Marshall County Will Book A, page 208

I James M. BOWDEN being of a sound mind on the seventheenth July in the year of our Lord Eighteen Hundred and forty nince make my Last Will and testament & thereby rendering null & void all other wills heretofore made of Caused to be made by me – First I desire that after my decease that my body be buried in a decent and Christian like manner, and that my funeral expences be paid out of the first monies that may come into the hands of my Executors – Secondly I desire that my negro Girl Sarah My Mill and Lot of Gound around it together with all the surplus property that maybe on hand be sold by my Ececutors or Administrators Thirdly, I desire after all my just debts are paid that my property be valued by disinterested men and that my dearly beloved wife Harriet BOWDEN have One third of the Whole – Fourthly I desire that the remaining two thirds be equally divided among all my children but desire that it remain as general stock for the support & Education of my children untill the oldest becomes of age at which time the whole is to be valued by Disinterest Men and the oldest to receive his part the Balance to fall Back into the general Stock to remain for the purposes above mentioned until the next one becomes of age at which time he is to receive his portion in the manner above described and so with all the rest untill the youngest has received his portion – Lastly, I desire that my Brother William BOWDEN and Benjamin WILLIAMS be and are hereby appointed my Ececutors

acknowledged in the presence of
S.E. WILSON John T. CRAWFORD S. W. PENN Elisha COLLINS

State of Tennesssee,
Marshall County, County Court August Term 1849

Personally appeared in open Court S. E. WILSON and S. W. PENN subscribing witnesses to the foregoing will who being first sworn here in open Court proved the due Execution of the same as the Law directs. It is therefore ordered by the Court that said will be entered of Record

Witness my hand at office this 7th day of August 1849
John ELLIOTT (clk)