Isham
Beasley's Will 1851
Transcribed
by Catherine Trumm
In
the name of God, Amen. I Isham Beasley of the State of Tennessee and county of Smith,
knowing that it be appointed for all to die and being advanced in years but of
sound and disposing mind and memory and desirous to dispose of ____ worldly
estate as it has pleased God to bless me with in such manner as to prevent
disputes about the same after my death do duly make and publish this, my last
will and testament, in name and form following and hereby revoking and making
null and void all other wills by me at anytime heretofore made.
Item
1st, I give to my son William H. Beasley the following slaves viz, Louis,
Randel, Harrison, Leroy, Charity, Phebe, Larkin, Dafny, Aggy, George, Dick,
Lilley, Nathaniel, Mandie, Tammy a child of Lilley's, Giny, Bill, Lawson,
Molly, Deldey, Little Eliza, Big Eliza___, Isabelle, Heally, Newt, Sally a child
of Lilley's, Jesse Saly and their child Ester, Allen, Carroll, Janie a child of
Charitys. I also give the said William
H. Beasley two feather beds of furniture and all the stock of every discription
and all the produce and the farm together with all the tools and implements on
the farm. I also give and bequeath to
the said William H. Beasley the tract of land on which I now reside in _____ of
Colonel Lee Sullivan containing about four hundred acres, also the tract of
land I purchased of Patrick Hubbard and also in addition to whatever share heretofore given to said
William H. Beasley. I also give and
bequeath to him, the said William H. the sum of one thousand dollars in cash to
be paid by my exec
Item
the 2nd, I give my son Johnstan Beasly what I have heretofore given him and no
more, the two negroes Johny and Alethia which I have let said Johnstan have the
posession of, I desire them to remain in with the widow of said Johnstan during
her life and then they and their increase to be equally divided between the
five children of said Johnstan Beasly and I also give each one of said four
children the sum of twenty five dollars and no more.
Iten
3rd, I give to my son Ellis Beasly in addition to what I have heretofore given
him the following slaves viz; Mariah, Martin, __, Little Anthony, Jim and Darly
and Wilson, Jesse, children of Mariah and no more, to his and his heirs
forever.
Item
4th, I give to my daughter Clarky Gregorie in addition to what I have
heretofore given her, five hundred dollars and no more to her and her heirs
forever.
Item
5th, I give to my grandson Tilman Coram a negro girl named Charity and to my
daughter Deborah Coram Six hundred dollars in cash and such. Chancy is to
remain with Deborah Coram during the life of Deborah then said Chancey and her
increase is to belong to said Tilman Coram.
Item
6th, I give to my daughter Matilda Metcalf in addition to what I have
heretofore given her, Six Hundred dollars in cash and no more, to her and her
heirs forever.
Item
7th, I give to the children of my daughter Susannah Bradly five dollars each
and no more.
Item
8th, I give to the children of my daughter Betsey Baker five dollars each and
no more.
Item
9th, In addition to what I have heretofore given my daughter Mahaly Vaden, I
give and bequeath to the children of said Mahala the following slaves viz;
Haley, Dicy, their children and also I give each one of said Mahala Vadens
children one hundred dollars.
Item
10th, I give to my grand daughter Eliza Grizzard in addition to what I have
heretofore given her for for and during the natural life of Eliza G. one negroe
girl named Julian, and shall said Eliza have any child or children, then I will
and desire said girl Julian, her increase, to be the property of such child or
children, but if the said Eliza should die without a child or children then
said Julian and her increase to return to me or my lawful heirs.
Item
11th, I lend to my daughter Joanah Beasly a negro woman named Fillis to have
during her natural life and at said Joanahs death, said Fillis, her increase is to return to me or my lawful heirs
and I also give the said Joana Beasly one hundred dollars in cash and no more.
Item
12th, I give to my son Henry Beasly in addition to what I have heretofore given
him the following slaves viz; Old Eliza, Jefferson, General Arch, Betty Jane,
Dinah and her child Lucinda.
Item
13th, I give to my son Bradock Beasly in addition to what I have heretofore
given him the tract of land wherein he now lives lying on Peytons Creek and the
following slaves viz; Nash, Harry, Matty, Luisanna, and __ and no more to him
and his heirs forever.
Item
14th, I give to my son Major A Beasly in addition to what I have heretofore
given him, a tract of land whereon he now lives containing one hundred and
seventy acres more or less and bounds as follows, beginning at a large Elm on
Ellis Beaslys south boundary line __to line __ by L. H. Cage as a
dividing line between said Major A. and Gabriel D. Beasly, and also the following slaves viz; Ben,
Andrew, John a child of Rachel, Bob , Molly and their children, Mary and Henry,
Clay to him and his heirs forever.
Item
15th, I give to my son Robert Beasley in addition to what I have heretofore
given him the tract of land whereon he now lives being the land I purchased of
George Dillard supposed to contain two hundred acres being a part of James
Wrights and 640 acres being in Tennessee state in Smith county and the
following slaves viz; Joseph, Rhodia, Minta, Nute, __, Lilly, and Sefco and no more him and his heirs forever and
also one feather bed furnitures.
Item
16th, I give to my son Gabriel D. Beasly in addition to what I have heretofore
given him, the tract of land whereon he now lives containing about three
hundred and fifty seven acres adjoining the land of Major A Beasly, Ellis
Beasly, and __on Cumberland River and the following slaves viz; Yellow Jim,
Lina, Edward, Martha, Rachel and her child Charity, and Susan, Dayton, Franny
and her child, John, Saly and her children, May, Andrew, and Winny, Major
William and Dinah, the child of Rachel. One feather bed and furniture and one
thousand dollars in cash to him and his heirs forever.
Item
17th, I give to my granddaughters Mary,
Betsy, Mahaly, and Marg Beasly
the daughters of my daughter Joanah Beasly one hundred dollars each.
Item
18th, My desire is that each divisee to which I have willed a slave or slaves
shall have the increase thereof from this time the same as if they were in
their posession.
Item
19th, Should there not be cash enough to pay all the specific cash Legacies
then each legacy shall be claimed agreeable to their respective wants so that
the abatement shall be equally born of all, agreeable to their respective in
within said cash Legacies and should there be a surplus after paying all the
said cash legacies, said surplus shall be equally divided between all my Sons
as their legal representatives, and my
daughters and their legal representatives are to have no interest in said
surplus.
Item
20th, And lastly I hereby appoint my sons Henry Beasly, Gabriel D. Beasly, H.
William, R Beasly Executors to this my last will and testament written on two
sheets pages from 1 to 7, both inclusive hereby revoking all former wills by me
at any time heretofore made, and no
security is to be required of my Executors for the performance of the trust in
expecting this my last will in listing whereof I have hereunto set my hand and
seal this 28th of April 1851.
Isham Beasley (Seal)
Codicil
1853
I
Isham Beasly of Smith County and State of Tennessee, being of sound mind and
disposing memory having heretofore made and published my last will and
testament, so make and dictate this as a codicil thereto, to wit, I do hereby
direct that my Executors pay over to Dr. Timothy William as soon after my death
as practicle, one thousand dollars in cash amt of my moneys which I may die
posessed of as which may come into their hand, as my executor, which sum of one
thousand dollars is to be annually leased by the said trustee as his ___ and the interest after paying the tax and
charges annualy paid over to my granddaughter Elisa Grizzard during her natural
life, and at her death should she have any living child or children, the thousand
dollars in her interest which may be in the hands of the trustee to be paid over to guardian of such child or
children, and in case of said granddaughter Elisa Grizzard shall have no child
or children, then and in that case the said thousand dollars to be paid to my
Executors atLastly, It is my desire that this codicil be attached to and
constitute a part of my will to all intents and purposes. Witness my hand and seal this 30th day of
Jul 1853.
Isham
Beasley (Seal)