William Wood Will (1848)
Marshall County Will Book A, page 184
I William WOOD of Marshall County and State of Tennessee do make this my last will & Testament Knowing that ___ must die and being in a feeble state of helth though of sound mind first my will is after my death be buried in a Christian like manner and as to what I have of this worlds affairs I wish the following disposition to be made of it (VIZ)
My will is that my wife Sally WOOD after my Just debts are paid have and enjoy all my wordly property during her natural life or widowhood not otherwise disposed of and that my four children now living with her have an equal Interest in my land while they choose to stay together on the same but define more expecially as I have already given my oldest son James WOOD a horse Also I have given my son William H. WOOD a Hourse My Will is that my son Willis H. WOOD have my young Black hourse and a saddle I Bought for him but not to trade said Horse till he said WOOD is twenty one years old without the Consent of his Brother W. H. WOOD –
I have also given to my son George W. WOOD all I now can –
I have given to my Daughter Lucy a Bed and furniture and a Cow and my Will is that my other Daughters have a Bed and furniture and a Cow if they should marry and further if any of the above four children should marry they shall have no moure claim on the Land only so fair as their Mother and Executor may grant during my Wifes life –
Now I will and wish it distinctly understood that all and everthing that may be left Except the land at my wifes death may be Equally divided among those of my Children who stay with their Mother till her death but further more in case things should be so manged by marring or death or otherwise scattering those now together that is should be thought my wife Sally and son W. H. WOOD but to sell said land and for my wife Sally to be supported on the money; that may be done and W. H. WOOD manage the same but all except the Land and one Bed and furniture be sold and be equally Divided among the four children Now together and finally at the death of my wife Sally an Equal Division of all that may remain among all my children
and furthermore It is my Will if my son Willis H. WOOD should marry as it will be right for some of my sons to manage my farms –
I will that Willis H. WOOD have the privilege to build on the Land and manage the farm so as not to make null and void any Claims in this Will
Given under my hand and seal this 4th day of December 1848
William WOOD his X mark (seal)
Signed and sealed in the presence of us December the 4th in the year of our lord one Thousand Eight
Willis HOPWOOD
William COLEMAN
Thomas H. WILLIS
I appoint my wife Sally Wood and William Harrison WOOD my Exexutors of the above will
William WOOD his X mark (seal)
State of Tennessee
Marshall County County Court Janry. Term 1849
Personally appeared in open Court Willis HOPWOOD and Thomas H. WILLIS two of the subscribing withnesses to the foregoing Will who being first sworn here in open court proved the due Execution of said Will as the Law directs It is therefore ordered by the Court that said Will be Entered of Record
Witness my hand at office this 1st day of January 1849
John ELLIOTT (clk)