Will of Samuel Britten

Will of Samuel Britten
submitted by Kay Kazmir

TENNESSEE STATE LIBRARY AND ARCHIVES, SMITH COUNTY, ROLL NO. 105, BOOK 3, PAGE 236-237.

Know all men by Thse presents that I Samuel Britton of the County of Smith and State of Tennessee being sick in body but of Sound mind and recollection that it is appointed for all men one to die do make and ordain this my last Will and Testament.

1st, My will and desier is that all my just debts be paid out of any monies on hand or owing to me at my death. 2nd, I lend to my wife Jane Britton the tract of land whereon I now live with all the improvements and appertenances thereto belonging, stock of any kind household & kitchen furniture, all of my farming utensils of any kind for her use and Comfort during her natural life or Widowhood in the event of her marrying She shall be entitled to receive a child's part of my Estate all of which she is to have unmolested possession of for the purpose of raising and educating my five younger children, all the present crop of every kind she is to have for the purposes above mentioned. 2nd, Whereas I have already given to my six elder children the following amounts (viz) to Narcisa Bone (Boone or Boom), Elizabeth Boone and Samuel Britton one hundred Dollars each, Cassandra Donnell fifty dollars, and Joseph Britton sixty dollars. My son Richard Britton I Consider has received an equivalent to the three above Mentioned, say one hundred Dollars in turn while in his minority to serve an apprenticeship to a trade, my will and desier is that Causanda Donnell and Joseph Britten shall be made equal to my four other children, say one hundred dollars each. Caussanda fifty and Joseph forty dollars out of any money that may be on hand or owing to me at my death. 3rd, My will and desier that in the event that there should be any money in hand after making the distribution aforementioned, it should be put to interest and be equally divided among my five younger children as they may be come of age or marry in which event my said wife shall be at liberty to divide with them any property that she may think proper having their portions valued and accounted for, do as each may receive the amount of one hundred dollars each in money or property, should there be any thing remaining after making the before mentioned distribution, at the death of my wife my will is that it should be equally divided among all my children. I hereby appoint Alfred A. Brevard my Sole Executor to execute This my last will and Testament.

In Testimony whereof I have hereto set my hand & seal this 12th day of November, 1839.

Samuel Britton (seal).

Signed in the presence of Josiah Marshall, Thomas D. Johnson, David King.

Probated 19 Mar 1840.

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