Of the County of Sumner State of Tennessee and town of Gallatin considering myself at this time of a sound and disposing mind and memory but infirm in body, do make this my last Will and Testament to wit: In the first place will that all my debts be paid. I also will that all my property both real and personal that is not otherwise disposed of be sold at private or public sale on such time as my Executors may think best and the proceeds applied in the following manner to wit: To William Cantrell one thousand dollars, to Z.P. Cantrell one thousand dollars, to D.H. Cantrell one thousand dollars, to Sally Willis Five Hundred dollars, To L.B. Edwards one thousand dollars, to Lovey Cotton Five hundred dollars, to Sally Hassell wife of Asa Hassell Five hundred dollars, to Patience Cotton wife of Hugh Cotton Five Hundred dollars, to Thomas C. Edwards Five Hundred dollars, to James Edwards my brother Five hundred dollars, to Mary C. Edwards Daughter of Thomas C. Edwards Five hundred dollars, to Priscilla Edwards wife of Thomas R. Edwards my woman Amy and her child John, to Lucy Cotton I give my girl Margaret and my boy(?) Charles(?), To D.H. Cantrell I give my woman Jinny, to Mary W. Cantrell daughter of D.H. Cantrell I give my girl Martha and to L.B. Edwards I give my boy Wesley. Should is So happen that there should not be Cash Enough to satisfy all of debts and all expenses to pay the full amount of the cash legacys, I wish the legacy of each one who receives(?) cash to _________ to the sum alloted to them reduced and Should prove it to ________, I wish each one to whom a cash legacy is left ______then of agreeable(?) to the sum left them. I appoint William Cantrell, D.H. Cantrell and L.B. Edwards Executors to this my last will and Testament. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this third day of January 1834.
| Test | Wm. Edwards | (SEAL) |
| B. Watkins | ||
| F. A. Sanders |
State of Tennessee Sumner County Court
February Term 1839
The last will and Testament of William Edwards deceased was published in open court for proof ______ proved by the oath of B. Watkins and F.A. Sanders Subscribing witnesses thereunto and _____ L.B. Edwards and William Cantrell two of the Executors therein named entered into and acknowledged the ______ to William Carrol Governor in the ed Sum of twenty thousand dollars conditional(?) as the law directs and took the oath of Executors prescribed by law.
| Copy Test-- | Clerk of Sumner County 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.