Submitted by Denise L. Cozart

Will of Gilbert Cozart, Thursday, July 12, 1860
Probate Court, Madison County, Tennessee
Roll 534, Book 7, Pages 76-78

[Gilbert Cozart was son of Joshua Cozart and Elizabeth]

Gilbert Cozart
Will
Proven at August & Septr. Terms 1860 Probate —
See Minute Book No. 9, pp. 211, 216

In the name of God, Amen.

I, Gilbert Cozart, being of sound and sane mind, make this my last will and testament; hereby revoking all others heretofore made.

1st — It is my wish and desire that my funeral expenses and all my just debts be paid by my Executor who is hereinafter named, out of any of the moneys that may be on hand as soon after my death as may be practicable.

2ond — I will and bequeath unto my beloved wife Mary Cozart, all of my real and personal estate during her widowhood for the use and mutual benefit of herself and my children, but if she should marry, then in that case it is my wish and desire that my real and personal estate remain in common stock under the direction and control of my wife for the use and benefit of my wife and children until any one of my children shall marry or arrive at the age of twenty-one years of age at which time it is my wish and desire that such an one or ones of my children as may have married or arriven to the age of twenty-one years of age, have their portion of all my real and personal estate allotted unto them by commissioners appointed by the County Court for that purpose making my wife an equal sharer of the same during her natural life beginning with the first and second and so on until the youngest shall marry or become twenty-one years of age.

3rd — It is my wish and desire that after the death of my wife that her portion of my real and personal estate be equally divided between all of my children each to share and share alike.

4th — I will and bequeath unto my wife a sufficient amount of my stock of hogs, horses, sheep and cattle for their support and as much or many of my farming tools as may be necessary to carry on the farm, likewise two yoke of oxen and my wagon for the above named purpose and all household and kitchen furniture the balance to be sold together with the crop after leaving a sufficient amount of corn and fodder wheat for one year support by my Executor hereinafter named.

5th — I give and bequeath unto my wife and my children all the moneys that may belong to my estate after all my debts and legal expenses for settling up my estate shall be paid, to be equally divided between them each to share and share alike. It is further my wish and desire that the moneys belonging to my children be placed in the hands of a Guardian appointed by the County Court, and that they be sent to school and the tuition of each one of them be paid by said Guardian out of the money each one may have allotted unto them.

Lastly — I do nominate and appoint Radford Withers my Executor to my last will and testament.

In witness whereof I do to this set my hand and seal this 12th day of July 1860.

Gilbert Cozart seal

Signed, sealed and acknowledged in
our presence, and we have subscribed
our names as witnesses in the presence
of and the request of the testator

J. J. McLemore
G. A. McLemore
A. H. Cozart