This day
the will of William Swain Sen. was presented in open court and
sworn by the subscribing witnesses in common form of law which
was examined and ordered (illegible 2 words) which was done in
the words & figures following.To
wit
In the Name of God Amen
I William Swain Sen. of the county of
McNairy & state of Tennessee being of sound mind and disposing
memory do make & publish this my last will and testament
hereby revoking & making void all other & former wills by me
at any time heretofore made.
First I direct that my funeral expenses
and all my just debts be paid as soon as possible out of any
monies that I may be possessed of as which may first come into
the hands of my executor hereinafter named.
Secondly I will & bequeath to my
daughters Patsy Melton Lucinda Brown Sylvania Page & Vernetta
Brown & Matilda Graves for their sole and separate use free
from the debts of their husbands all the real estate of which
I may be possessed of to be equally divided between them to
have and to hold said lands for and during their natural lives
and at their deaths to go to their children.
Thirdly I will and direct that all the
personal property which I may be possessed of shall be sold
and the proceeds divided as follows. To each of my said
daughters named in the 2nd clause of this will I give the sum
of two hundred dollars if living or if any of them are dead
then the children of such as are dead to have the share to
which their mother would have been entitled if living. The
balance to be divided amongst all my children except that the
share of my son E. C. Swain shall be chargeable with the sum
of fifty dollars (which sum I have already paid as security
for him) and the share of my son Wm W Swain shall be
chargeable with the sum of forty dollars for a wagon which
sums shall be deducted from the respective shares of said E C
and W W Swain and the fifty dollars to go to Patsy Melton and
the forty dollars to be divided amongst all my said daughters.
Fourthly ---- I have heretofore given to
my sons W W Swain E C Swain & R P Swain in land and other
property what I considered an equal share of my estate and
direct that they have nothing more except as above. In the 3Rd
clause of this will & considering what they have already
acquired an equal share with my said daughters.
Lastly
I hereby nominate and appoint my sons Wm
W & R P Swain executors of this my last will & testament given
under my hand & seal the 19th September 1871.
his
William Swain
mark
Signed sealed & published in our
presence and we have hereunto set our hands as witnesses in
the presence of the Testator and at his bequest day
(illegible) above written
Witnesses names __________
Transcribed by: Jeff Kemp