Source: Sumner County Tennessee, Will Book Vol. 3, pages 30 - 33
page 30
I James Roney do make and publish this my last will and Testament thereby revoking and making void all other wills by me at any other time made.
1st I desire that my funeral expenses and all my debts be paid as soon after my death as pofsible out of any money that I may disposed of or may first come to the hand of my Executors. I bequeath to my Daughter Siney Armstrong my negros man named Jeff at valuation when she receives him.
2nd I will and bequeath to my Grand Children of my daughter Malinda Johnson dec'd, wife of John Johnson Simon my negro man, I will to my children an equal share of my estate after accounting for what their Father & Mother have received and also to account for the negro Girl Charlotte which I have deeded to them at their house and $ Seventy five dollars.
3rd I will and bequeath to my daughter Margaret my slave Malinda and child Peter her youngest child to be valued when received.
4th I will and bequeath to my Son Benj. Roney my negroe man Nathan at valuation.
5th I will and bequeath to my daughter Elizabeth Payne her lifetime and then to the lawful heirs of her body my negro man named Jim.
6th I will and bequeath to my Son James M. Roney my negro boy Henry at valuation when received.
7th I will and bequeath to my Daughter Susan Morris my negro Girl Insey at valuation when
received if said negroe should die before my daughter Susan receives her, my estate S........
her
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8th I will and bequeath to my daughter Sally Summerville during her natural life and then to the
lawful heirs of her body my negroe boy Dick and also a ......... negroe boy named Lou she has
pofsefsion by law at valuation When received, the negro boy Lou which my daughter Sally
Summerville has pofsefsion of is to account for him at valuation at the time she receives Dick.
9th I will and bequeath to my son John F. Roney my negro slave Ned at valuation when received.
10th I will and bequeath to my daughter Catherine Roney my negroe slave Phebea at valuation.
11th I will and bequeath to my son William Henry Roney my negroe boy John at valuation when received.
12th my will is that my daughter Margaret Johnson Franklin my daughter Catherine and William Henry are to have on bed and furniture One Cow & calf, Catherine and Margaret to have one horse each and John Franklin to have the mare he now claims after to value at the time when received. John Franklin is to have a deduction of the amount he paid towards the man claimed.
13th Wm Henry at Eighteen Years of age to have a horse saddle and bridle to be purchased by his Guardian My son Wm Henry is to have a common education to be boarded & clothed and all doctor Bills to be paid out of my estate until he arrives at the age of eighteen years of age.
14th I will to my daughter Margaret Seventy five dollars more than any other child for her services (?) in my family.
15th my will is that my stock of horses sheep, hogs stears and tubs back since Smith tools Grains
of all Kinds, farming Tools wagon & Gear which farm household & Kitchen furniture and every
other thing I may dispofsefsed of not specially bequeathed to be sold by my executors on a
twelve monthly audit except my shot Gun watch & specks I give them to my son William Henry,
as a present without valuation. Also I give my bible Containing the registering of my family to
my Son Benjamin not to be valued. I also give to my two Sons James M. & John F each one five
dollar piece of Gold which I have on hands without accounting for the same. my will is that all
the land, and twenty , I may dispofsessed of is to be sold by my executors on a one two & three
year audit the purchase to give bond and their security and the title of the land retained until the
last payment is made, The purchase to be against to pay interest from the sale of the land. I
reserve twenty Pounds square? adjust and twenty feet of my family Grave to be .........lose with a
good and substantial stone now to be attend to by my executors, all of which is to be disposed
from sale by my Executors.
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My will is that my children share account for Every thing that is not specially named at valuation
when they receive the same. I require my Executor to pay over the money as fast as they may
receive the same to any heirs that may be behind in the amount received. My will is my son John
Franklin is to have two monthly schooling boarding and clothing to be paid out of my estate, My
will is that my family negroes and every thing to continue together until my crop is gathered and
then the sale to take place, including the crop of every thing my son John is to have one third of
the Crop of Tobacco if any should be raised if not to have twenty dollars for his services. I
appoint to this my last will and testament, Benjamin and James M. Roney Executors to carry out
this will, Given under my hand and seal this the 13th day of May 1843. (October the 3rd 1844).
I appoint my son Benjamin & James M Roney Guardians for my daughter Margaret, Catherine &
William Henry Roney.
James Roney Seal
Test
S. H.Turner
Wm Link Jr.
I James Roney having heretofore made and published my last will, I change said will in
the following manner (to wit) I will and bequeath to my daughter Margaret Roney Jim in the
place of Malinda & Peter, which I have in trust for her appointing my son Benjamin Roney
Trustee who is to receive and manage all she may receive from my estate said negroe to be
valued My will is that my daughter Margaret is only to enjoy an equal share of my estate with
the rest of my heirs and said trustee to receive and manage the same for her. My will is that said
trustee will ....... oportunity.....in that manner that will most benefit her, and afford the most
comfortable support. My will is that my daughter Elizabeth Payne receive my slave Malinda and
her child Peter in the place of Jim, in the same manner that I bequeathed to her in the will this is
a codecil to my will is that my daughter Susan Morris is to have my slave Dick in the place of
Insey My will is that my daughter Sally Summerville is to have Insey in the place of Dick. will
in the same manner that the same man in my Will that this is a codicil to. I will and bequeath to
my Son Benjamin One half acre of land to make road on with his Spring branch to begin at the
Black Oak Corner, and then North So as to make One Half acre
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My will is that my Executors are required and authorized to have my land bought if it do not
bring three (?) thousand dollars, and sale at private sale and if the same is not sold privately then
to Advertise and sell the same, lastly it is my desire that this codicil to be attached to and
constitute a part of my Will to all intents and purpose this the 30th day of October 1844.
James Roney (Roany)
Test
S. H.Turner
Noah Swift
Wm Link Jr.
State of Tennefse
Sumner County Court December Term 1844.
The last will together with the codicil ....... of James Roney dec'd was this
day produced in open court for probate and was duly proved by the Oaths of Scott Garner and
Wm Lick Jnr. Subscribing witnefses thereto which is ordered by the Court to be recorded
Copy Test
Wm S . Munday.
Clerk