Source: Sumner County Tennessee, Will Book Vol. 5, pages 30 -32
page 30
In the name of God, Amen.
I, Robert F. Bunting born in the County of Beaver Township of Green, State of
Pennsylvania U. S. A. May the 9th 1828(?), and now of the age of forty-four years, residing at
Galveston Texas, being of sound mind & memory, do make establish and declare this my last
Will and Testament in the manner following; viz:
Relying on the integrity and sound judgment of my wife for the maintenance, education and continued care of each and all of our children and desiring to leave her untrain nuled (sic) and free as to the management and disposition of all my effects. I do give & bequeath to my beloved wife Chrissie S. Bunting, all property that I may be possessed of, including moneiys (sic), lands and personal effects of any & every description whatever (including also the policies on my life) and whether the same be in the State of Texas or elsewhere, after the payment of my just debts, if there be any; and with which view. I hereby name my said wife Chrissie S. Bunting, my sole heir, and excutrix (sic) with full power, ownership & Control over all my effects as aforesaid.
Hereby declaring it to be my intention to do away & dispense with all Administration Bonds or security or other formalities or requirements of laws in any way and in every manner whatever, except so for as may be necessary to probate this will, relying fully and faithfully on my said wife's affection & good judgment for the protection of herself and our children.
In virtue whereof I hereto sign my name and affix my scroll, done at Galveston Texas in presence of these(this might be three) witnesses hereto signing this & (?) the 31st. day of July 1872.
R. F. Bunting.
Witnesses
Signing at the request of R. F. Bunting as his last Will & Testament.
H. M. Trueheart of Galveston Texas
S. F. Bennett Galveston Texas
John Adriance, Jr. Galveston Texas
CODICIL No. 1
In addition to the foregoing I declare being still of sound mind & memory, that it is my
purpose & desire to appoint in the event of my beloved wife's preceding me to the grave, my son
Robert Franklin Bunting Jr. as my Executor & that my said son shall have the full power to
manage & control all my property both real & personal & to equally & impartially divide it
among my six children, viz:
Bella Vina, now Mrs. Bella B. Shaeffer, Robert Franklin Jr., William Miller, Henry Samuel,
George Herbert & Charles Clarke, the education of George and Charles to be provided for out of
the estate as he may determined if they are still in their minority, And I further declare it my
intention in appointing him my Executor in the Event of my beloved wifes death, to do away &
dispense with all administration bonds or security or other formalities or requirements of law in
any way except so for as may be necessary to probate this Will. In virtue whereof I hereto sign
my name and affix my scroll in the presence of these witnesses.
Done at Clarksville,
Montgomery Co., Tenn. Oct. 9th 1888.
R. F. Bunting
Witnesses,
Mrs. Bettie B. Buford
Miss Louise Burgess
Charles W. Lyman.
State of Tennessee
Sumner County Court Mch. Term Mch 24th 1892.
A paper writing purporting to be the last Will and Testament of R. F. Bunting deceased
was this day produced in open Court for probate when the same was duly proven by the oaths of
H. M. Trueheart and John Adriance Jr. subscribing witnesses thereto, and also a Codicil thereto
which was duly proven by the oaths of Mrs. Bettie B. Buford and Miss Louise Burgess
subscribing witnesses thereto, all of which evidence is here filed and thereupon it is ordered by
the Court that said Will and Codicil be recorded as said [pg 32] last Will and Testament of said
R. F. Bunting deceased. And Chrissie S. C. Bunting being named in said Will as the Executrix
thereof and excused from giving bond as such accepted the same and was duly qualified and
Letters Testamentary ordered issued to her.
A true copy
Harris Brown Clerk