Transcribed by Catherine Trumm
In the
name of God, Amen. I, Daniel Witcher of
Smith County, State of Tennessee, being sick and weak of body, but of sound
mind and disposing memory, for which I thank God, and calling to mind the
uncertainty of human life, and being desirous to dispose of all such worldly
substance as it hath pleased God to bless me, do make my last will and
testament in manner and form following, that is to say.
First, I
commend my soul to God that gave it, and my body to be buried in a descent
Christian manner at the discretion of my executors.
Secondly,
I give and bequeath unto Susan Witcher, my beloved wife, six negroes, namely,
Will, Phillis, Famous, Dorcas, Richmond, Gloucester, and the stock of cattle,
sheep, hogs, and one bay horse, and one hundred and fifty acres of land, to
include the plantation whereon I now live, including the house, mill and cotton
machine, the land to be laid off by Tandy H. Witcher, and Lacy Witcher, which I
have appointed to turn the lines, together with all the household furniture and
farming utensils, for her to use during her life or widowhood. Also one bay mare by the name of Vane, to be
her own property during her life to do as she pleases with.
Thirdly,
I give and bequeath unto my son Daniel H. Witcher, the hundred and fifty acre
tract above mentioned, together with all the improvements above mentioned, and
one negroe boy by the name of Jordan, one gray mare and a young gray horse, and
three cows and calves, and two yearlings, all of which is to become his
property at the age of twentyone years, together with the increase of said
stock, except the land, which is to be his at the death or seperation of the
widowhood of my beloved wife Susan Witcher.
Fourthly,
I give and bequeath unto six of my daughters, namely, Nancy Young, Martha Goad,
Tabitha Young, Sally Ramsy, Sabra Jenkins, and Aley B. Young, the money arising
from the sale of six head of horse beasts, to be equally divided between them,
the horses that I have made known to the Executors, with the sale to take place
as early as practicable after my decease, at the discretion of the Executors.
Fifthly,
I give and bequeath to my daughter Sabra Jenkins, ninetyfive acres of land
during her life, and then to be sold on credit of twelve months, and the money
to be equally divided amongst the heirs of her body, it being the land and
plantation whereon David Pickett now lives.
Sixth, I
give and bequeath unto my daughter Patsy Jenkins, five dollars.
Seventh,
I give and bequeath unto my son Tandy H. Witcher, one bay mare, three years old
next spring.
Eigth, I
give and bequeath unto my grandson, Alphons A. Young, one last springs colt and
seventy four acres of land, it being
the the tract of land whereon Thomas Terry formerly lived on.
Ninth, I
give and bequeath unto Lacy Witcher one hundred and thirty acres of land,
including the plantation whereon he now lives, the lines to run as I have
directed my son Tandy H. Witcher.
Tenth, I
give and bequeath unto my three sons and seven daughters, namely, Nancy Young,
Mary Goad, Tabitha Young, Tandy H. Witcher, Lacy Witcher, Aley B. Witcher, Booker
Witcher, Sally Ramsy, Elizabeth Maragian, and Susanna Wakefield, three tracrs
of land, the part whereon Martin Young and Booker Witcher formerly lived, and
the land whereon Booker Witcher now lives.
Also the tract of land I purchased from William Jinkins, six negroes
together with their increase, the houshold furniture, the farming utensils, the
stock of every description on the plantation, which property is to be sold at
the death of Susan Witcher, or at the expiration of her widowhood, on a credit
of two years, to the highest bidder, the land excepted, which is to be sold on
a like crdit as soon as practicle after my decease. The money when collected is to be equally divided between my ten
children last mentioned, giving my son Tandy H. Witcher two shares, and the
other nine one share each. It is also
my desire that the Executors of th
And
Lastly, I do hereby constitute my two sons Tandy H. Witcher and Lacy Witcher as
the Executors of this my last will and testament, hereby revoking all other former
wills or testaments by me heretofore made by me. In witness whereof, I have
hereunto set my hand and seal this the 5th day of January 1815.
Daniel Witcher