th day of March, A.D. 1840

John Young (seal)

Signed sealed published and declared by the above John Young, Senr. to be his last Will & Testament in the presence of us who have hereinto subscribed our names as witnesses in the presence of the Testator.

H. Watterson
Charles C. Watterson
William McKirgan

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