WILL OF JOHN A. GREER
From Nancy Noel
This is the will of JOHN A. GREER, b.25 Feb. 1827 in Tennessee-d.7 Feb. 1903. Buried at Riverside Cemetery in Jackson, TN. He was the son of ALEXANDER GREER(GRIER) and MARGARET I SPRATT, who came to Madison Co. TN from Mecklenburg Co., NC.
John Greer had 2 wives; Louisa INGRAM and Alice MACKLIN, who survived him by 22 years, dying in 1925. He had no children by either wife, but he had many nieces, nephews and friends to whom he made bequests, hence there are many names from Madison County. As John Greer was my 3rd great uncle, many of the people mentioned are known to me, I have data on some of them which I am willing to share, and there are others whose connection to John Greer is a mystery to me. If anyone reading this has knowledge of any of these legatees, please email me at Nnoe1313@aol.com.
This was transcribed from a photocopy of the handwritten will just as it was written, spelling and punctuation was kept as in the original. I have put my own additions, within parentheses. If a word was illegible it will be either a blank____ or an attempted reading with (?) after the word. I have capitalized all names for the ease of the reader.
Nancy Noel, March 2002
John A. Greer
Will
Proven Febry 18th 1903
Minute Book 22 (of Madison County,TN)
Page 544-546This my last will and testament
February 20th 1901 at 3:30 pmI, John A. Greer of Madison County Tennessee do make this my last will and testament and revoking all former wills. I will my soul to my Heavenly Father.
1st. Whatever debts I may owe at my death shall first be paid out of my estate.
2nd I will and bequeath to my beloved wife ALICE MACKLIN GREER My entire house and lot of land, I now live on containing about four (4) acres of land and including the house and lot at the Northwest corner of the garden, and all property of every description on the place. I give her this at my death absolutely and forever. I also give her Twelve thousand dollars of my registered US 4% bonds due in 1925. Also Twelve thousand dollars of my registered US 3% bonds due in 1908. I also give her six thousand dollars of my registered US 4% bonds due in 1907. These bonds to be counted at their face value and premium and interest not to be computed on them. I also give her Eight thousand dollars of Bank stock that I have in the First national Bank of Jackson Tennessee. I also give her my storehouse and lot on Main St. and Central Alley now occupied by James and Nelson as a drug store. I also give her my house and lot on Main St. corner of Market St. now occupied by the Peoples Bank. I also give her one thousand dollars in money out of my estate. I also give her my entire lot in Riverside Cemetery on which Dr. JOHN I. TAYLOR is buried.
3rd I give to LEILA HARRIS, my first wife's niece, Twenty one thousand dollars of my new 4% Water Works bonds City of Jackson Tenn. Also I give her Three Thousand four hundred dollars ($3400) of old Water Works bonds drawing 6% interest. None of these bonds are subject to City or County taxation. I also will her Two Thousand dollars of my registered US 5% bonds due in 1904, these bonds to be counted at their face value premium and interest not to be computed on them.
4th I give and bequeath to LOUISA MOORE, daughter LEILA HARRIS Six thousand dollars of my registered US 4% Bonds due in 1907 at their face value premium and interest not to be computed on them. I also give her Ten Thousand dollars of my City of Jackson Tenn. School Bonds drawing 5% and on which there is no city or county tax.
5th I give and bequeath to Mrs ANN DeBERRY my sister-in-law Two Thousand dollars of my registered US 4% bonds due in 19907. At their face value, premium and interest no to be computed on them.
6th I give and bequeath to LOUELLA MERRIWETHER who now lives with me Ten Thousand Dollars of my registered US 4% bonds due in 1907, at their face value premium and interest no to be computed on them.
7th I give and bequeath to EVA LOUISE TAYLOR daughter of Dr. JNO. I. TAYLOR decd, Ten Thousand dollars of my registered Us 4% bonds due in 1907, at their face value, premium and interest not to be computed on these bonds. I also give her the house and lot on Baltimore St in which her mother now lives.
8 I give and bequeath to INGRAM TAYLOR the son of Dr. JOHN I. TAYLOR dec'd Two Thousand dollars of my registered U.S. 4% bonds due in 1907, face value, premium and interest not to be computed on these bonds.
9th I give and bequeath to KATE JAMES Wife of E. L. JAMES, Two Thousand dollars of my registered U.S. 4% bonds due in 1907 at their face value, premium and interest not to be computed on these bonds.
10th I give and bequeath to WILLIE INGRAM Five Hundred Dollars in money out of my estate.
11th I give and bequeath to W D NELSON Five Hundred dollars in money out of my estate.
12th I give and bequeath to JOHN G. NELSON son of W. T. NELSON Two Hundred and fifty dollars in money out of my estate.
13th I give and bequeath to THOMAS CRAWFORD LONG Jr the son of my friend THOS. C. LONG the sum of Five Hundred dollars in money out of my estate.
14th I give and bequeath to the Presbyterian Church at Jackson, Tenn, the sum of One Thousand dollars in money out of my estate, for the education of the poor young men of this Synod, to the ministry, and I hereby appoint W A CALDWELL and W R THEUS as Trustees, to receive and manage this fund as the Church at Jackson shall direct.
15th I give and bequeath to SARA DAVIS My family Cook who has lived with me for many years, the small house and lot on the corner of Gordon Street and Gates Alley.
16th It is my will that there be set aside from my estate the sum of One Thousand dollars to erect a monument on my grave and for the keeping up of the same and it is my wish that a monument similar to the one over my first wife's grave be erected over mine- And my executors are hereby directed to carry out this provision.
17th I give and bequeath to B A PERSONS(sic) my nephew, One Thousand dollars in money out of my estate. I also give him the tract of land on which MADISON MERIWETHER now lives, containing about 145 acres I also give him the tract of land on which JO ESTES now lives, containing about 90 acres. Also I give him a strip of land East of W N McCLISH (?) containing about 11 acres. Also I give him about 200 acres of land I own north of the river and the big Slough, this being all the land I own in the river bottom.
18th I giver and bequeath to EMMA PERSON daughter of B A PERSON Two Thousand dollars of my registered U.S. 4% bonds due in 1907 face value premium and interest not to be computed on these bonds.
19th I give and bequeath to LIZZIE PERSON the daughter of B A PERSON Two Thousand dollars of my registered U.S. 4% bonds due in 1907.
20th I give and bequeath to ELENORA PERSON the daughter of B A PERSON Two Thousand dollars of my registered U.S. 4% bonds due in 1907 face value premium and interest not to be computed on these bonds.
21 I give and bequeath to WALTER PERSON One Thousand dollars of my registered U.S. 4% bonds due in 1907 face value premium and interest not to be computed on these bonds.
22 I give and bequeath to BEN PERSON One Thousand dollars of my registered U.S. 4% bonds due in 1907 face value premium and interest not to be computed on these bonds.
23 I give and bequeath to my niece HIBURNIA NEAL (Neill) my storehouse and lot on Market St. now occupied as a drug store by Ward and Besh. Also I give her Two Thousand dollars of my registered U.S. 4% bonds due in 1907 face value premium and interest not to be computed on these bonds.
24th I give and bequeath to EMMA GATES my grand niece, Two Thousand dollars of my registered U.S. 4% bonds due in 1907 face value premium and interest not to be computed on these bonds.
25 I give and bequeath to FALLS NEILL, my grand nephew, Two Thousand dollars of my registered U.S. 4% bonds due in 1907 face value premium and interest not to be computed on these bonds.
26 I give and bequeath to LULA TYSON the wife of Jo. W. TYSON my storehouse and lot on the South West corner of Main and Market St now occupied by Mathis and Tomlin as a grocery store. I also give her Four Thousand dollars of my registered U.S.4% bonds due in 1907 face value premium and interest not to be computed on these bonds. This property is for the sole use and benefit of Mrs. Tyson, and is not to be subject to the control or debts of the present or any future husband she may have.
27 I give and bequeath to ANNA NOEL, my niece, my house and lot on the corner of Lafayette and Central Alley now occupied by EV BOND as a grocery store. I also give her Four Thousand dollars of my registered U.S. 4% bonds due in 1907, face value, premium and interest not to be computed on these bonds. I give this property absolutely to Mrs. Noel at my death and it is not to be subject to the debts or control of any future husband she may have.
28 I give and bequeath to SALLIE PERSONS(sic) wife of RUSH PERSON, my nephew, My house and lot on Liberty St now occupied by Mrs. BLANKENSHIP, Also I give her my small house and lot on Central Alley now occupied by ROB'T FLIPPIN as a barber shop. Also I give her one hundred acres of land in the 14th Dist of Madison County, and on which J.A. VANDIVER now lives. This property is for her sole use and benefit, and is not to be subject to the debts or control of her present or any future husband. I also give to Mrs SALLIE PERSON, Four Thousand dollars of my registered U.S. 4% bonds due in 1907, face value, premium and interest not to be computed on these bonds.
29 I give and bequeath to LEILA HICKS wife of JO B. HICKS my entire interest in the storehouse and lot on the corner of Liberty and Lafayette Sts now occupied by HAYS BROWN as a storehouse. Also I give her my dwelling house on Baltimore St now occupied by Mrs. HARRIS as a residence. I also give her my small brick house on the corner of West Chester and Railroad Street now occupied by Mrs. BLANCHARD. I also give her my small brick house on West Chester St. now occupied by Mr. CLINE. The above property is given to Mrs. HICKS for her sole benefit and is not to be subject to the debts or control of her present or any future husband she may have. I also give her Four Thousand dollars of my registered U.S. 4% bonds due in 1907 face value, premium and interest are not to be computed on these bonds.
30th I give and bequeath to my sister, EMILY PERSON Five Thousand dollars of my registered U.S. 4% bonds due in 1907 face value premium and interest not to be computed on these bonds.
It is my express will and desire that should any of my legatees or heirs be dissatisfied with his or her part or portion of my property or money or bonds, that they whichever it shall be, shall not receive the shares or portions so set apart to them. And that his or her or their portions shall be equally divided among the other legatees, and that they he or she so objecting shall not receive one dollar from my estate.
If there shall be any residue of my estate left after making divisions as heretofore set out, it is my will that it be sold and the proceeds thereof to be equally divided among my sister EMILY'S children or their heirs
Should at anytime after my death there not be money enough in the hands of my executors to fulfill all all(sic) my bequests as I have directed, Then it is my will that the Executors have full power to sell notes or bonds belonging to my estate sufficient to pay all matters as I have heretofore directed and bequeathed.
I nominate and appoint JULIUS W. VANDEN and WILL A. CALDWELLL as my executors, and having full confidence in their wisdom and integrity I hereby expressly waive the giving of bond by them.
I also appoint STODDERT CARUTHERS if living, to advise with my executors and to render them such legal services as they may need, and said Executors shall pay him reasonable fees for his services.
JOHN A. GREER
Witness:
JNO L. WISDOM
C.P. BLACK
Codicil to my last will (No date)
Paragraph no. 5 in my will above is hereby revoked: Mrs. ANN I. DeBERRY having died since the will was made, and the bequest therein will go with the residue of my estate.
JOHN A. GREER
JNO. L. WISDOM
C.P. BLACK
Codicil to this my last will. I wish to be buried by the side of my first wife.
OCT. 14TH 1901 JOHN A. GREER
This March the 8TH 1902 in this my last will made February 1901 I will LULA HICK(sic) my niece a small Brick [house] on West Chester St since that time I have seen propper(sic) to give that House to Mrs. SALLIE PERSON the wife of RUSH PERSON Sr. Now I want my executors to pay Mrs. LULA HICKS out of my estate One thousand dollars instead out of the residue of my estate. This the 8 {1902 written and then scratched out} of March 1902 (this enclosed in envelope and marked "this added to my last will"). [parentheses are JOHN GREER's]
JOHN A. GREER
Codicil to my Last will and testament
In the Will heretofore made by me, I gave to Mrs SALLIE PERSON wife of RUSH PERSON, my farm in the 14th Dist. of Madison County on which J A VANDIFORD (sic) now lives I desire now to revoke said bequest, and instead thereof to make the following: I give and bequeath my farm in the 14th Dist of Madison County of 100 acres, together with all the personal property of every kind belonging to me on said farm to J A VANDIFORD (sic) and wife. The said VANDIFORD (sic) having been a tenant of mine for many years, and being a worthy poor man.
I give to Mrs. SALLIE PERSON instead of the farm alluded to Two Thousand dollars of my U.S. 4% bonds maturing in 1925.
JOHN A. GREER
Witnesses
T.C. LONG
R.W.BOND
I also rent B A PERSON one hundred and twenty six acres of land known as the B. HARRIS land lying in the 18th Dist of Madison County Ten. for the sum of thirty five dollars per year each and every year during my life time payable annuery(?) payable the 1 day of December and said PERSON is to pay all Taxes and expences (sic)to keep up said place. At my death the said B A PERSON is to have the land without compensation to my estate. This Nov 25th 1902
JOHN A. GREER
Witness:
WR THEUS
TI(J?) TAYLOR
Jackson Tenn Nov 26th 1901 (unsure if this is the true date, or Greer made an error)
This enclosed Package of U.S. Bonds I give to SALLIE PERSON Junior the daughter of RUSH PERSON My Nephew, at my death. I want my executors to hand them to her in Person $4000.00
JOHN A. GREER (his signature)
(Possibly in a different hand) The above enclosed in envelope Marked, "MISS SALLIE PERSON Jackson Tenn $4000.00 US Bonds due in 1925"
"Master GREER HICKS I give him these Bonds at my death & I want you to hold them for him.
JOHN A.GREER"
(In another hand) The above was written on an envelope which upon being opened was found to Contain 3- $1000.00 US 2% Bonds due in 1930-making $3000.00.