In the name of God Amen: I William Edwards, Senr. of the County of Sumner in the State of Tennessee, being low in body but of Sound and disposing mind and memory do make and publish this my last Will and Testament hereby revoking all other wills by me heretofore made. In Primes (?) It is my Will and desire that my just debts be paid by my Executors hereafter appointed as soon as may be conveniently done without regard to time allowed by law for that purpose.
Item first: I give and bequeath the following negroes to-wit: Mino (?), Big Jim, Dick and Jinny. (Transcriber's Note: This is how it reads--does not say to whom he is giving these negroes.)
Item second: I give and bequeath unto my daughter Loveny Mitchell the following negroes to-wit: Big Bob, Nancy, and Hannah.
Item third: I give and bequeath unto my grandson Prestley Hassell my negro man Powetan (?).
Item fourth: I give and bequeath unto my granddaughter Charlotte Green the following negroes to-wit: Daniel, Stephen and Big Maria.
Item fifth: I give and bequeath unto Harriett Looney my negro girl Priscilla.
Item sixth: I give and bequeath unto my four grand-children, the children of my deceased son William Edwards as follows to-wit: to Montalbot, Richard and William my tract of land on Bledsoe's Creek to be equally divided between them by my executors to them and their heirs forever. I also give to my said grandson Montalbot Edwards two negroes Cain and Jesse, to my said grandson Richard Edwards two negroes Black Charles and Little Bob, and to my grandson William Edwards I give also two negroes America and Harriett and to my grand-daughter Malvina Edwards, I give three negroes to-wit: Andrew, Nelly and her youngest child Bill, a horse worth Seventy dollars, a cow and calf, one of my desks and one feather bed and furniture and I also give unto my two grand-sons Richard and William before mentioned in this Item, each a work horse worth Fifty dollars and if either of my grand-sons before mentioned in this Item should die before he arrives at full age or marries, it is my Will that his part of the land be equally divided between his surviving brothers and for Malvina to have the negroes of such deceased brother.
Item 7th: My youngest daughter Sally Douglass has had the charge of my family for some time past and will probably continue so long as I shall live to superintend and direct my household and pay those filial attentions to my personal comforts which are particularly necessary to an advanced old age. I therefore give and bequeath to my said daughter Sally Douglass the following negroes to-wit: Will, George, Gilfain (?), Jack, Little Jim, Fillis, Wilson, Hester, Rachel, Lucky, Betty and Judah. I further give and bequeath to my said daughter Sally Douglass the entire residue of my property of whatsoever description not herein before devised consisting of all my stock of horses, cattle, sheep and hogs, household and kitchen furniture, wagons, carts, work oxen, farming and all other tools, bonds, notes, accounts, moneys and the crop growing or made on all my lands of every description. And I hereby appoint my two sons-in-law, Reuben Douglass and William H. Douglass, Executors of this my last Will and Testament with directions to my last named Executor William H. Douglass to pay off and discharge all the debts that I may owe, at the time of my decease in ina_____ herein before directed out of that portion of my Estate herein before bequeathed to his wife Sally Douglass and that he will as soon after my decease as the same can be conveniently done cause a handsome stone Wall, twenty feet square or large, if he shall deem it necessary to be raised enclosing my family grave-yard and that he cause to be erected suitable tomb-stones or slabs with the appropriate engravings. And it is further my Will and desire that my last named Executor William H. Douglass retain in his possession all the Legacies herein before devised until the 1st day of February next after my decease to enable him to gather in and secure this crop that may be growing at the time of my decease and that this to wit: on the 1st day of February after my decease my Executors shall pay over the Legacies herein divised.
In Testimony whereof I have here unto inscribed my name and affixed my seal on the 20th day of October A.D. 1827.
| Norval Douglass | William Edwards | (seal) |
| Elijah Boddie | ||
| E. S. Douglass |
State of Tennessee
Court Sumner County
February First 1827 (Note: date should be 1828)
The last will and Testament of William Edwards dec'd was exhibited in Court for probate, and was only proved in open court, agreeable to law by the oath of Elijah Boddie, Edward S. Douglass, and Norval Douglass subscribing witnesses there to and ordered to be recorded and there upon William H. Douglass and of the Executors there in named appeared in Court and agreed to take upon himself the burden of the Execution thereof and together with Norval Douglass, Hardy M. Coyen and Robert M. Boyers, his securities entered into and acknowledged their bond to the Governor in the sum of Twenty Thousand Dollars conditioned as the law directs, and took the oath of Executor prescribed by law. Reuben Douglass the other Executor named therein having appeared in Court and renounced.
| Copy Test | A. H. Douglass, Clerk of said Court |
Note from Submiter: This will was very faint and difficult to read. This William Edwards was the son of Nathan and Jemima Edwards. His wife Mary Cantrell apparently pre-deceased him. She was the daughter of Stephen Cantrell; the Cantrells mentioned in the will were her brothers. The others mentioned are brothers and sisters of William.