Source: Sumner County Tennessee, Will Book Vol. 4, pages 412 - 414 & 424 - 425
I John Clendening do make and publish this my last will and testament hereby revoking and making void all other wills by me at any time made.
First, I direct that my funeral expenses and all my just debts be paid as soon after my death as possible out of any money that I may die possessed of or may first come into the hands of my executor.
Secondly, I give and bequeath to my grand son John F. Garrison my home place on condition that he support his mother. Said place is bounded on the North by Robert H. Latimer, On the West by Saml. Kirkpatricks old place and the lands of Daniel O. Montgomery, South and West by the lands of Avirett and the turn pike road East by the lands of Finis A. Taylor and Alexander Grimm.
Thirdly, I give and bequeath to my son John S. Clendening one hundred acres of land Known as the Polly Frazier tract, Bounded North by the lands of D. O. Montgomery, West by the lands of Garrison Heirs, South by a cross fence that runs near where the old road use to run, East by the lands of Mr. Averett.
Fourthly, I give and bequeath to my daughter Jane Garrison forty - seven and a half acres less the eleven acres of said tract all ready belong to her, of land lying South of the land bequeathed to my son John S. and the land of the Garrisons Heirs.
Fifthly, I give and bequeath to my grand daughter Margaret E. Webb eighty one acres of land, or the proceeds thereof being a part of the old Aie farm, Bounded North [pg. 413] by the Turnpike Road, West by John B. Kizer, South by P. Kizer, and East by the Garrett heirs.
Sixthly, I give and bequeath to my Grand - daughter Sarah R. Garrison the seventy-two acres or the proceeds thereof, of land purchased by me at a trust sale of the lands of G. L. Medlin.
Seventhly, I give and bequeath to my son John S. in addition to what I have already given him eighty acres of land being the place upon which my sister in law Polly Clendening now lives on condition that he permit his Aunt Polly the use of the place during her natural life or so long as she may desire it.
Eighthly, All of my personalty not otherwise divided, I desire to be apportioned to my to [sic] children as follows, My daughter Jane Garrison to have one third and my son, John S. the remaining two thirds of said personalty.
Lastly, I do hereby nominate and appoint my friend James Watkins my Executor to be taken without security.
In witness whereof I do to this my last will set my hand and seal this sixteen day of March 1877.
(signed) John Clendening
Signed sealed and published in our presence and we have subscribed our names hereto in the
presence of the Testator.
Jas. K. Taylor
James Montgomery
W. A. Whitworth
F. A. Taylor
J. H. Joyner.
[pg 414]
State of Tennessee
Sumner County Court December Term 1887
A paper writing purporting to be the last will and testament of John Clendening, deceased
was this day produced in open Court for probate, by James Watkins who is therein named as
executor of the same, and was duly proven by J. H. Joyner, one of the subscribing witnesses
thereto, the other witnesses thereto subscribed being dead. There upon came into open Court
James Watkins and John Montgomery who after being first duly sworn depose and say that they
were present and heard the will read and said John Clendening sign the same and published the
same in their presence as his last will and testament when the same is received by the Court and
ordered to be recorded. James Watkins being named in the said Will as the Executor thereof,
appeared in open Court and accepted the same and being excused under the will from giving bond
it is ordered by the Court that he be qualified as said Executor and that Letters Testamentary issue
to him.
A. Copy Test
Harris Brown Clerk
I desire after my death that my son John S. Clendening have have (repeat) the the (repeat) piece of land that I purchased of D. O. Montgomery about fifteen acres being on the North end of the land I bequeathed to him some years ago which is in the possession of John Montgomery. I also desire him to have that portion of land on the South of the above bequeathed land ?? ?? to run South from the South West corner of said bequeathed land to a Shugar [sic] tree on the branch then with the degrees mentioned the decreed title to me for the sale of the John Frazer land to the Turnpike, round? Then up said road to Averett's corner thence with his line to the above bequeathed land, the balance of the land that lies nierst of the above mentioned piece I desire for Jane Garris my daughter to have, she really is entitled to eleven acres in her own right that piece of land being the land sold by by Deeree? of the County Court as the property of Sallie Frazor formerly belonging to Elizabeth Clendening. The above is all the alteration I desire to make in the Will above referred to.
This the 4th day of November 1887.
(signed) John Clendining(?)
County Court Sumner County July Term 188? (number on edge of page)
A paper writing appearing to be the Will of John Clendening dec'd., was this day
produced in open Court by James Watkins, Frank Taylor and John Montgomery who upon oath
state that said paper writing was found after the [pg 425] death of said John Clendening among
his valuable papers, and that they were each well acquainted with John Clendening and also his
hand writing, which was generally known and that they each verily believe that said paper writing
and every part thereof to be the hand writing of John Clendening, ?? ?? that the signature of John
Clendening to said paper writing is genuine when said paper is received by the Court and ordered
recorded as the last Will and Testament of said John Clendening decd.
A Copy Test
Harris Brown Clerk