William NORRRIS Compt. vs James NORRIS, George NORRIS, Samuel NORRIS, Stephen NORRIS, Thomas NORRIS, Joseph BISHOP and Sarah his wife, William SANDERS and Betsey his wife, Joseph CAMPBELLl & Milbury his wife and Nancy NORRIS, Moses RHODES and Mary his wife. Defts O. Bill --
This cause considering on to be heard this day of March 1818 before the Hon'l Alford M. HARRIS Judge etc. when it appeared that the same was taken as confessed against William SANDERS and Betsey his wife, James NORRIS, Samuel NORRIS, Thomas NORRIS, Joseph BISHOP and Sarah his wife, Nancy NORRIS and set for hearing exparte as to thence and the answer of George NORRIS, Stephen NOORRIS, Joseph CAMPBELL and Milbury his wife and Moses RHODES and Mary his wife having been filed and the same being set for hearing upon Bill and answer as to thence and it appearing that Hannah NORRIS had departed this life since the filing of this bill which was suggested on the records and said court continued in the name of William NORRIS and noted this day the same coming on to be finally heard upon the Bill and the said answers and evidence adduced in the cause where it appeared in Testimony by the evidence of Hardy HUNT and Thomas HUNT that on or about the ___ day of October 1814 John NORRIS who at that time resided in Sumner County departed this life that a few days before his death he signed and acknowledged a last will and Testament in writing which was in the following words - In the name of God, Amen; I John NORRIS of the State of Tennesse and Sumner County being weak in body but in my perfect mind and memory think proper to make this my last will and Testament that is to say first - I command my soul to God who gave it my body to be buried in a Christain like manner at the direction of my Excutor as to my worldly property that God hath blessed me with, after paying my just debts my will is that my beloved wife Hannah have the use of half my plantation with the house and household furniture two beds and furniture our Negro woman Winny and negro boy Cassada (or Canada), two work horses Brown & Roan, four cows and calves, two head of hogs her choice one sow and pigs, two head of sheep, the farming tools and fifty barrels of corn during her life or widowhood. I give to my son William NORRIS one half of my plantation at my death and the other half at his mother's death, one horse mill, one negro boy Isaac my will further is at my death that all the rest of my stock of horses, cattle hogs and crop of corn be sold and the money to be equally divided between the rest of my children James NORRIS, George NORRIS, Samuel NORRIS, Stephen NORRIS, Thomas NORRIS, Sarah BISHOP Betsey SANDERS, Mary RHODES, Milbury CAMPBELL, Nancy NORRIS my will further is that the rest of my negros be hired out till the death of my wife and the money to be divided among my children as a above - My will further is that at my wife's death Winny and Cassanda (or Canada) with those Negros hired out be equally divided among my children above named if they can agree on a division among themselves if not the Negros to be sold and the money to be equally divided as above mentioned. I constitute and appoint my son William NORRIS and Thomas BLACKMORE Executors of this my last will and Testament. The said will was witnessed by Hardy HUNT and by Thomas HUNT and by Fielding GRI(E)NSLEY in the presence of said Testator and of each other being desired by him to attest to same as his last will and testament - it was proved that the same is as written by the said Hardy HUNT some days before at the request of the Testator and that he was in his Sound mind and memory, when the same was executed which was left with said Hardy HUNT for safe keeping until after the death of the Testator where the same was destroyed by the said James NORRIS one of the defendants in the presence of Joseph BISHOP one of the defendants & by his convivance and consort. It is therefore ordered adjudged and decreed by the said Court that the said will and Testament of the said John NORRIS in all things as herein before set forth be established and that the different devices and legacies there be confirmed in all things and that all the right titles and property in and to the different articles of property therein described and divised be vested in the said William NORRIS in his own right so far as the same are divised to him and so far as they are bequeathed to others that the same be vested in him & the said Thomas BLACKMORE in trust as Excutors to distribute according to the divises in said will and Testament - and that a copy of said will and testament as here established may be recorded in the Court of the County of Sumner in the same manner as if the same had not been torn and destroyed. It is further ordered and decreed that James NORRIS and Joseph BISHOP pay the costs of this suit.
State of Tennessee
I Anthony B. SHELBY Clerk of Sumner Circuit Court hereby Ratify that this sheet contains a correct copy of the record and proceedings of the suit herein stated. In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name and affixed my private seal, this being the seal of office as officer this 6th day of November in the year 1818 & 43rd year of our Independence.
| Anthony B. Shelby Clerk |