From Nancy Noel

Below a the transcript of Alexander Greer, b. 21 Mar 1788-d. 9 Sept. 1858. He was born in Mecklenburg Co. NC and died in Madison Co. TN. He is buried in the Old Salem Cemetery in Madison Co. He married Margaret I. Spratt possibly born in NC , in 1798, and she died in Madison Co. TN on 22 Jan 1841. They had 8 children, 2 died in childhood, Pleasant Alexander died at 1 yr of age, and Pleasant Theodore died at age 8. Three others died in their 20s. In this will, he leaves items to others, that belonged to “C. L. Greer”. This was his son, Charles Lafayette, who had died but 10 months prior to the writing of this will. The probate of this will is 1 yr to the month form his son Charles’ death. Charles was 23 at his death.

There are some portions of the will that were hard to decipher. If it was readable but questionable you will find a question mark inside of parentheses (?). If it was totally undecipherabole, there is a blank line ______ where the word is located. If I added any factual data, e.g., the full name where only initials are given the added piece will be parentheses C.(harles).

Nancy Noel, March 2002

Madison Co. Will Book 7, page 27
Will of ALEXANDER GREER
Proven at October Term, 1858
(Probate-See Minute Book No 8-page 292

I, Alexander Greer of the State of Tennessee and County of Madison, do make and publish this my last will and testament, hereby revoking all other Wills made by me.

1st — I will and bequeath to my son James T. Greer the tract of land on which he now lives, with several other small parcels adjoining it. Beginning about eight poles on a line between Mrs. Elizabeth Roger’s place and Alexander Greer’s on the east side of the Lexington Rd, on A small red oak marked in a corner, thence south to my out boundary—all the land East of that line I will to him that I claim. I also give to my son James T. Greer the following name Negroes viz.—Moses, Jack, Big Henry, Ann, Harriet and her child, and all the children of Eliza who is now dead, together with all the property that I have heretofore given him—that is to say he is to have the use for and during his life and in no event is it to go to pay any of his debts or contracts. I also will and direct that five thousand dollars be set apart for the use and benefit of my son James T. Greer by my executors, their paying him the interest on the amount annually his lifetime. And at his death all the above willed property and money is to be equally divided amongst his wife and children, should he have any, if not it is to go back into my estate. The above five thousand dollars willed to James T. Greer is to be paid out of the proceeds of the sale of the Denmark land sold to John A. Greer.

2nd — I give and bequeath to my daughter Emily E. Person and her bodily heirs, the house and lot on which Benj. R. Person now lives. I also will to my daughter Emily a Note that I hold on John A. Greer for four thousand dollars due December the 25th 1861. also the following named Negroes, viz.—Isaac, Rose, Angeline about 13 or 14 years of age, yellow boy, Dick, about 14 or 15 years of age, a negro woman and two children which they have already sold and all the property I have heretofore given her, not hereiin mentioned.

3rd — I give and bequeath to my son John A. Greer, all the Denmark Tract of Land out(?) heretofore sold, including the Rainy Tract. I also give to my son John A. Greeer the following named Negroes viz.—Jones, Lucy, Isaac, Ned and Anthony and all the other property I have heretofore given him.

4th — I give and bequeath to my son Camillus P. Greer the (home?) tract of Land including several parts of Tracts ___ all the Land that I claim West of the line of the Tract that I have given my son James T. Greer. I also give to my son, C. P. Greer., the following Negroes viz.— Ben, Idella, Jim, Willis, and little Henry. I further give him the choice of four mules that is on my home place, also the Bay Mare that was claimed by my son C.(harles) L.(afayette) Greer. also the household funiture bedding &c., together with the farming tools and all the stock of Hogs, Cattle, and oxen, charging him with Four Hundred Dollars, the ____ of Hogs, Cattle and Oxen, together with all the property I have heretofore given him, that is to say, that he is to have the use of said portion for and during his life and in no event is it to go to pay any of his debts or contracts, and at his death the same is to be equally divided between his wife and children should he have any surviving him, if not, it is to go back into my Estate.

5th — All of my Books (except such School Books as my daughter Emily may want) I direct to be equally divided amongst my four children.

6th — I give and bequeath to my grandson, Benjamin Alexander Person all the School Books he may want that belonged to C. L. Greer also One Hundred Dollars to be paid out of the proceeds of the sale of the Denmark land.

7th — I also wish my executors on my granddaughter, Hiburnia Person graduating that they furnish her with a suitable watch and chain.

8th — I give to my grandson Rush Person, the double barrel Shot Gun that belonged to my son C. L. Greer.

9th — I also direct my executors on a William Marshall Person’s becoming of age is to furnish him with a Horse, Saddle and Bridle to be worth one hundred and fifty Dollars.

10th — I will to my grandson Charles L. Person the gold Watch that belonged to C. L. Greer, and to be kept and taken care of by his mother for him.

11th — I also direct my executors on Isham Burrow’s son that was named for me at the age of Eighteen years, to be furnished with a Horse, Saddle and Bridle to be worth One Hundred and Fifty Dollars.

12th — My will and Desire is that whatever moneys may be on hand after paying all my just debts, which I wish paid as soon as practible, also all Bonds, Notes and Accounts choses(?) on (in?) action my Railroad Stock and Railroad scrip also the proceeds of the sales of the unwilled property, I direct to be equally divided amongst my four children. The amounts falling to my sons, James T. Greer and Camillus P. Greer, I will to be held by my Executors and they are to pay said James T. & Camillus P. Greer the Interest on said amounts annually.

13th — Should any of the Negroes herein specifically devised die before going into possession of those to whom they are willed, then it is my will and desire that a negro of equal value be furnished to the person that the said Negro belonged.

14th — The unwilled Negroes I wish and direct to be divided in four equal shares and each child to draw a share. The Executors having the liberty of selling any of the Negroes they may think proper, that is not family negroes, and should they sell any the proceeds to be equally divided between my four children. All of my unwilled property I direct to be sold and divided as specified on the 12th Item.

I also direct my Executors to pay each one of my slaves, over twelve years of age, five dollars in money.

15th— The balance of the proceeds of the sale of the Denmark Land after reserving the five thousand dollars to James T. Greer and the four thousand Dollars willed to my duaghter Emily, and the one hundred Dollars to my grandson, Benjn. Alexander Person is to go into my Estate and be divided as the other Bonds and Notes before mentioned.

My two slaves Solomon and Rachael are at liberty to choose whoever they wish to live with, and whoever they choose, are to take them and take care of them—

I further will and appoint Benj. R. Person & John A. Greer, my Executors.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal, this the 13th day of August 1858—The word “reserving” outerlined(?) before signing

Alexander Greer— (seal)

Julius Johnson, Witness
Wm. G Smith

I Alexander Greer of the County of Madison, State of Tennessee do on this 18th day of August eighteen hundred and fifty eight make and publish this codicil to my Last Will and Testament.

Item — I will and direct that my son, C.P. Greer be charged to the sum of three thousand dollars in consequence of the valuation of the portion of land bequeathed to him in my will above written.

In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand and seal on the day and date last above written.

Alexander Greer (seal)

Julius Johnson—Witness
Wm. G. Smith