Will of Joseph Love

THE LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT OF JOSEPH LOVE, deceased Which was proven in open court at August Session 1831 and was ordered by the court to be recorded and is in the words and figures following to wit,

I JOSEPH LOVE of the county of Rhea and the state of Tennessee being of sound mind and disposing memory do make and ordain, publish and declare, this to be my Last Will and Testament- That is to say First- I direct my just debts to be paid out of my estate. Second- I give and bequeath absolutely in fee simple to my wife MARY LOVE and her heirs forever, the house and lot on which I now live, in what is called the Southern Liberties of Washington adjoining Jack’s Alley and opposite to the ten-yard- And also the household lot in Southern Liberty, on which SAMUEL TUCKER now lives lying immediately at the head of the Spring- Also, my negro woman ANN, my negro man NATHAN, and my negro girl HARRIET. Third- I given and bequeath to my son WILLIAM N. LOVE and his heirs my ten-yard lot and the lot adjoining thereto across the creek in the Southern Liberties, the stock of hides and leather on hand, a three year old mare of a dun color, and a saddle and bridle.
Fourth- I give and bequeath to my sons JACOB G. LOVE and JOSPEH N. LOVE and their heirs, my plantation of six hundred and forty acres in Rhea County adjoining the lots of PALATIAH CHILTON, and being parcel of the five thousand acre grant called the pleasant graden tract to be equally divided between them provided however the rents and profits of said tract of land are to be used as a common fund by my wife MARY E. LOVE for the support of her family, including all her household, until my son JOSEPH N. LOVE shall arrive at the age of twenty-one years- To effect which purpose my wife MARY E. LOVE shall have the sole power of renting or leasing the said tract of land or working the same for the period aforesaid. My son JOSPEH is also to have at the age of twenty-one a horse, saddle, and bridle, to be worth one hundred dollars to be paid by my Executors. Fifth- I give and bequeath to my daughter REBECCA A. and her heirss my negro girl SETTY and my negro boy GIBSON. Also, a horse, saddle, and bridle, to be worth one hundred dollars, to be paid by my Executors, when she marries or arrives at the age of twenty-one. Sixth- I will and direct my Executors to give my sons WILLIAM N. LOVE, JACOB N. LOVE, and JOSPEH N. LOVE and my daughter REBECCA A., each a good feather bed, and well furnished with bed clothing. Seventh- I will and direct my Executors to sell and convey to the purchasers thereof my lands in Knox and Andersoon counties- upon as advantageous terms as they can; the purchase money whereof together with the debts now due to me are to be apportioned to the payments of my debts and the balance if any if to rest in my wife MARY E. LOVE for the support of my family. Eighth- I will and bequeath to my wife MARY E. LOVE my negroes CHANEY, JACK, MILLY, VILETTE, big ELIZA, little ELIZA, ALEXANDER, PHILIP, RACHEL, ALLEN, and SAM- during her widowhood. Either death or intermarriages terminates this state in my wife MARY E. LOVE. And upon the happening of either the said events the said negroes or their values are to be equally divided amongst my children JEFFERSON B. LOVE, SAMUEL MONROE LOVE, WILLIAM N. LOVE, MARGERT SHELTON, JACOB HARRY LOVE, JOSPEH N. LOVE, and REBECCA ANN LOVE or their heirs or their bodies- provided however my wife MARY E. LOVE is hereby vested with full power to give to wither my aforesaid children their or either of their share of said negroes at any time she may think proper. And provided further, should my lnads in Knox and Anderson Counties and such debts as are due my estate, be sufficient to pay any debts and specified legacies herein bequeathed, then each and every of the aforesaid negroes are to stand changeable with the payment of my debts and specified legacies- And the balance thereof to be divided amongst my aforesaid children, at the time and in the manner herein before pointed out and directed, in reference to the whole of said negroes and provided further the aforesaid negroes CHANEY, JACK, MILLEY, VILETTE, big ELIZA, little ELIZA, ALEXANDER, PHILIP, RACHEL, ALLEN ands SARE are to stand changeable with the sum of five hundred dollars, which I will and bequeath to my daughter REBECCA to be paid to her by my Executors, when she shall arrive at the age of twenty-one years or marry. Ninth- I given and bequeath to my wife MARY E. LOVE my wagon, horses, cattle, hogs, sheep, household and kitchen furniture, and farming utensils and oxen and livery.
Tenth- I given and bequeath to my son JOSEPH my silver watch and my clock to my daughter REBECCA. Lastly I appoint my wife MARY E. LOVE my son JEFFERSON B. LOVE and my friend and brother-in-law THOMAS BELL of Knox County my Executors and Executrix of this my last Will and Testament. In witness whereof I have herunto set my hand and seal this 2nd day of June 1831.

JOSPEH LOVE (seal)
(The word CHANEY underlined before signing.)
signed, sealed, and published in the presence of
JAMES BERRY, R. H. GILLESPIE, GIDEON B. THOMPSON, TOS. J. CAMPBELL, DAVID LEUTY (?), REZIN RAWLINGS

Submitted by: Laura Horton